Python molurus

Python molurus
Near Nagarhole National Park
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Pythonidae
Genus:	Python
Species:	P. molurus
Binomial name
Python molurus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Distribution of Indian python
Synonyms
[Coluber] Molurus Linnaeus, 1758 Boa Ordinata Schneider, 1801 Boa Cinerae Schneider, 1801 Boa Castanea Schneider, 1801 Boa Albicans Schneider, 1801 Boa Orbiculata Schneider, 1801 Coluber Boaeformis Shaw, 1802 Python bora Daudin, 1803 Python tigris Daudin, 1803 Python tigris castaneus - Daudin, 1803 Python tigris albanicus [sic] - Daudin, 1803 Python ordinatus - Daudin, 1803 Python Javanicus Kuhl, 1820 Python molurus - Gray, 1842 Python Jamesonii Gray, 1842 Python (Asterophis) tigris - Fitzinger, 1843 Python molurus - Boulenger, 1893 Python molurus [molurus] - F. Werner, 1899 [Python molurus] var. ocellatus F. Werner, 1899 [Python molurus] var. intermedia F. Werner, 1899 Python molurus molurus - Stull, 1935 Python molurus - M.A. Smith, 1943 Python molurus pimbura Deraniyagala, 1945 Python molurus molurus - Stimson, 1969 [Python molurus] var. [molurus] - Deuve, 1970 Python molurus - Kluge, 1993[1]

Python molurus is a large nonvenomous python species. It is found in many tropic and subtropic areas of South Asia and Southeast Asia.

It has various common names: Indian python,^[2] black-tailed python^[3] and Indian rock python. The species is limited to Southern Asia. It is generally lighter colored than the Burmese python. It can grow to 3 metres (9.8 ft).^[4]

The color pattern is whitish or yellowish with the blotched patterns varying from shades of tan to dark brown. This varies with the terrain and habitat. Specimens from the hill forests of Western Ghats and Assam are darker.^[5] Those from the Deccan Plateau and east coast of India are usually lighter.^[5]

The longest scientifically recorded specimen, which came from Pakistan, was 4.6 metres (15 ft) in length and weighed 52 kilograms (115 lb).^[6]

References

1. 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).
2. "Python molurus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
3. Ditmars RL. 1933. Reptiles of the World. Revised Edition. The MacMillan Company. 329 pp. 89 plates.
4. Wall F. 1912. A popular treatise on the common Indian snakes – the Indian python. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 21: 447–476.
5. Rhomulus Whitaker: „Common Indian Snakes – A Field Guide“; The Macmillan Company of India Limited, 1987; pp. 6-9; SBN 33390-198-3
6. Minton S.A. 1966. A contribution to the herpetology of West Pakistan. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 134 (2): 117–118. [1]

Other websites

• Python molurus at the TIGR Reptile Database. Accessed 13 September 2007.
• Indian Python Archived 2007-06-11 at the Wayback Machine at Ecology Asia. Accessed 13 September 2007.
• Indian python Archived 2012-05-04 at the Wayback Machine at Animal Pictures Archive Archived 2007-07-16 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 13 September 2007.
• Watch Indian rock python (Python molurus) video clips from the BBC archive on Wildlife Finder Archived 2010-11-06 at the Wayback Machine