Liasis olivaceus
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| Liasis olivaceus Gray 1842 |
Liasis olivaceus or Olive python is a species of python native to Australia. Olive pythons have small brown to olive scales with a cream underbelly.[1] The small scales and a high mid-body scale count gives their skin a softer appearance compared with other pythons.[2] The species has two subspecies, L. olivaceus barroni and L. olivaceus olivaceus.[3] These pythons are Australia's second largest snake species, reaching over 4 metres.[2] The two subspecies are differentiated by the number of mid-belly and ventral scales, with L. olivaceus barroni having fewer mid-belly scale rows and more ventral ones than L. olivaceus olivaceus.[2][4] L. olivaceus barroni also grows larger than the other subspecies.[2]
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[edit] Habitat
The native habitat of the Olive python is northern Australia, however the two subspecies have different ranges. L. olivaceus olivaceus is found from the Kimberley region in Western Australia to the area around Mt Isa in Queensland, whereas L. olivaceus barroni occurs in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.[4] Olive pythons are usually found in arid, rocky areas, particularly rocky areas associated with water courses, but may also be seen along the coast of northern Western Australia.[1][2]
[edit] Diet
Like all pythons, Olive pythons are non-venomous and kill their prey by constriction. An Olive python's diet consists of a variety of prey items including birds, mammals and reptiles.[4] Animals as large as a wallaby are known to be eaten.[1] Hunting primarily occurs at night; the snake will usually ambush prey on animal trails,[1] but it is also an adept swimmer and has been known to ambush prey from under the surface of waterholes.[1] When not hunting or moving around, Olive pythons will hide in a rock crevice, hollow termite mounds or hollow logs.[1]
[edit] Reproduction
Olive pythons lay eggs like most reptiles, laying 12-40 eggs a season in late spring.[1] Little is known about the reproduction of this animal in the wild. Gestation, the period between the animal laying the eggs and the eggs hatching, is usually given as 50 days.[1] However when captive-bred eggs are incubated in an incubator, the average gestation period is 85 days.[4]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Animal Bytes - Olive Python. Retrieved on 2008-02-18.
- ^ a b c d e Pilbara pythons: Liasis olivaceus. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
- ^ ITIS Report: Liasis olivaceus. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
- ^ a b c d Neil Sonnemann. Captive maintenance and breeding of Olive Python. Retrieved on 2008-02-18.
