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REPTILIA:
SQUAMATA: PYTHONIDAE: Morelia
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Morelia amethistina
(Schneider, 1801)
Amethystine python / scrub python
Photos
& text by Dr. Robert Sprackland, with data supplied by Mark O'Shea,
Gerry Swan, and Peter Krauss.
Specimen
at right collected near Weam, Western Province, Papua New Guinea by Mark
O'Shea, August 2000. The snake measured nearly 4 meters overall.
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Range:
Most of lowland New Guinea, including the
Bismarck Archipelago; northeastern Queensland, Australia.
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Diagnosis:
A large python with large and distinct symmetrical
head shields and less than 60 scale rows around the midbody.
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Description:
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Natural History: This
species is found in a variety of habitats, including dry woods, open
savannahs, and rainforests. The female depicted above was collected while
swimming in a river in a lowland rainforest.
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Reproduction: An
egg layer.
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Taxonomy & Relationships:
A major revision of this species and the naming of several similar species
was published in mid 2000 (Harvey et al., 2000)
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Variation:
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Additional Comments:
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Type Specimen:
ZMB 1485 (lost).
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Literature:
Click on book to order a copy
Barker, David
& Tracy Barker. 1994. Pythons of the World: Volume I, Australia.
The Herpetocultural Library, AVS Books, Escondido, CA. ISBN 1-882770-34-X.
Bartlett,
Richard. 1995. Popular pythons and boas: complete guide for owners of
larger snake species. Bowtie Press. ISBN: 0-9629525-3-2.
Cogger,
Harold. 2000. Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. 6th edition.
Ralph Curtis Books. ISBN: 0-88359-48-4.
Ehmann,
Harald. 1992. Encyclopedia of Australian animals: Reptiles. Angus
& Robertson. ISBN: 0-207-17379-6.
Greer,
Allen. 1997. The biology and evolution of Australian snakes. Surrey
Beattie & Sons. ISBN: 0-949324-68-X.
Harvey, M., D. Barker, L. Ammerman, & P.
Chippindale. Systematics of pythons of the Morelia amethistina
complex (Serpentes: Boidae) with the description of three new species. Herpetological
Monographs 14: 139-185.
Hoser,
Raymond. 1989. Australian reptiles & frogs. Pierson & Co.
ISBN: 0-947068-08-2.
Shine,
Richard. 1991. Australian snakes, a natural history. Cornell Press,
Ithaca, NY. ISBN: 0-8014-2737-1.
Torr, Geordie. 2000. Pythons of Australia; a
natural history. University of NSW Press, Sydney, NSW. ISBN:
0868406023.
Walls,
Jerry. 1998. The living pythons: a complete guide to pythons of the
world. TFH Publications. ISBN: 0-7938-0467-1
Weigel,
John. 1988. Care of Australian reptiles in captivity. Australian
Reptile Keepers Association. ISBN: 0-7316-3290-7.
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