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Australia is home to a large variety of pythons, with 14 species, close to half of the world's total of 31. The length of these pythons varies from the tiny Pygmy Python, the smallest python in the world at around 50-60 cm, to the Australian scrub python, which is one of the largest snakes in the world, with some specimens exceeding five metres in length. The Bluff Downs Giant Python, which existed 4.5 million years ago, is estimated to have grown up to 10 metres in length. The size of pythons in Australia varies depending on the region, with Sydney's diamond pythons and Perth's carpet pythons rarely venturing into gardens, while Brisbane is known for its abundance of carpet pythons.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Python Species in Australia | 14 or 15 |
| Locations | NSW, NT, Qld, SA, WA |
| Habitat | Forests of northern Australia, Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney |
| Size | 0.5-10 metres |
| Weight | 24 kg |
| Diet | Birds, mammals, reptiles |
| Behaviour | Nocturnal ambush predators |
| Teeth | Premaxillary teeth, four rows in the top jaw and two in the bottom |
| Genus | Simalia, Morelia, Antaresia, Aspidites, Liasis |
| Species | Kinghorni, Spilota, Perthensis, Melanocephalus, Ramsayi, Dubudingala |
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What You'll Learn
Australian pythons: the world's smallest to largest
Australia is home to a large variety of pythons, with 14 species—close to half of the world's total of 31. These include the Australian scrub python, considered the country's largest python species and one of the world's longest and largest snakes. It is indigenous to the forests of northern Australia and is also known as Kinghorn's python or simply the scrub python. The Australian scrub python is arboreal or tree-dwelling, and its diet consists of birds and mammals.
The largest female Australian scrub python ever measured was found in Palm Cove near Cairns in 2000. It had a total length (including tail) of 5.65 m (18.5 ft), a head length of 12 cm (4.7 in), a tail length of 75 cm (30 in), a midbody circumference of 36 cm (14 in), and a weight of 24 kg (53 lb). Another large scrub python was reported in 1954 by Worell, who described a snake allegedly 8.5 m (28 ft) long from Greenhill in Cairns. However, it is unclear whether this measurement refers to a corpse or stretched skin.
One of the largest prey items documented for the Australian scrub python was an adult mobile wallaby weighing 10 kg (22 lb), which was swallowed by a female python 4.33 m (14.2 ft) long and weighing 13.5 kg (30 lb). This demonstrates the impressive hunting capabilities of these snakes, which can prey on small wallaby species despite their significant size difference.
At the other end of the size spectrum is the pygmy or anthill python (Antaresia perthensis), native to the Pilbara region of northwest Australia and occasionally found in northwest Queensland. These pythons are known to live for more than 25 years in the wild and up to 20 years in captivity, showcasing their longevity within the python family. They are often found in termite mounds, taking advantage of the ideal temperatures for these ectothermic pythons, which can reach up to 38°C inside the mounds.
In addition to the scrub python and the pygmy python, Australia is also home to other python species, such as the carpet python, which can be found in Brisbane, inner-city Darwin, and Sydney. These pythons showcase the diverse range of sizes and habitats that Australian pythons occupy, contributing to the country's reputation as a paradise for these fascinating reptiles.
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Australian scrub pythons: one of the world's largest snakes
Australia is known for its parrots, marsupials, and eucalypts, but it is also a paradise for pythons, with a far larger share of the global total. With 14 species, Australia has close to half of the world's total of 31.
Among these is the Australian scrub python (Simalia kinghorni), also known commonly as Kinghorn's python or simply the scrub python. It is one of the world's longest and largest snakes and is the longest and largest in Australia. It is commonly considered arboreal or tree-dwelling, making it one of the world's largest and longest arboreal species of snakes. It is indigenous to the forests of northern Australia, particularly the tropical rainforests of Far North Queensland.
The scrub python is an impressive hunter, often spotted under the cover of darkness in search of its prey. It is non-venomous and uses constriction to subdue its prey. It has a large number of sharp, backward-curving teeth—four rows on the top jaw and two on the bottom—which it uses to seize its prey. Its diet consists of birds and mammals, including rainbow bee-eaters, bush rats, northern quolls, spectacled flying foxes, northern brown bandicoots, long-nosed bandicoots, striped possums, poultry, and small wallaby species such as agile wallabies, red-legged pademelons, and Bennett's tree-kangaroos.
The scrub python can reach up to 8 metres (26 feet) long and weigh in excess of 25 kilograms (55 pounds). The largest female Australian scrub python seriously measured to date was caught in Palm Cove near Cairns in 2000, with a total length (including tail) of 5.65 metres (18.5 feet), a head length of 12 centimetres (4.7 inches), a tail length of 75 centimetres (30 inches), a midbody circumference of 36 centimetres (14 inches), and a weight of 24 kilograms.
