The name Python was proposed by François Marie Daudin in 1803 for non-venomous flecked snakes.
Currently, 10 python species are recognized.
The reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) is the longest snake in the world, regularly reaching over 6.25 metres in length.
The Ball or Royal Python is the smallest of the Python species, reaching only 4-5 feet on average with longer individuals reaching 6 feet and weighing 3-5 pounds. The head is relatively small compared to their stocky bodies which can exceed several inches in diameter.
Python have about 40 species of snakes, all but one of which are found in the Old World tropics and subtropics. Most are large, with the reticulated python (Python reticulatus) of Asia attaining a maximum recorded length of 9.6 metres (31.5 feet).
Pythons feed by grabing its prey with its teeth, then wraps and squeezes it with its body coils. But contrary to popular belief, pythons don't actually crush and dismember their prey. Instead, they suffocate them by tightening their coils each time it exhales.
Other Facts About Pythons
- They're an Invasive Species in the U.S.
- Pythons Swallow Their Prey Whole. ...
- Baby Pythons Survive on Their Own When They Hatch. ...
- Reticulated Pythons Can Eat Fully Grown Humans. ...
- Pythons Are Constrictor Snakes with No Venom. ...
