About Reticulated Pythons

The reticulated python gets its name from the net-like pattern along its body. Because of the colorful pattern of these snakes, they are widely hunted. The skin is made into many leather products, including cowboy boots, belts and wallets. The reticulated python is also prized for its meat. The female reticulated python can lay up to 100 eggs at a time. She keeps the eggs warm by coiling herself around them until they hatch--at which point the hatchlings are on their own. The reticulated python can live up to 30 years in captivity.

  1. Types

    • The scientific name for the reticulated python is "Python reticulatus." A couple of the other names this snake is known by are the regal python and the Asiatic reticulated python. There are also variations of the reticulated python. One is the albino, which is a yellow and white color. The tiger is another variation. It looks like a tiger with its black and tan coloring. A third type is the calico. As the name suggests, it has a calico coloring of black, tan and white.

    Geography

    • The reticulated python is found in Southeast Asia, including Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and the Philippines. They live in steamy rain forests, grasslands and woodlands, and they also venture into towns and cities. They are adept at swimming and can be found near rivers, streams and lakes.

    Size

    • These snakes are the longest snakes in the world. However, they may not be the largest or heaviest. The reticulated python is rather thin for its length. The anaconda snake has more mass. Many reticulated pythons can grow to a length of 25 feet. The longest has measured in at nearly 33 feet. The females are larger than the males and can reach a weight of 350 lbs.

    Identification

    • The reticulated python can be identified not only by its massive length but by the colorful net-like patterns on its back. The snake usually has a silver-tan color, with the patterns having yellow, orange and brown coloring with larger patterns outlined in black. These snakes, which look quite colorful by themselves, actually use their markings to help them hide from predators. The colors and patterns camouflage the snake nicely in the wild.

    Features

    • The reticulated python has about 100 teeth, which curve inward. However, these teeth aren't used for chewing their prey. Pythons are carnivores and eat a variety of animals. They eat small mammals, birds, rodents and wild pigs. These snakes have even been known to eat large mammals. The reticulated python uses its curved teeth to bite and hold its prey while the snake wraps its coils around the prey. The python squeezed the life out of the animal and then swallows it whole.