Bothrochilus

Bothrochilus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Pythonidae
Genus:	Bothrochilus Fitzinger, 1843
Species:	B. boa
Binomial name
Bothrochilus boa (Schlegel, 1837)
Synonyms
Nardoa - Gray, 1842 Bothrochilus - Fitzinger, 1843 Nardoana - Berg, 1901 Tortrix Boa - Schlegel, 1837 Nardoa Schlegelii - Gray, 1842 Bothrochilus Boa - Fitzinger, 1843 Nardoa boa - Müller, 1882 Nardoa boa - Boulenger, 1893 Nardoana boa - Berg, 1901 Nardoa boa - De Jong, 1930 Bothrochilus boa - Loveridge, 1946 Liasis boa - McDowell, 1975 Morelia boa - Underwood & Stimson, 1993 B[othrochilus]. boa - Kluge, 1993[1]

Common names: Bismarck ringed python.^[2]

Bothrochilus is a monotypic genus containing the non-venomous python species, B. boa, found on the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago. No subspecies are currently recognized.^[3]

Description

Adults grow to a length of 152–183 cm (4.99–6.00 ft). The color pattern consists of a series of brilliant orange and black rings in juveniles, but this fades in about a year as the snakes mature. Adults are usually a shade of brown with black rings, or a uniform blackish brown. Usually, there is a light spot behind the eye.^[2] Some specimens may have black rings that are irregular, incompletely formed or even absent. The scales are highly iridescent.

Geographic range

Found on the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago, including Umboi, New Britain, Gasmata (off the southern coast), Duke of York and nearby Mioko, New Ireland and nearby Tatau (off the east coast), the New Hanover Islands and Nissan Island. The type locality given is "Nouvelle Irlande" (New Ireland).^[1]

Habitat

The Bismarck ringed python inhabits rain forests in open and/or cultivated areas.^[2] Often found in piles of coconut husks.

Behavior

These snakes are nocturnal and fossorial.^[2]

Feeding

Their diet consists primarily of small rodents, for which they actively forage. They have been reported to enter houses and agricultural structures in search of prey. Hatchlings feed on lizards and juvenile rodents.^[2]

Reproduction

Oviparous, they lay up to a dozen eggs that are generally "brooded" by the female, although this is not always the case.^[2]

Captivity

Young specimens will often bite readily, but they usually settle down as they mature to become trustworthy captives. Wild caught animals are not generally available. The species appears to be well-established in captivity with several hundred ringed pythons hatching out from breeder's collections each year. Captive specimens seem to benefit if provided with a box of damp moss in which to occasionally sit. This species likes high humidity but is intolerant of poor ventilation or wet conditions.

See also

• List of pythonid species and subspecies
• Pythonidae by common name
• Pythonidae by taxonomic synonyms

References

1. ^ ^{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).
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
3. ^ "Bothrochilus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=209583. Retrieved 9 September 2007. 

External links

• Bothrochilus boa at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 9 September 2007.