Python Snake

Snakes of the world – Part 7

Ball Python image courtsey: michiganreptileshow.com

Pythons - A wrestler on the hills.

Pythons are giant “constricting snakes” (snakes which twist around the prey and kill it by applying tremendous power breaking its bones as well as asphyxiating it) belonging to the family Boidae (Greek word “Puthon” is the name of a huge mythical serpent which was killed by Apollo after a legendary battle as told in the Greek mythology). Python with other members of the Boidae family are widely distributed in all tropical continents. Boas, Eryx, and Anacondas are related to pythons being members of a family. Python is grouped in the sub-family Pythoninae.

Up to the Google!

Pythons have gained the status of a pet now a days and it has become fashionable to carry them along with. A recent paper report (April 5,2007) regarding a pet python which went missing from its owner’s custody in the Google’s sprawling Manhattan office attracted a lot of interest. The 3 foot darling could be found only after frantic efforts by special search team which lasted two days. When found the python (Kaiser belonging to an employee) was just relaxing behind a cabinet not knowing about the fuzz that was going around. The employees had a merry time talking about the python at the expence of the company.

Python v/s Boa.

There are similarities as well as differences between Boas and Pythons since both shares the same family. The presence of a supra-orbital bone in the skull above the eye is the main difference between a Python and a Boa. Its anterior maxillary and mandibular teeth are long and well developed. Its eyes are provided with vertical pupil. The scales are smooth and consist of 60 to 75 rows. The head covered with large symmetrical shields and is distinct for the neck. Pythons are oviparous (lay eggs unlike Boas), the mother python hatches the eggs. (a special type of movement of abdomen generates slight heat for this purpose)

Big ancestors.

Fossils discovered from Egypt have revealed that once (in the Eocene era) there lived gigantic pythons (Gigantophis) with length exceeding 50 feet. Pythons have their hind-limbs although in a reduced form a vestigial organ) which it uses when engaged in fights

Just can’t leave the limbs!

(Snakes evolved from reptiles and in this process they lost their limbs but pythons and Boas have not fully discarded their hind-limbs fully even if they are no use in locomotion). Pythons are non-poisonous but they are able to bite and inflict wounds upon the opponent with the sharp and well developed teeth it has.

Cliff hangers!

These snakes generally arboreal and inhabit in forests they prefer to hang from tree-branches; this is a convenient posture as it enable them to fall upon the animals like rabbit, stag, and other medium sized animals which they feed upon when pass through below the tree.

The Indian counterparts.

Indian Rock Python Image courtsey: Shibu Bhaskar

There are two popular varieties found in the Indian sub-continent.

The Indian rock python (Python molurus) it is heavier and dark or light-brown in color. Python reticulatus is the largest of the family and grows up to 30 feet in length and has darkish-brown color with iridescent bluish markings in a reticulated pattern). The reticulated python is found in North India, Malaysia and Indo-China. The Australian varieties Diamond python and Carpet pythons are comparatively sender ones and of about nine feet in length.

Strange food-habits!

Pythons exhibit strange dietary habits; a story as told by Boulenger may be quoted as an example. One reticulated python kept at the Paris zoo was not eating anything for months and it was almost in the verge of death due to starvation.

A satyagrahi from Paris! (One who fast to bargain)

The zoo authorities were concerned and tried everything to make the snake eat by offering rabbits, fowls, rats, ducks etc without anything success. One day a goose accidentally entered in the cage and the python devoured it happily! Zoo authorities assumed that the python has regained its appetite and everything with it was OK.

Nothing less than goose!

But that was not the case the python started its fast there onwards and months again passed after feeding the goose came in the menu. Then only the zoo keepers could understand this python was a goose-eater and he ate nothing else!

To be continued...

Snakes

Snakes of the World

Part-1

Spare the snakes they are our friends.

The service rendered by snakes to the ecology as well as to the human beings goes un-noticed and these poor reptiles are subjected to most inhuman treatment in the hands of man, mostly out of ignorance and superstition. This article is intended to convey some information regarding the peculiarities of common snakes found in Indian Peninsula as well as other parts of the world.

Worshipped as well as hated!

Their habitat, feeding habits, size and shape, whether venomous or not etc are given along with some of the mythologies associated with snakes. Snakes are worshipped, feared, hated and misunderstood. Even in this age of scientific advancements man generally remain as ignorant of snakes as in the 18^th century. Snakes are not responsible if Satan came in their shape!

Asia the paradise of snakes!

Asia with its temperate and tropical climates is rich in the varieties snake species as well as the numbers of each species. It is believed that there are altogether 2500 species of snakes in the world which are classified in to 15 families of which only 3 are venomous. The Indian sub-continent has about 388 species classified under 91 genera belonging to 11 families, of which about 50 species are venomous. There are no snakes in the arctic and Antarctic regions, New Zealand and Ireland also are said to be devoid of them. Madagascar is yet another surprise as there are no venomous snakes there.

Order, Family, Class, Genera, Species all jargons, fear not!

For scientists snakes are vertebrate animals belonging to the “sub-order” Ophidia (Serpents) which is included in the “Class” reptiles (Reptilia).Reptiles are cold blooded animals which crawls on the earth touching their ventral parts on floor. The famous dinosaurs were giant reptiles which ruled the earth before becoming extinct. Snakes once had limbs which were lost millions of years back in the course of evolution and yet they travel faster than those which crawl on legs!

Costume conscious!

Snakes cast off their skin about four or five times a year, as they crawl through the land their skin suffers wear and tear hence nature has kindly granted them this ability to get it changed periodically as if the skin is their attire! The arrangements of scales on the skin can be helpful in identifying the snake.

Wide variety!

Snakes vary widely from species to species in size when burrowing Typhlopidae (blind worm-like tiny creatures) which grow only 4 to 6 inches to the giant constricting type Boidae (Boas, Pythons and anacondas) which grow to a length exceeding 30 feet. Most of the snakes lay eggs (oviparous) as some give like vipers and birth to tiny ones!

They are just one of the five reptiles.

Reptiles in which snakes are included are classified by the scientists in to five “orders”, they are Crocodilia (crocs), Chelonia (Turtles, tortoises etc), Lacertilia (lizards), Ophidia (Snakes) and Rhynchocephalia (Tuatara) - now represented by only one species the Tuatara or “Sphenodon punctatus”.

This is the first among a series of posts on snakes to be published here at our blog. Images used in the article unless mentioned otherwise are from Mr Shibu Bhaskar - Naturalist: Coconut Lagoon. Kumarakom.

Snakes of the World - Part 1

Snakes of the World Part – 2. - Evolution in Snakes

Snakes of the World Part - 3. - Cobra

Snakes of the World Part - 4. - Viper

Snakes of the World Part - 5. - King Cobra

To be continued....