'Philippine' Net python (Python reticulatus)

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Boidae
Genus: Python
Species: Python reticulatus

Geographic Range:
_The reticulated python can be found in the jungles of Southeast Asia.
Its range includes the Nicobar Islands; Burma across to Indochina; and Borneo, Sulawesi, Ceram and Timor of the Philippines (Murphy and Henderson 1997).
Biogeographic Regions: oriental (native ).
Habitat: Reticulated pythons inhabit steamy tropical rainforests (Mattison 1999). These snakes are heavily dependent on water and can often be found near small rivers or ponds. They require tropical environments with temperatures in the range of 80 - 92 degrees F.
Terrestrial Biomes: rainforest.
Physical Description:
Mass: 158 kg (high) (347.6 lbs)
Mass: up to 350 lbs.

_The reticulated python has a complex, geometric pattern, which incorporates a number of different colors.
A series of irregular diamond shapes are positioned dorsally along the back, usually flanked with smaller markings which have light centers.
This gives the snake a netlike pattern, which is where it gets its common and Latin name. The head of this species is unmarked with only a conspicuous line running from each eye to the angle of the jaws.

The size of this animal along with the unmarked head is usually enough to identify this species, even though there is some variation in pattern.
Some of the variations in the pattern of this snake are listed as; Normal, Yellow Head, Calico, Albino, Tiger, Super Tiger, Jaguar and island forms.
This is an extremely large snake, considered by many as the largest snake in the world (definitely the longest).
Lengths of more than 16 feet are common and sizes of 25 feet or more occur regularly.
The largest Reticulated python maintained in captivity was at the Pittsburgh Zoo; a 28.5 ft 320 lbs female named Colossus.
They are sexually dimorphic in size, as females attain larger sizes than males.
The largest reticulated python ever measured which was 32 ft 9.5 inches (10 m. +) and holds the record for the largest snake in the world according to the Guiness Book of World Records, 1991.
This is also a long lived snake; accounts of specimens 25 years old are common in captivity.

Reproduction:
_Sexual maturity is reached in the first 2 - 4 years. Males breed at 7 - 9 ft, while females are typically 11ft. before they become receptive.
Breeding usually takes place between the months of September - March.
Reduction in the photo-period and overall temperature declines are the primary driving factors that stimulate breeding behavior in these snakes.
Both male and females may fast during this time, so appropriate weight is necessary. Fasting may last up until the eggs are laid in the case of females and most probably until the eggs have hatched.
Females usually lay 25 - 80 plus eggs, which are then maternally incubated at 88-90 degrees F, for 80 - 90 days.
Eggs are also large in size, greater than 250 g.
Female Reticulated pythons show maternal care for their offspring only in that they brood the eggs.
While the eggs are developing females will coil around them and "shiver" producing muscle contractions which serve to increase the overall temperature of the eggs.
Females will also defend their eggs against predators, however once the eggs hatch, they are on their own.

Behavior:
_Reticulated pythons have a reputation of being aggressive.
Because of their large size alone this animal should be given great respect.
They are relatively non-social animals, as are most snakes, and prefer to be solitary. However, reticulated pythons have an aggressive feeding response, not aggressive behavior and are not generally confrontational.
Wild caught snakes have a hard time adjusting to captivity and often bite to avoid interaction, leading to the misinterpretation that this is an aggressive animal.
Also, mistreated captive animals or those that are not handled regularly are often referred to as being aggressive.
However those reticulated pythons which are captive born and raised properly show no signs of aggression (McCurley 1999).

Food Habits:
_Reticulated pythons are strictly carnivorous.
They are most productive as ambush predators, often waiting in trees for unsuspecting prey.
They are also known to be active foragers, however this method of hunting is seldom used because of the amount of energy it requires.
P. reticulatus typically feeds on birds and mammals.
This diet extends however to dogs, large deer, pigs and on rare occasions humans
Prey sizes increasing rapidly with growth.
Small snakes feed mostly on rats, but shift to larger mammals (e.g. pangolins, porcupines, monkeys, wild pigs, and mouse deer) at only 3-4 meters body length.
Reticulated pythons, like all reptiles, have a low metabolic rate allowing them to go without food for long periods of time.
In 1926, a captive specimen at Regent's Park refused food for 23 months, after which it accepted a meal and continued to feed normally.

