Giant African Snakes That Eat Sheep

Africa is home to a wide array of snake species, including a large number of some of the deadliest snakes in the world. The largest native snake is the rock python, which is also one of the biggest snakes in the world. It is the only native species capable of killing and eating large domestic livestock such as the west African dwarf sheep.

  1. Description

    • The African rock python is a large, thick-bodied snake that grows to between 20 and 30 feet in length and up to 250 lbs. in weight. The thick bodies are tan in color with darker brown, sometimes greenish, blotches running its length. The snake's underside is pale with small dark spots. Compared to the body, the snake's head is small and triangular in shape. Two subspecies of rock python exist, the more northern ranging variety growing to the largest sizes and being more brightly colored.

    Habitat and Range

    • The African rock python lives throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa. The subspecies python sebae lives in the more northern regions of the range and python natalensis lives in southern Africa. The snakes are found in a variety of forest and grassland habitats, but they avoid dry deserts and the cold mountain regions. Rock pythons are more common near water sources such as rivers or moist tropical forests. During the heat of the day, the snakes shelter under rocky outcrops or mammals' abandoned burrows.

    Diet and Predators

    • The snakes are carnivores and will eat a range of terrestrial animals based on their size. Small snakes target small mammals, reptiles and birds. The large adult snakes are able to feed on prey such as monkeys, crocodiles and antelope. Snakes near human habitation are more than capable of catching and killing livestock such as sheep and goats as well as family pets. Humans will often kill adult rock pythons on sight, and other predators like hyenas and wild dogs will attack a large snake that is slowed by having eaten a large meal.

    Life Cycle

    • Rock pythons tend to live a solitary life and meet up only to breed. The peak mating season is between November and March. The female lays between 20 and 100 eggs in a tree hollow or burrow that she then coils around and keeps warm for between 65 and 80 days. Once the eggs hatch, the female leaves the newborns to fend for themselves which, at more than a foot in length at birth, they are fully capable of doing.