Royal Pythons
Reptilarium Animals
Royal Pythons
Conservation status (Near Threatened)
The ball python (Python regius), also called the royal python, is a python species native to West and Central Africa, where it lives in grasslands, shrub-lands and open forests. This nonvenomous constrictor is the smallest of the African pythons, growing to a maximum length of 182 cm (72 in). The name "ball python" refers to its tendency to curl into a ball when stressed or frightened.
The ball python is black, or albino and dark brown with light brown blotches on the back and sides. Its white or cream belly is scattered with black markings. It is a stocky snake with a relatively small head and smooth scales.
Ball pythons are typically nocturnal or crepuscular, meaning that they are active during dusk, dawn, and/or nighttime. This species is known for its defence strategy that involves coiling into a tight ball when threatened, with its head and neck tucked away in the middle. This defence behaviour is typically employed in lieu of biting, which makes this species easy for humans to handle and has contributed to their popularity as a pet.
In the wild, ball pythons favour mammal burrows and other underground hiding places. Males tend to display more semi-arboreal behaviours, whilst females tend towards terrestrial behaviours.
The diet of the ball python in the wild consists mostly of small mammals and birds.
5 curious facts about Ball pythons
1. Fit for a king
Ball pythons are also known as Royal pythons, as it said that ancient African tribal leaders would wear the snakes around their necks like jewellery. That’s quite a big necklace, as adult Ball pythons can be up to 1.5 metres long!
2. What’s in a name
The name Ball python, which is more commonly used in American English, draws from the fact that these snakes tend to curl up in a ball when they are scared or stressed. They are shy animals that are easily spooked.
3. Farmer’s friend
Ball pythons are ambush predators that feed primarily on birds and rodents, and therefore serve as important pest controllers in many rural communities. They are non-venomous, killing their prey via constriction.
4. Homes in the wild
In their natural habitat, Ball pythons typically spend the daytime in holes as they are mostly nocturnal animals. They leave their burrows and holes at night to hunt, climb trees and explore, providing them with stimulation and exercise.
5. Mother knows best
Parental care of eggs is relatively rare among snakes, but female pythons have been observed to tightly coil around their eggs throughout the incubation period. In cool climates, they shiver to generate heat and keep their clutch warm.