The Antaresia maculosa or Spotted Python's are a non-venomous snake. Most adult's average about 100 - 140cm in length (between 8-11 feet long). It has an irregular, blotched color pattern throughout its life. The blotches have ragged edges because the dark pigmentation occurs only on complete scales.

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Spotted Python's are often kept in captivity (especially in America) and are particularly popular within collections throughout the world. This snake seems very hardy and easily adapts to its environment, it has proved to be a very easy and popular snake to keep as a pet.

 

They are found in Australia, north of Cape York Peninsula, through eastern Queensland and New South Wales. They prefer to live in rocky hillsides and out crops within crevices and caves.

 

Its favorite food is bats that eat insects, that is why they prefer to live in caves. It catches bats at the entrance of caves. It also likes small birds and reptiles. It kills its prey by wrapping several coils around its victim and squeezing until it is sure it is dead, and then pulls the body through the coils as it swallows it. It does not have many competitors when feeding time comes. I did not find any other animals that eats this snake.

 

Found in most types of habitats, but prefers rocky hillsides and outcrops with crevices and caves. Found in Australia from the extreme north of the Cape York Peninsula, south through eastern Queensland to northern New South Wales, also on many islands off the coast of Queensland.

 

There are currently an unknown amount of these snakes in existence. The snakes mate between April and August. They are Oviparous animals, which means they are animals that lay eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive method of most fish, amphibians, reptiles, all birds, the monotremes, and most insects and arachnids. Once the female has conceived it usually lays around 10 eggs that take 80 days to hatch. I found it interesting that the Antaresia maculosa was a non-venomous snake. When most people see snakes they usually think that they are poisonous. I also learned that these snakes are a popular pet among Australian reptile enthusiasts due to its small size and even temperament.

 

Author: Tristan C

Published: 2/11/10

 

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antaresia_maculosa http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634765 http://www.jcvi.org/reptiles/species.php?genus=Antaresia&species=maculosa http://www.reptilepets.co.za/rp455031.htm http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/2004/archives/2004/roadtests/reptiles/snakes_as_pet

 

Photo Credit: Carsten Sicars http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1_0_Antaresia_maculosa.jpg