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
_This snake does provide economically for the humans in its range that exploit them. They are heavily sold for their skin and meat. Also tourists visiting these areas often buy materials made from these snakes.

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Vulnerable.
This snake is widespread throughout its range but diminishing.
Hundreds of thousands of reticulated pythons are taken from the wild to be killed for their skins each year, raising doubts about the long-term sustainability of this species.
These animals also fall victim to the Asian ritual of blood drinking and gall bladder removal. When encountered in its natural state by humans this snake is almost always killed.
Rapid growth rate, early maturation and high fecundity are the only things keeping this snake around.

_Actually, the picture of a python with a man sticking out from its belly was taken in the Philippines in 1998. 
That story made the headlines all over the country at that time, and it was featured on numerous tv documentaries here in the Philippines. 
When that unlucky man first disappeared, friends thought he was kidnapped by rebels (they actually called in the army to help in the search) but then later they discovered his awful fate.
Below are some news excerpts relating the incident:
"Gumilid Lantod was alone in the jungle catching bats on Mindoro Island in the Philippines when a 23ft (7m) python bit him on the foot and squeezed him to death. 
Then the monster swallowed the 154lb (60kg) man. 
Friends later found the snake and slit it open, finding the father of six already half digested."
- Express (Germany) 3 April [AFP] 7 April 1998

"LANTOD GUMILIU, 32, a member of the Mangyan tribe on the island of Mindoro in the Philippines, was found dead inside a giant python after tribesmen found the bloated snake, killed it and cut open its stomach."
- South China Morning Post 16 Jan 1998.

_The part of the world that this occurs is in Asia, and the snakes are almost always Reticulated Pythons, not Boa Constrictors. 
Boa Constrictors grow to a maximum of 12 feet in length, and originate in South America.  Reticulated pythons can grow up to 30 feet in length, making it the longest snake in the world.
 
For a bit more info:
Snakes eating humans is something that happens in the US too. 
There are newspaper stories of Burmese Pythons killing, and attempting to eat children and young teenagers. (Talk about irresponsible parents!...)

Rangamati - A python has swallowed a tribal women in Bangladesh's southeastern Chittagong Hill Tracts, police say.  The python was later killed and the body of the woman was retrieved in Baghaichhari forest near Rangamati 350km from the capital Dhaka, a police officer said yesterday.  The victim Basanti Tripura, 38 was taken off guard by the massive python which swallowed her slowly.  A loud cry by her companion, also a woman, could not deter the python.  The incident occurred on Tuesday when the two women went to the forest to collect fruits.
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_In response to the above stories, the Boa is the snake family in which the Anaconda is a member and that is the biggest snake in the world. 
Also Boas are not native to South America as stated, but are found all over North America, South America and Asia, India and parts of Africa, there are 30 or so different types of Boas.

_The largest-known snake in the world is the Anaconda, or Eunectes murinus, of South America. 
It holds the world's record for size with one specimen, encountered by petroleum geologists in eastern Columbia in 1944, measuring 37½ feet in length. 
"Somewhere deep in the southern swamps do they grow bigger?"
According to Colonel Percy H Fawcett, a former British Army officer, surveyor and adventurer in the early 1900's.

_The anaconda lives in Central and tropical South America. 
It is a member of the boa family of snakes and is dark green in color with round markings. 
It is sometimes referred to as the "water boa." 
Because the anaconda's weight is usually supported by liquid, it can grow larger than snakes that make their homes in trees. 
The water-based anaconda often winds up drowning its victims (as they are pulled into the water) rather than suffocating them by constriction.

The End

Redactie: info(at)rijskamp.com                           
Cagayan de Oro May 29, 2007

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