Post by Reticulatus on Feb 29, 2012 21:50:35 GMT -5
Blood Python-Python curtus
Python curtus is a species of Pythonid, a nonvenomous snake found in Southeast Asia. Three subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here,[1] although some authors describe these as species.
Description
Adults grow to 1.5-2.5 m (5–8 feet) in length and are heavily built reaching weights of 40-45 lbs. The tail is extremely short relative to the overall length. The color pattern consists of a beige, tan or grayish-brown ground color overlaid with blotches that are brick to blood-red in color.[2]
Diet
They feed on a variety of mammals and birds.[2]
Common names
Short python, Blood python,[2] Short-tailed python, Black blood python, Sumatran short-tailed python, Sumatran blood python.
Geographic Range
Found in Southeast Asia in southern Thailand, Malaysia (Peninsular and Sarawak) (including Pinang) and Indonesia (Sumatra, Riau Archipelago, Lingga Islands, Bangka Islands, Mentawai Islands and Kalimantan). According to Stimson (1969), the type locality is Sumatra.[3]
Habitat
Occurs in rainforests where it is found in marshes, swamps and along river banks and streams.[2]
Reproduction
Oviparous, females seldom lay more than a dozen large eggs (however, much larger clutches have been reported). The female remains coiled around the eggs during the incubation period. The hatchlings emerge after 2.5 to 3 months and are about 30 cm (12 inches) in length.[2]
Uses
The species is kept as an exotic pet. They are often regarded as unpredictable and aggressive, but captive bred individuals tend to be more docile than wild-caught specimens.
The blood python has been extensively harvested for leather, an estimated 100 000 individuals are taken for this purpose each year. The commercial trade regards this as a single species. Authors who elevate these island populations to species note that skins are readily distinguished.[4]
Taxonomy
The subspecies P. c. brongersmai was elevated to a full species by Pauwels et al. (2000).[5], while P. c. breitensteini was given species status by Keogh, Barker and Shine (2001).[6] The divergence of this monophyletic group is presumed to be isolation of populations resulting from changes in sea levels. Phylogenetic analysis of the Malay population, P. curtus brongersmai, suggests a close affinity with the nominal subspecies, however, P. curtus breitensteini was determined to be as genetically distant from the original type as the species Python reticulatus.[4]
An arrangement as subspecies is summarised as:[1]
Python curtus Schlegel, 1872
Python curtus curtus, western and southern Sumatra. One of two taxa referred to as Short-tailed pythons.
Python curtus breitensteini Steindachner, 1880 Borneo short-tailed python Type locality: Borneo.
Python curtus brongersmai Stull, 1935. Referred to by the common name Red blood python, this taxon contains reddish colour morphs. The type locality was Singapore, Malay Peninsula.
Python curtus breitensteini, Schlegel, 1872. Black blood python, Type locality: Kalimantan.
The synonyms for this arrangement are:[3]
Python curtus - Schlegel, 1872
Aspidoboa curtus - Sauvage, 1884
Python curtus - Boulenger, 1890
Python curtus - Boulenger, 1893
Python curtus curtus - Stull, 1935
Python curtus curtus - Stimson, 1969
Python curtus - Stuebing, 1991
References
1.^ a b "Python curtus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634783. Retrieved 11 September 2007.
2.^ a b c d e Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
3.^ a b 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).
4.^ a b Keogh, J. S.; Barker, D. Shine, R. (2001). "Heavily exploited but poorly known: systematics and biogeography of commercially harvested pythons (Python curtus group) in Southeast Asia (abstract)". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 73 (1): 113. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.2001.tb01350.x. www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118995661/abstract.
5.^ Python brongersmai at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 15 September 2007.
6.^ Python breitensteini at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 15 September 2007.
Python curtus is a species of Pythonid, a nonvenomous snake found in Southeast Asia. Three subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here,[1] although some authors describe these as species.
Description
Adults grow to 1.5-2.5 m (5–8 feet) in length and are heavily built reaching weights of 40-45 lbs. The tail is extremely short relative to the overall length. The color pattern consists of a beige, tan or grayish-brown ground color overlaid with blotches that are brick to blood-red in color.[2]
Diet
They feed on a variety of mammals and birds.[2]
Common names
Short python, Blood python,[2] Short-tailed python, Black blood python, Sumatran short-tailed python, Sumatran blood python.
Geographic Range
Found in Southeast Asia in southern Thailand, Malaysia (Peninsular and Sarawak) (including Pinang) and Indonesia (Sumatra, Riau Archipelago, Lingga Islands, Bangka Islands, Mentawai Islands and Kalimantan). According to Stimson (1969), the type locality is Sumatra.[3]
Habitat
Occurs in rainforests where it is found in marshes, swamps and along river banks and streams.[2]
Reproduction
Oviparous, females seldom lay more than a dozen large eggs (however, much larger clutches have been reported). The female remains coiled around the eggs during the incubation period. The hatchlings emerge after 2.5 to 3 months and are about 30 cm (12 inches) in length.[2]
Uses
The species is kept as an exotic pet. They are often regarded as unpredictable and aggressive, but captive bred individuals tend to be more docile than wild-caught specimens.
The blood python has been extensively harvested for leather, an estimated 100 000 individuals are taken for this purpose each year. The commercial trade regards this as a single species. Authors who elevate these island populations to species note that skins are readily distinguished.[4]
Taxonomy
The subspecies P. c. brongersmai was elevated to a full species by Pauwels et al. (2000).[5], while P. c. breitensteini was given species status by Keogh, Barker and Shine (2001).[6] The divergence of this monophyletic group is presumed to be isolation of populations resulting from changes in sea levels. Phylogenetic analysis of the Malay population, P. curtus brongersmai, suggests a close affinity with the nominal subspecies, however, P. curtus breitensteini was determined to be as genetically distant from the original type as the species Python reticulatus.[4]
An arrangement as subspecies is summarised as:[1]
Python curtus Schlegel, 1872
Python curtus curtus, western and southern Sumatra. One of two taxa referred to as Short-tailed pythons.
Python curtus breitensteini Steindachner, 1880 Borneo short-tailed python Type locality: Borneo.
Python curtus brongersmai Stull, 1935. Referred to by the common name Red blood python, this taxon contains reddish colour morphs. The type locality was Singapore, Malay Peninsula.
Python curtus breitensteini, Schlegel, 1872. Black blood python, Type locality: Kalimantan.
The synonyms for this arrangement are:[3]
Python curtus - Schlegel, 1872
Aspidoboa curtus - Sauvage, 1884
Python curtus - Boulenger, 1890
Python curtus - Boulenger, 1893
Python curtus curtus - Stull, 1935
Python curtus curtus - Stimson, 1969
Python curtus - Stuebing, 1991
References
1.^ a b "Python curtus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634783. Retrieved 11 September 2007.
2.^ a b c d e Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
3.^ a b 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).
4.^ a b Keogh, J. S.; Barker, D. Shine, R. (2001). "Heavily exploited but poorly known: systematics and biogeography of commercially harvested pythons (Python curtus group) in Southeast Asia (abstract)". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 73 (1): 113. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.2001.tb01350.x. www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118995661/abstract.
5.^ Python brongersmai at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 15 September 2007.
6.^ Python breitensteini at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 15 September 2007.
