D'Albertis python
| D'Albertis python | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Pythonidae |
| Genus: | Leiopython |
| Species: | L. albertisii
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| Binomial name | |
| Leiopython albertisii | |
| Synonyms | |
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D'Albertis' python (Leiopython albertisii), also known commonly as D'Albert's water python or the northern white-lipped python, is a species of python, a non-venomous snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is endemic to New Guinea. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.[4]
Geographic range and habitat
L. albertisii is found in most of New Guinea below 1,200 m (3,900 ft), including the islands of
.The
Some doubt can be cast on its occurrence on Normanby, as McDowell (1975)[6] had erroneously assigned Bara Bara to this island, rather than to the mainland of Papua New Guinea[5] in Milne Bay Province as stated by Boulenger (1898)[7] and Koopman (1982).[8]
Etymology
The specific name, albertisii, is in honor of Italian explorer Luigi D'Albertis.[9][10]
Description
Female adults of L. albertisii grow to an average of about 213 cm (6–7 ft) in total length (including tail). Both sexes are patternless, except for some light markings on the
Behavior
Although mostly terrestrial, L. albertisii can and is known to occasionally climb.[11] White-lipped pythons are reportedly aggressive, though this is reduced in those born and raised in captivity.[12] L. albertisii also has been observed to regularly regurgitate fur balls from its prey.[13]
Diet
The diet of L. albertisii includes a range of small-sized to medium-sized birds and mammals.[14] Neonates and juveniles often feed on lizards. Heat sensitive pits in the upper and lower jaws are used to help locate prey during nocturnal hunting.[11]
Reproduction
L. albertisii is oviparous. A sexually mature female may lay a clutch of about a dozen eggs. The eggs stick together in a compact pile, and the female coils around them. The hatchlings emerge after about two months of incubation and are about 38 cm (15 in) in length.[14]
References
- . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ ISBN 1-893777-01-4(volume).
- ^ Species Bothrochilus albertisii at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ "Leiopython". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 9 September 2007.
- ^ .
- ^ McDowell SB (1975). "A catalogue of the snakes of New Guinea and the Solomon’s, with special Reference to Those in the Bernice P. Bishop Museum. Part II". (24.02.1975). Journal of Herpetology 9 (1): 1-79.
- ^ Boulenger GA (1898). "An account of the reptiles and batrachians collected by Dr. L. Loria in British New Guinea". Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, Series 2, 18: 694-710.
- ^ Koopman KF (1982). "Results of the Archibold Expedition No. 109. Bats from Eastern Papua and the East Papua Islands". American Museum Novitates (2747): 1-34.
- ^ Peters W, Doria G (1878). "Catalogo dei rettili e dei batraci raccolti da O. Beccari, L. M. D'Albertis e A. A. Bruijn nella sotto-regione austro-malese ". Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, Series 1, 13: 323-450. ("Liasis Albertisii ", new species, pp. 401-403 + Plate III, Figure 2). (in Italian and Latin).
- ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Leiopython albertisii, p. 64; L. bennettorum, p. 22).
- ^ a b "Bothrochilus albertisii ". Retrieved 14 December 2016. Cold Blood Creations.
- ^ "White Lipped Python". Python Snake Database. Snake Estate. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ Schleip, Wulf (June 2009). "Leiopython albertisii (Northern White-Lipped Python). Behavior" (PDF). Herpetological Review. 40 (2): 231. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
Further reading
- ISBN 978-0643100350. (Leiopython albertisii, p. 821).
- Reynolds, R. Graham; Niemiller, Matthew L.; Revell, Liam J. (2014). "Toward a Tree-of-Life for the boas and pythons: Multilocus species-level phylogeny with unprecedented taxon sampling". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 71: 201–213.