Python curtus

Taxobox
name = "Python curtus"

---

regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
subphylum = Vertebrata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Serpentes
familia = Pythonidae
genus = "Python"
species = "P. curtus"
binomial = "Python curtus"
binomial_authority = Schlegel, 1872
synonyms = * "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, 1991McDiarmid 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).]

:"Common names: short python, blood python,Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.] short-tailed python, more.""Python curtus" is a non-venomous python species found in Southeast Asia. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.ITIS|ID=634783|taxon="Python curtus"|year=2007|date=11 September]

Description

Adults grow to 1.5-1.8 m (5-6 feet) in length and are heavily built. 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.

Common names

Short python, blood python, 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.

Habitat

Occurs in rainforests where it is found in marshes, swamps and along river banks and streams.

Feeding

Captive specimens feed almost exclusively on rats, although it is likely that wild individuals feed on a variety of mammals, as well as birds.

Reproduction

Oviparous, females hardly ever lay more than a dozen rather large eggs. 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.

Captivity

They are often regarded as unpredictable and aggressive, but captive bred individuals tend to be more docile than wild-caught specimens.

ubspecies

Taxonomy

The subspecies "P. c. brongersmai" was elevated to a full species by Pauwels "et al." (2000).NRDB species|genus=Python|species=brongersmai|date=15 September|year=2007] , while "P. c. breitensteini" was given species status by Keogh, Barker and Shine (2001).NRDB species|genus=Python|species=breitensteini|date=15 September|year=2007]

ee also

* List of pythonid species and subspecies.
*.
*.

References

Further reading

* Keogh, JS, Barker DG, Shine R. 2001. Heavily Exploited but Poorly Known: Systematics and Biogeography of Commercially Harvested Pythons ("Python curtus" group) in Southeast Asian. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 73:113-129

External links

*
* [http://www.exotic-pets.eu/snakes/borneo-blood-python.php Borneo Blood information]