Python molurus (Indian Python )

Python molurus

Distinguishing Features

i.  They are the largest non-poisonous snakes of Pakistan.
ii. The head is, broad, flattened and pink with a distinct neck.
iii. They possess a dark lance shaped blotch on the head and a  streak which begins from the front side of eye and extends backward till the mouth.
iv.The snout is long.
v. The dorsal surface is pale gray to yellow and the ventral surface is yellow in colour.
vi.The body is covered with smooth scales.
vii.The number of scales on the upper labial varies from 11 - 13. The first two scales are deeply pitted and the 6^th and 7^th scales touch the eye.
viii.The number of scales on the lower labial varies from 16 - 18. The 3^rd and 4^th scales of the anterior and posterior sides are weakly pitted.

Size

Its length varies from 1524 – 36577 mm.

Habit and Habitat

Pythons are nocturnal and are found in forests and rocky ledges near marshes or streams. Dense clumps of vegetation such as typha, large rooted logs, caves and ruins act as their resting places and provide them protection against predators.

Pythons cannot crawl with speed because of their large size however, they can swim very fast. they can swim very fast. They are known to spend their whole life at one place but migration may take place due to habitat destruction or any other change in the surrounding. 

Food

They normally feed on mice, monitor lizards, hares and water birds. For catching their prey, they first grab the prey with their strong fangs, kill it with the constriction process and later swallow it whole.

Distribution

This specie is confined to India, Pakistan and Srilanka. In Pakistan, they are distributed throughout the Indus Delta and its lower valley; Nawabshah, Sanghar, Thatta, Haleji lake, Hub river.

Breeding

Economic Importance

Its skin is used for making shoes, purses, belts and bags.

Status

Endangered, this specie is enlisted in appendix II of CITES and ‘IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals’. 

Threats

Reasons for their vulnerability includes llegal export of snakes and skins, excessive killing and habitat destruction