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Pygmy pythons: Australia's smallest python
Australia is home to the world's smallest python, the Pygmy Python. This snake species, also known as the anthill python, is found in Western Australia, primarily in the northwestern regions of the state and on some coastal islands. The global biodiversity database iNaturalist has documented several sightings of the pygmy python in Western Australia, including in Cape Range National Park, Dampier, De Grey, and East Lyons River, among other locations.
The pygmy python is a small snake, typically growing up to 50-60 cm in length and weighing around 210 grams as an adult. They are reddish-brown to sandy yellow-orange in colour, with darker flecks or blotches. Their colouring varies depending on their habitat. Pygmy pythons are nocturnal and spend their days curled up in termite mounds, spinifex grass, or rocky crevices, using these shelters to thermoregulate and for protection. They emerge at night to hunt, feeding on geckos, other small lizards, and small rodents.
Pygmy pythons are oviparous, laying 5-8 eggs per clutch. The females coil around the eggs and incubate them for about 50-60 days until they hatch. The hatchlings, or neonates, are about 20 cm long and weigh only 4 grams, making them smaller than other python species such as the Children's python and the spotted python.
These pythons are non-venomous and kill their prey through constriction, squeezing until their circulatory system fails. They have four rows of backward-curving teeth in their upper jaw and two rows in their lower jaw, which they use to capture and hold their prey. Pygmy pythons are popular as exotic pets due to their small size and calm nature.
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Black-headed pythons: hunting and eating other snakes
Australia is home to a large number of pythons, with 14 species, close to half of the world's total of 31. The Australian scrub python is one of the largest land predators in Australia and the world's largest snake. It is indigenous to the forests of northern Australia and can grow to a length of 8.5 metres (28 feet).
The black-headed python (Aspidites melanocephalus) is a species of non-venomous snake in the Pythonidae family. It is native to northern and central Australia and is distinguished by its black head and muscular body. Black-headed pythons are ground-dwelling and are often found among rocks and loose debris. They are nocturnal and spend their time alone. They are strong swimmers but rarely spend time in the water. They are carnivores and prey on reptiles, including snakes, and occasionally mammals. They are known for hunting and eating other snakes, including venomous species. They use constriction to subdue and kill their prey, as they are non-venomous.
Black-headed pythons have reduced heat-sensing pits, likely an adaptation to their diet, which often includes reptiles rather than mammals. They are skilled hunters that have adapted to prey on a wide range of animals, contributing to controlling populations of other reptiles in Australian ecosystems. They are aggressive eaters and can be easily handled, but they will bite if disturbed while hunting.
In captivity, male black-headed pythons are fed two small to medium rats every 10 days, while females are fed three to four. It is important to provide them with a large habitat, at least 6 feet long, 2 feet tall, and 3 feet wide, with a hotspot of 95 degrees Fahrenheit and an ambient temperature of 78 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Diamond pythons: Sydney's pythons
Diamond pythons, or Morelia spilota spilota, are a subspecies of carpet python. They are found in coastal areas and adjacent ranges of south-eastern Australia, including Sydney. Diamond pythons are non-venomous and are known for their calm and inquisitive nature, making them a popular pet for both beginners and experienced snake keepers. They are also sometimes referred to as a "backyard buddy" as they are frequently spotted in Sydney suburbs that border bushland and in National Parks.
Diamond pythons are most active in November, when they are looking for mates and laying eggs. Male diamond pythons will travel up to 500m per day following a scent trail left by a female. They have a large home range of around 45 hectares, while females have a range of around 20 hectares. Diamond pythons are ambush predators, killing their prey by wrapping themselves around their victim and suffocating them. Their favourite meals are rats and mice, making them great pest controllers.
Diamond pythons are predominantly dark olive to black in colour with most dorsal scales having a yellow or cream spot in the centre. Along the body and tail are clusters of yellow or cream scales that form "rosettes" that resemble diamonds, giving the snake its common name. The underside is white, cream, or yellowish and is often spotted with black. The average adult size of this subspecies is usually about 2 metres (6.6 feet) in total length (including tail), although they can reach a total length of about 3 metres (9.8 feet).
Diamond pythons are not considered endangered, but they are under pressure from habitat destruction. They are also sometimes kept in captivity, although the capture of wild specimens is illegal. With proper care, diamond pythons can live up to 25-30 years in captivity, although they typically live for around 20 years in the wild.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia has around 14-15 species of pythons, almost half of the world's total. They vary in size from the small Pygmy Python, which is around 50-60cm long, to the massive Scrub Python, which can exceed five metres in length. Some sources claim that the largest female Australian Scrub Python measured had a total length (including tail) of 5.65m.
The Pygmy Python (Antaresia perthensis) is the smallest python species in Australia and the world. It grows to around 50-60cm.
The Australian Scrub Python (Simalia kinghorni) is the largest snake species in Australia. Some sources state that specimens have been found exceeding five metres in length.
Pythons are found in every Australian state except Tasmania. They are commonly found in the northern half of Australia, in cities such as Brisbane, Cairns, and Darwin.
