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Python molurus
Python molurus or Asian Rock Python is a large python species found in southern and southeast Asia. Two subspecies are currently recognized: the Light Phase Asian Rock Python also known as Indian Python (Python molurus molurus) and the Dark Phase Asian Rock Python or Burmese Python (Python molurus bivittatus).[1] In this article the Light Phase Asian Rock Python gets primarily introduced.
Common names
Description
Comparison of molurus and bivittatus The color pattern is whitish or yellowish with the blotched patterns varying from shades of yellow to dark brown. This varies with terrain and habitat. Specimens from the hill forests of Western Ghats and Assam are darker, while those from the Deccan Plateau and East Coast are usually lighter.[6] Geographic range
Natural range of Python molurus Legend:[8]
Habitat
Light Phase Asian Rock Python basking in front of its hole. (Keoladeo National Park, India) 
Light Phase Asian Rock Python swimming. (Keoladeo National Park, India) BehaviorLethargic and slow moving even in its native habitat, they exhibit little timidity and rarely try to escape even when attacked. Locomotion is usually rectilinear, with the body moving in a straight line. They are very good swimmers and are quite at home in water. They can be wholly submerged in water for many minutes if necessary, but usually prefer to remain near the bank. FeedingThese snakes feed on mammals, birds and reptiles indiscriminately, but seem to prefer mammals. Roused to activity on sighting prey, the snake will advance with quivering tail and lunge with open mouth. Live prey is constricted and killed. One or two coils are used to hold it in a tight grip. The prey, unable to breathe, succumbs and is subsequently swallowed head first. After a heavy meal, they are disinclined to move. If forced to, hard parts of the meal may tear through the body. Therefore, if disturbed, some specimens will disgorge their meal in order to escape from potential predators. After a heavy meal, an individual may fast for weeks; the longest recorded duration being 2 years. So far there have been no authentic cases of a human being eaten by this species.[1] ReproductionOviparous, up to 100 eggs are laid, protected and incubated by the female.[9] Towards this end, it has been shown that they are capable of raising their body temperature above the ambient level through muscular contractions.[10] The hatchlings are 45-60 cm (18-24 in) in length and grow quickly.[9] Conservation statusThese snakes have often been killed for their fine skin and are endangered. They are now partly protected by the Tamil Nadu Government. In Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the meat is eaten by locals as the fat is purported to have medicinal value. This species is classified as Lower Risk/Near Threatened (LR/nt) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v2.3, 1994).[2] This means that it has been evaluated, but does not satisfy the criteria for any of the categories Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable. However, it is considered Near Threatened (nt), meaning that it does not qualify for Conservation Dependent, but is close to qualifying for Vulnerable. Year assessed: 1996.[11] Subspecies
TaxonomyIn the literature, one other subspecies may be encountered: P. m. pimbura (Deraniyagala, 1945), which is found in Sri Lanka. Gallery<gallery> Image:Python molurus gab fbi.png|Head scalation. Image:Indian python skeleton Ben W Bell April 2007.jpg|Skeleton. Image:Python gab fbi.png|Skull diagram. Image:Python_head.jpg|Head </gallery> See alsoReferencesFurther reading
External links
de:Tigerpython fr:Python molurus it:Python molurus nl:Tijgerpython ja:???????? no:Tigerpyton pl:Pyton tygrysi ru:???????? ????? Source: Wikipedia | The above article is available under the GNU FDL. | Edit this article
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