Morelia spilota variegata
| Morelia spilota variegata | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Pythonidae |
| Genus: | Morelia |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | M. s. variegata
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Morelia spilota variegata Gray, 1842
| |
Morelia spilota variegata, commonly known as Torresian carpet python, Darwin carpet python or northwestern carpet python, is a subspecies of python found in New Guinea and Australia,[1] smaller than the nominate subspecies Morelia spilota spilota and has a more restricted geographic range.
Description
Adults usually grow to no more than 2m, but some have been recorded at 2.5m, and one four-year-old M. spilota variegata was recorded at 280 cm.[2]
The colour pattern consists of a beige or brown ground color overlaid with blackish or gray blotches, cross-bands or stripes, or a combination of any of these. Regional colour variations can include bright yellow, gold, rust and clear greys.[2]
Naming
A number of synonyms refer to this subspecies: Morelia variegata - Gray, 1842; Morelia variegata - Gray, 1849; Morelia argus variegata - Jan & Sordelli, 1864; Morelia argus variegata - Mitchell, 1951; Morelia spilotes variegata - Mitchell, 1955; Morelia argus variegata - Stimson, 1969; Python spilotus variegatus - L.A. Smith, 1981; Morelia variegata - Wells & Wellington, 1984; and * Morelia spilota variegata - Barker & Barker, 1984.[3]
Common names include
Geographic range
Found in
Feeding
The snake is not venomous and kills prey by
Reproduction
References
- ^ "Morelia spilota variegata". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
- ^ ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
- ^ ISBN 1-893777-01-4(volume).
External links
- Morelia spilota at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 31 December 2007.
- M. s. variegata range map at Kingsnake.com. Accessed 4 May 2008.
- Irian Jaya carpet python breeding cycle at Antaresia.com. Accessed 4 May 2008.