Python curtus

Blood python
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Pythonidae
Genus: Python
Species: P. curtus
Binomial name
Python curtus
Schlegel, 1872
Synonyms

Python breitensteini Steindachner, 1881
Aspidoboa curta Sauvage, 1884

Python curtus is a species of the family Pythonidae, a nonvenomous snake found in Southeast Asia. Three subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here,[1] although some authors describe these as species.

Description

The arrangement of labial scales identify this illustration as Python brongersmai.

Adults grow to 1.5–1.8 m (4.9–5.9 ft) in length and are heavily built. The tail is extremely short relative to the overall length. The color pattern consists of a beige, tan, or grayish-brown ground color overlaid with blotches that are brick- to blood-red in color.[2]

The three species of short-tailed pythons can be distinguished by small differences in head scalation. In blood pythons (P. brongersmai), the labial scales fill in the entire gap between the bottom of the eye and the lip - in Borneo short-tailed pythons (P. breitensteini) and Sumatran short-tailed pythons (P. curtus), narrow subocular scales occur between the bottom of the eye and the top of the labial scales. P. curtus and P. breitensteini can be distinguished from each other by the frontal and parietal scales on the tops of their heads. In P. curtus, the parietal scales do not join each other, or meet at an extremely sharp angle. In both P. brongersmai and P. breitensteini, the parietal scales join together.

Diet

They feed on a variety of mammals and birds.[2]

Range and habitat

They are found in Southeast Asia in southern Thailand, Malaysia (Peninsular and Sarawak) (including Pinang) and Indonesia (Sumatra, Riau Archipelago, Lingga Islands, Bangka Islands, Mentawai Islands and Kalimantan). According to Stimson (1969), the type locality is Sumatra.[3] They occupy rainforests, in marshes, swamps, and along river banks and streams.[2]

Reproduction

Oviparous, females seldom lay more than a dozen large eggs (however, much larger clutches have been reported). The female remains coiled around the eggs during the incubation period, and may shiver to produce heat. However, this action requires energy and the female will only do so if surrounding temperatures drop below 90 °F. The hatchlings emerge after 2.5 to 3.0 months and are about 30 cm (12 in) in length.[2]

Uses

The species is kept as an exotic pet. They are often regarded as unpredictable and aggressive, but captive-bred individuals tend to be more docile than wild-caught specimens.

The blood python has been extensively harvested for leather; an estimated 100 000 individuals are taken for this purpose each year. The commercial trade regards this as a single species. Authors who elevate these island populations to species note that skins are readily distinguished.[4]

Taxonomy

The subspecies P. c. brongersmai was elevated to a full species by Pauwels et al. (2000).,[5] while P. c. breitensteini was given species status by Keogh, Barker and Shine (2001).[6] The divergence of this monophyletic group is presumed to be isolation of populations resulting from changes in sea levels. Phylogenetic analysis of the Malay population, P. c. brongersmai, suggests a close affinity with the nominal subspecies, but P. c. breitensteini was determined to be as genetically distant from the original type as the species Python reticulatus.[4]

An arrangement as subspecies is summarised as:[1]

P. curtus Schlegel, 1872
P. c. curtus, western and southern Sumatra, one of two taxa referred to as short-tailed pythons.
Python curtus breitensteini, Schlegel, 1872/Steindachner, 1880 Borneo short-tailed python or brown blood python, type locality: Borneo/Kalimantan.
Python curtus brongersmai Stull, 1935, referred to by the common name red blood python, this taxon contains reddish colour morphs, the type locality was Singapore, Malay Peninsula.

The synonyms for this arrangement are:[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Python curtus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 11 September 2007.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
  3. 1 2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  4. 1 2 Keogh, J. S.; Barker, D. Shine, R. (2001). "Heavily exploited but poorly known: systematics and biogeography of commercially harvested pythons (Python curtus group) in Southeast Asia (abstract)". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 73 (1): 113. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.2001.tb01350.x. Cite uses deprecated parameter |coauthors= (help)
  5. ↑ Python brongersmai at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 15 September 2007.
  6. ↑ Python breitensteini at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 15 September 2007.
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