Antaresia perthensis

Antaresia perthensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Pythonidae
Genus:	Antaresia
Species:	A. perthensis
Binomial name
Antaresia perthensis Stull, 1932
Synonyms
Liasis childreni perthensis - Stull, 1932 Liasis perthensis - Cogger, Cameron & Cogger, 1983 Bothrochilus perthensis - Cogger, Cameron & Cogger, 1983 Morelia perthensis - Underwood & Stimson, 1990 Liasis perthensis - Cogger, 1992 Antaresia perthensis - Kluge, 1993[1]

Antaresia perthensis is a species of snake found in western Australia. Their common names, pygmy python and anthill python, refer to the fact that they are the smallest member of the Pythonidae family and are often found in termite mounds. The specific epithet is derived from the state capital, Perth, despite the fact that this place is not within the range of the species.^[2] No subspecies are currently recognized.^[3]

Description

Adults grow to about 50 cm (20 inches) in length and have a weight near 210 grams. Neonates are about 8 inches (20 cm) in length and about 4 grams in weight. After a year they average about 25 grams in weight. This makes them smaller than either the Children's python, A. childreni, and the spotted python, A. maculosa. A. perthensis usually has a redder background ground color than these other species and their spots fade, or become less distinct, as they mature. In contrast, the ground color is lighter in childreni and maculosa, while their spots stay better defined throughout their life.

Geographic range

Found in Australia in the northwest of Western Australia and on some coastal islands. The type locality given is "Perth, West Australia" (Western Australia); an erroneous assumption of the place where the specimen was collected. The unfamiliarity of Europeans with the place of a specimen's collection has given rise to other 'naming peculiarities'.^[2] According to L.A. Smith (1985), the type locality is unknown.^[1]

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} Browne-Cooper, R., Bush, B., Maryan, B., Robinson, D. (2007). "Houtman Abrolhos". Reptiles and Frogs in the Bush: Southwestern Australia. University of Western Australia Press. ISBN 9778 1 920694 74 6. 
3. ^ "Antaresia perthensis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634766. Retrieved 17 August 2007. 

External links

• Antaresia perthensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 11 September 2007.