Pythonidae

Pythonidae
Indian python (Python molurus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Superfamily:	Pythonoidea
Family:	Pythonidae Fitzinger, 1826
Synonyms
Pythonoidia - Fitzinger, 1826 Pythonoidei – Eichwald, 1831 Holodonta – Müller, 1832 Pythonina – Bonaparte, 1840 Pythophes – Fitzinger, 1843 Pythoniens – A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Holodontes – A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Pythonides – A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Pythones – Cope, 1861 Pythonidae – Cope, 1864 Peropodes – Meyer, 1874 Chondropythonina – Boulenger, 1879 Pythoninae – Boulenger, 1890 Pythonini – Underwood & Stimson, 1990 Moreliini – Underwood & Stimson, 1990[1]

The Pythonidae, commonly known as pythons, are a family of nonvenomous snakes found in Africa, Asia, and Australia. Among its members are some of the largest snakes in the world. Ten genera and 39 species are currently recognized. Being naturally non-venomous, pythons must constrict their prey to induce cardiac arrest prior to consumption. Pythons will typically strike at and bite their prey of choice to gain hold of it; they then must use physical strength to constrict their prey, by coiling their muscular bodies around the animal, effectively suffocating it before swallowing whole. This is in stark contrast to venomous snakes such as the rattlesnake, for example, which delivers a swift, venomous bite but releases, waiting as the prey succumbs to envenomation before being consumed. Collectively, the pythons are well-documented and studied as constrictors, much like other non-venomous snakes, including the boas and even kingsnakes of the New World.^[2]

Pythons are indigenous to the Old World Tropics, including sub-Saharan Africa, tropical to subtropical Asia, and Australia, Pythons are ambush predators that primarily kill prey by constriction, causing cardiac arrest. Pythons are oviparous, laying eggs that females incubate until they hatch. They possess premaxillary teeth, with the exception of adults in the Australian genus Aspidites.^[3][4] While many species are available in the exotic pet trade, caution is needed with larger species due to potential danger. The taxonomy of pythons has evolved, and they are now known to be more closely related to sunbeam snakes and the Mexican burrowing python.^{[citation needed]}

Pythons are frequently poached for their skins, with the export market for skins from Southeast Asia estimated at a billion dollars in 2012. They are also sold and consumed as meat. They can carry diseases, such as salmonella and leptospirosis, which can be transmitted to humans. Pythons are also used in African traditional medicine to treat ailments like rheumatism and mental illnesses. Their body parts, including blood and organs, are believed to have various healing properties. In some African cultures, pythons have significant roles in folklore and mythology, often symbolizing strength or having sacred status.

Distribution and habitat

Pythons are found in sub-Saharan Africa, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, southeastern Pakistan, southern China, the Philippines and Australia.^[1]

Invasive populations

Further information: Burmese pythons in Florida

Two known populations of invasive pythons exist in the Western Hemisphere.

In the United States, an introduced population of Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) has existed as an invasive species in Everglades National Park since the late 1990s. As of January 2023, estimates place the Floridian Burmese python population at around half a million. Local bounties are awarded and scientists study dead Burmese pythons to better understand breeding cycles and trends associated with rapid population explosion. The pythons readily prey on native North American fauna in Florida, including (but not limited to) American alligators, birds, bobcats, American bullfrogs, opossums, raccoons, river otters, white-tailed deer, and occasionally domestic pets and livestock. They are also known to prey on other invasive and introduced animals to Florida, such as the green iguana and nutria (coypu), though not at a rate as to lower their numbers rapidly or effectively.^[5]

In Puerto Rico, a population of reticulated pythons (Malayopython reticulatus) are known to be currently established, with a remarkably high rate of albinism, suggesting establishment from domesticated pet stock. Records of reticulated pythons date back to as early as 2009, and the population was recognized as established by 2017.^[6]

Conservation

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Many species have been hunted aggressively, which has greatly reduced the population of some, such as the Indian python (Python molurus) and the ball python (Python regius).^[7][8]

Behavior

Most members of this family are ambush predators, in that they typically remain motionless in a camouflaged position, and then strike suddenly at passing prey. Because pythons are often active at night or hunting in dense foliage, most species rely on specialized heat-sensing pits (labial pits) located along their jaws to detect the infrared radiation of warm-blooded animals in complete darkness. When navigating their environment, pythons typically move using rectilinear progression; rather than slithering from side to side, they use their ventral belly scales and stiffened ribs to push themselves forward in a slow, straight line. Defensively, when threatened or attacked by predators, some species will resort to coiling their bodies into a tight ball with their head tucked safely in the center—a behavior most famously associated with the ball python (Python regius).^[9] Attacks on humans, although known to occur, are extremely rare.

Feeding

Pythons use their sharp, backward-curving teeth, four rows in the upper jaw, two in the lower, to grasp prey which is then killed by constriction; after an animal has been grasped to restrain it, the python quickly wraps a number of coils around it.^[10][11] Death occurs primarily by cardiac arrest.^[10][11] Even the larger species, such as the reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus), do not crush their prey to death.^[12]

Larger specimens usually eat animals about the size of a domestic cat, but larger food items are known; some large Asian species have been known to take down adult deer, the Central African rock python (Python sebae) and the Southern African rock python (Python natalensis) have been known to eat antelope. The reticulated python is the only python species known to sometimes eat humans in its natural habitat in Sulawesi, Indonesia.^[13] All prey is swallowed whole, and may take several days or even weeks to fully digest.

Reproduction

Pythons are oviparous. This sets them apart from the family Boidae (boas), most of which bear live young (ovoviviparous). After they lay their eggs, females typically incubate them until they hatch. This is achieved by causing the muscles to "shiver", which raises the temperature of the body to a certain degree, and thus that of the eggs. Keeping the eggs at a constant temperature is essential for healthy embryo development. During the incubation period, females do not eat and leave only to bask to raise their body temperature.

Captivity

Most species in this family are available in the exotic pet trade. However, caution must be exercised with the larger species, as they can be dangerous; rare cases of large specimens killing their owners have been documented.^[14][15]

Taxonomy

Obsolete classification schemes—such as that of Boulenger (1890)—place pythons in Pythoninae, a subfamily of the boa family, Boidae.^[1] However, despite a superficial resemblance to boas, pythons are more closely related to the sunbeam snakes (Xenopeltis) and the Mexican burrowing python (Loxocemus).^[16][17]

Relationship with humans

Folklore

In northwestern Ghana, people see pythons as a savior and have taboos to prevent the snake from being harmed or eaten. Their folklore states that this is because a python once helped them flee from their enemies by transforming into a log to allow them to cross a river.^[31]

In Benin, Vodun practitioners believe that pythons symbolize strength and the spirit of Dagbe ["to do good" in Yoruba]. Annually, people sacrifice animals and proclaim their sins to pythons that are kept inside temples.^[32]

See also

• List of pythonid species and subspecies
• Python

References

External links

Wikispecies has information related to Pythonidae.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pythonidae.

• Pythonidae at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 3 November 2008.