Morelia imbricata

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Morelia imbricata

Near Threatened  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Pythonidae
Genus: Morelia
Species:
M. imbricata
Binomial name
Morelia imbricata
(
L.A. Smith, 1981)[2]
Synonyms
  • Python spilotus imbricatus
    L.A. Smith, 1981
  • Morelia spilota imbricata
    — Franz, 2003
  • Morelia imbricata — Greer, 2006[3]

Morelia imbricata is a large snake found in southern regions of Western Australia and western South Australia. A member of the python family, it is commonly known as the southwestern carpet python.[4]

Taxonomy

A member of the Pythonidae, M. imbricata is closely related to other Australian diamond or carpet pythons (genus Morelia). The abundant and well known genus Morelia contains six species across Australia.[5]

Description

It has a total length up to 2.3 m (7.5 ft), 2.0 m (6.6 ft) from snout to vent (SVL). This species has a well defined neck and small scales across the head. Males may be up to 1.1 kg (2.4 lb) in weight, females may be four times heavier when fully grown. Larger individuals have been given as 4 m (13 ft) in total length.[6]

Several other similar pythons occur in its range. The woma,

Antaresia stimsoni stimsoni, has a higher number of ventral scales
.

Habitat

The habitat is

grasses or low growing shrubs
.

Behavior

It is discreet and slow moving, spending most of its time hidden, though occasionally it is seen attempting to cross roads. Typically this python is sedentary, but females in a survey at Garden Island were noted to be active most of the year. M. imbricata takes up residence in deep crevices or holes in limestone, on granite, in dense heath, and animal burrows.

Diet

This species eats geckos, house mice, birds, and marsupials, including the Tammar wallaby.[6] The young of brooding red-eared firetails,

Stagonopleura oculata, were taken from a nest being observed.[7] A numbat was also observed to be captured and eaten by the southern carpet python.[8]

Home range

Individuals may have a large range, occupying hollow logs in cooler months and wandering across areas up to 20 ha (49 acres). Males tend to have a larger range. They appear to return to the same sites, even after long absences, which may contribute to a threat of extinction.[9]

Conservation

Morelia imbricata is widespread and thought to have large populations, but is exposed to the threatening processes of its distribution range.

Wildlife Conservation Act.[6] The hollow logs favored by the species are not produced by altered fire regimes or cleared in plantations.[9]

Geographic range

It occupies all the regions of

Archipelago of the Recherche. There are records of the subspecies beyond the eastern mainland range from St Francis Island in South Australia's Nuyts Archipelago.[5]

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T13868A4359599.en
    . Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  2. ^ Smith, L.A. (1981). "A Revision of the Python Genera Aspidites and Python (Serpentes: Boidae) in Western Australia". Records of the Western Australian Museum. 9 (2): 211–226.
  3. ^ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  4. ^ "Morelia spilota imbricata". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 20 March 2008.
  5. ^
    ISBN 978-1-920694-74-6
    .
  6. ^ a b c "Carpet Python Morelia spilota (Lacépède, 1804)". NatureBase.
  7. ISBN 9780643096349
    .
  8. ^ Barr, Peter. "Nature photographer captures snake devouring critically endangered numbat in WA Wheatbelt". Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  9. ^
    doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.2005.01462.x
    .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Morelia imbricata.
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