by Wes Pollock

Created on: December 29, 2008

An Introduction to Pythons

What exactly is a python? This is an excellent question which you will be able to answer yourself, intelligently, at the conclusion of this article.

Pythons are almost all Old World
snakes. They are primarily found in Africa, Asia, Australia
with a lone species found in Mexico, have heat sensing pits on their upper lips and vestigial hips.

The Calabar Burrowing Python is not only the only python found in the New World, but it is also the only python which does not have heat sensing pits in its upper lip. It is noted because even though it is an exception to the python guidelines, it is still a python.

On the upper lip of all pythons, with the exception of the Calabar Python, are small indentations, tiny holes, pits. Detecting heat differentials, temperature differences as small as one degree, thus enabling the python to find food in total darkness, without using its eyes at all, is the reason pythons have this adaptation, these little pit-like holes in their lips. Having heat sensing pits on the front of their faces allows them to target warm blooded prey accurately when there is no light.

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Some species like the Burmese Python have relatively few of these heat sensing pits, three to five on each side of the face while others like the Ball Python can have upwards of ten incredibly sensitive thermo-receptors on each lip.

There are over twenty recognized species of pythons but most are never seen outside a zoo. Ranging in size from barely two feet long, weighing not even 1 pound all the way up to thirty feet or more in length with weights in excess of three hundred pounds. Size alone is not a good indicator when determining whether a snake is a python or not.

The colours found on pythons are only limited by our ability to recognize and name them. Many species are iridescent, literally reflecting rainbows off their skin. Green, yellow, blue, brown, black, red, white and all the combinations those colours make when mixed together are found on pythons. Their beauty, the intricacy of their patterns, the amazing complexity of hue and design, can mesmerize even seasoned keepers.

When living in the wild not all pythons eat the same kind of foods. Birds, lizards, frogs, fish, insects, mice, rats, rabbits, are all python food. Tree dwellers generally prefer birds or lizards. Those of a more aquatic nature like fish and frogs. The more terrestrial species are the main ingesters of rodents. Most people who keep pythons, be they large or small, feed them

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