The Beautiful Jungle Carpet Python
The jungle carpet python is found in mainland Australia, throughout northern, southern, and eastern regions of Australia. They are also in the arid islands of the Nuyts Archipelago. This is the most widespread of the Australian pythons. They are also called carpet snakes, Western Australian carpet pythons, or the inland rivers carpet python.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Morelia spilota cheynei
Weight: Up to 10+ lbs.
Length: Up to 6 – 8 feet
Lifespan: Up to 20 years (in the wild) | Up to 30 (in captivity)
Now on to the Facts!
1.) Carpet pythons are considered semi-arboreal (spendall or part of their time in trees) snakes who can easily climb trees and shrubs, but they can also move about open areas like the forest floor and rock faces.
2.) Even though they are typically a calm snake, they can also be a bit snarfy and have a nice bite on them.
3.) The carpet python feeds mostly on reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals like rodents, possums, and wallabies, since these are non-venomous they kill their prey by constricting it until the prey dies and then they swallow it whole; head first.
4.) Jungle carpet pythons are nocturnal (active at night).
5.) In order to find prey in the dark they use heat receptor pits on the front of their head to detect their thermal signature.
But wait, there’s more on the jungle carpet python!
6.) These pythons are also found near suburban areas and contribute to the elimination of pest vermin like rodents.
7.) The species is oviparous (lay eggs). Females typically have a clutch of 10 – 45 eggs during early summer.
Did you know…?
They have 80 sharp backwards facing teeth that can be up to 1/4 – 1/3 + inches long!
8.) Being arboreal, these snakes have very strong muscles that can allow them to extend up to 2/3 of their body in order to reach prey and far reaching branches.
