Reticulated Python Snakes

Reticulated Python Snake (or the python reticulates) is one of the largest snakes found in the world today. Native to the Southeast Asia, these snakes were the longest snake species of the old world. Belonging to the python genus and the phytonidae family, these creatures have not yet been found to have any subspecies.

Reticulated python snakes can often be found near water bodies like lakes, streams or rivers. However in most of the cases they prefer living in woodland and grassland areas, in the rain forests of places like the Nicobar Islands Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, etc.

Reticulated python snakes generally feed on mammals, though they may be seen feeding on birds at times. While the younger ones prefer rodents such as the rats for their food, as they grow older, they slowly switch over to larger mammals like the pigs and primates. The largest prey item known to be swallowed by these snakes was a female weighing about twenty three kgs. It took about ten weeks for the creature to digest this food.

Though attacks on humans do not occur very frequently by these snakes, (since they do not generally attack by nature, unless of course there is a treat to their lives or if they sense danger) it sure is dangerous to human lives. A number of cases have been reported when a reticulated python snake was responsible for killing a human, sometimes even swallowing them up. They generally end up swallowing humans like small children, teenagers, or small adults. However, this is only possible for a well built adult reticulated python snake.

However, in spite of being dangerous, these snakes make good captives. But the keeper must be trained well enough in handling such large species, so as to ensure safety of himself and as well as that of the snake. They are non-venomous creatures, having an attractive appearance that makes them quite sought after by snake lovers and by the leather industry. People working with these snakes have often reported them to exhibit exceptional intelligence as well as awareness.

Reticulated python snakes are oviparous, with the fertilization of eggs taking place outside the female body, directly on the laid eggs. The eggs develop at an incubation temperature of about thirty-one to thirty-two degree Celsius, taking over eighty eight days to hatch. The young ones do not take long to grow independent, and can begin searching for their food themselves in no time at all.

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