''Morelia spilota spilota'' is a

subspecies In Taxonomy (biology), biological classification, subspecies (: subspecies) is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (Morphology (biology), morpholog ...

of carpet python (''

Morelia spilota ''Morelia spilota'', commonly known as the carpet python, is a large snake of the family Pythonidae found in Australia, New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea), Bismarck Archipelago, and the northern Solomon Islands. Many subspecies are recog ...

''), popularly known as the diamond python. It is a medium to large snake, found in coastal areas and adjacent ranges of south-eastern

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

. It is the most southerly occurring

python Python may refer to: Snakes * Pythonidae, a family of nonvenomous snakes found in Africa, Asia, and Australia ** ''Python'' (genus), a genus of Pythonidae found in Africa and Asia * Python (mythology), a mythical serpent Computing * Python (prog ...

in the world and is found at higher altitudes than any other

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

of Australian python.

Description

''M. s. spilota'' is quite variable in colour and pattern, typically being predominantly dark olive to black in colour with most

dorsal scales In snakes, the dorsal scales are the longitudinal series of plates that encircle the body, but do not include the ventral scales. Campbell JA, Lamar WW (2004). ''The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere''. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publis ...

having a yellow (or cream) spot in the centre (hence ''spilota'', meaning spotted). Along the body and tail are numerous clusters of yellow or cream scales that form "rosettes" that look a bit like diamonds (hence the common name). The underside is white, cream or even yellowish in colour, although it is often spotted with black. The average adult size of this subspecies is usually about in total length (including tail), although it is known to reach a total length of about , with very rare specimens recorded at up to .

Reproduction

''M. s. spilota'' is an

oviparous Oviparous animals are animals that reproduce by depositing fertilized zygotes outside the body (i.e., by laying or spawning) in metabolically independent incubation organs known as eggs, which nurture the embryo into moving offsprings kno ...

snake, averaging 25 eggs in a

clutch A clutch is a mechanical device that allows an output shaft to be disconnected from a rotating input shaft. The clutch's input shaft is typically attached to a motor, while the clutch's output shaft is connected to the mechanism that does th ...

and laying up to 54 eggs. The female defends her eggs by coiling around them and shivering to regulate their temperature. She does not leave the eggs to eat during the incubation period, apart from briefly basking in the sun to raise her body temperature and then returning. Maternal care does not continue once the young have emerged. Juveniles resemble other ''M. spilota'' subspecies, although they become more distinct in their appearance as they mature. Hatchlings are typically browner in colour rather than the typical black of adult colouration and superficially resemble other carpet python subspecies. Morelia spilota spilota - adult head

Geographic range

The subspecies ''M. s. spilota'' is found in southern coastal regions of

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

and

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India * Victoria (state), a state of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital * Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...

. It lives in a variety of habitats, including heaths, woodland, forest, and urban areas. It is known to occupy the roof space of suburban homes, living on mice and rats. Cogger, Harold G. (2000). ''Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Sixth Edition''. Sydney: New Holland Publishing Pty. Ltd. 808 pp. . It has a limited distribution range in Victoria, where it is regarded as rare and threatened by reduction in available habitat. In New South Wales, it is recorded as naturally hybridising with the closely related northern subspecies '' M. s. mcdowelli'' in the northern parts of the diamond python's range. These natural intergrades are found on the mid-north coast of NSW. ''M. s. spilota'' can be found at higher altitudes (for example, in the eastern Gippsland region and Blue Mountains) than any other member of the family Pythonidae. It is usually found on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range, but can also be found on the ranges and occasionally some distance from the coast. It has the most southerly distribution of all python taxa. Few populations are recorded in the state of Victoria, and changes in land use have this subspecies listed as threatened with extinction. They are also known to occur in rocky habitat during winter months.

Behaviour

The diamond python is typically inoffensive by nature and generally reluctant to bite. This python is an

ambush predator Ambush predators or sit-and-wait predators are carnivorous animals that capture their prey via stealth, luring or by (typically instinctive) strategies utilizing an element of surprise. Unlike pursuit predators, who chase to capture prey u ...

with large territories that often overlap. It moves around these territories seasonally to occupy well camouflaged positions in the warmer months and

brumate Dormancy is a period in an organism's life cycle when growth, development, and (in animals) physical activity are temporarily stopped. This minimizes metabolic activity and therefore helps an organism to conserve energy. Dormancy tends to be cl ...

in the winter months. Females have ranges up to ; males may occupy areas almost twice as large. The diamond python is often active during the day and on warm nights, although most of its time is spent waiting in ambush for passing prey. It typically remains in one position for up to two weeks, before moving to another around away. ''M. s. spilota'' kills its food by constricting and suffocating it, and preys on

lizard Lizard is the common name used for all Squamata, squamate reptiles other than snakes (and to a lesser extent amphisbaenians), encompassing over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most Island#Oceanic isla ...

birds Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class (biology), class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the Oviparity, laying of Eggshell, hard-shelled eggs, a high Metabolism, metabolic rate, a fou ...

, and

mammal A mammal () is a vertebrate animal of the Class (biology), class Mammalia (). Mammals are characterised by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a broad neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three ...

s as large as

possums Possum may refer to: Animals * Didelphimorphia, or (o)possums, an order of marsupials native to the Americas ** Didelphis, a genus of marsupials within Didelphimorphia *** Common opossum, native to Central and South America *** Virginia opossum, ...

. It is not a danger to humans, but is capable of biting and leaving teeth in the wound if severely harassed.

Taxonomy

''M. s. spilota'' is the

nominate subspecies In biological classification, subspecies (: subspecies) is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics ( morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. ...

of ''Morelia spilota'', a

first described by Lacépède.

Captivity

The diamond python is often kept in captivity by collectors in Australia and around the world. The capture of wild specimens is illegal; however, it is successfully bred in captivity to supply the demand for this popular reptile. It is usually fed a diet of

rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia ( ), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and Mandible, lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal specie ...

s and kept in controlled environments such as a

vivarium A vivarium (; or vivariums) is an area, usually enclosed, for keeping and raising animals or plants for observation or research. Water-based vivaria may have open tops providing they are not connected to other water bodies. An animal enclosur ...

. Captive-bred and captive-raised specimens become quite tame, tolerate gentle handling, and make good pets.

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q5404679 Morelia (snake) Reptiles of New South Wales Reptiles of Victoria (state) Snakes of Australia