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Blood Python: Python brongersmai In the Wild Description: Size: o Typically reach 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m) in length o Can reach up to 9 ft (2.75 m) in length Weight: Typically weigh 12-20 lbs. (5.4-9 kg), reported up to 45 lbs. (20.4 kg) Are called blood pythons because of their reddish-rust coloration – which can be brickred in some individuals – with splotches and stripes of yellow, tan, and black Have very thick, heavy, short bodies with a relatively short tail Have long, flat, wide, dark grey or brown heads Bellies are typically white, sometimes with black markings Sexual dimorphism: Females are usually larger overall than males but males generally have longer tails Habitat and Range: Are native to Southeast Asia in southern China, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo Normally live in rainforests and swamps, but may also be found in forests, open woodland, plains, and dense stands of bamboo Are also found on plantations, particularly on palm oil plantations where they hide under piles of leaves and fronds trimmed from the palms Spend much of their time in the water Diet: Carnivorous: Eat rodents such as mice and rats, and occasionally eat birds Are non-venomous, constrictors Adaptations: Highly sensitive forked tongue and Jacobson’s organ o Odor particles are collected by the forked tongue and transported back to the Jacobson organ in the top of the mouth o The Jacobson’s organ is a patch of sensory cells (chemoreceptor) that detects both social chemical communication by pheromones and helps snakes hunt and track their prey Ambush predator – lie in wait, sometimes in a river or stream, for prey to get close before striking o Their cryptic coloration allows them to camouflage in order to hide from both predators and prey o Are able to remain motionless for long periods of time, from several days to a week while waiting for prey to approach o Use their eyes and tongues to sense their prey o Also use heat-sensing pits in the upper lips to identify warm-blooded prey items Constrictor 10/31/2013 Blood Python: Python brongersmai o Grab prey with their teeth and wrap coils of their body around the prey and squeeze – do not crush the prey and break bones but rather squeeze tightly so that the prey cannot breathe and suffocates o Can unhinge their jaw to swallow the prey whole utilizing rhythmic muscular contractions that pull the prey down into the snake’s throat and stomach o A special tube on the bottom of its mouth stays open to one side of the mouth so they can breathe while swallowing Lifespan: About 15-20 years, can live up to 35 years of age Ecosystem relationships: Predators: Young individuals are susceptible to predation by hawks and other birds of prey, other snakes, and crocodilians Reproduction: Reach sexual maturity at 2-3 years of age Females lay up to 10-15 eggs about 3 months after mating Unlike most snakes, the female remains with the eggs and incubates them by coiling around them and “shivering” to keep them warm – incubation takes a great deal of energy and can cause females to lose up to half of their body weight The eggs hatch after about 2.5 months and the female leaves the hatchlings to fend for themselves Hatchlings are typically 15-18 in. long and are tan with black markings Activity: Nocturnal: Are most commonly seen at night, partially submerged on the edges of slowmoving rivers and streams or in pools while waiting for prey Other “fun facts”: Was previously called Python curtus brongersmai because it was thought to be a subspecies of Python curtus – is now considered to be a separate species so is called Python brongersmai Also sometimes called short pythons, short-tailed pythons, red blood pythons, and Malaysian red blood pythons Molt/shed several times a year to accommodate growing o Appears duller just before shedding and eyes become cloudy o Will seek out and rub against rough surfaces to dislodge old skin o Once a tear is made in the skin, will crawl out of old skin leaving a shed behind o Appear more brightly colored after shedding o Shedding typically takes a week or longer Pits in the roof of the mouth suggest that pythons once were venomous snakes 10/31/2013 Blood Python: Python brongersmai Conservation Status and Threats: Listed on IUCN Red List as Least Concern Listed on CITES Appendix II Are threatened by: o Over collection for the international pet trade o Are often collected and killed for leather products – estimated that about 200,000 individuals are killed for their skins each year Despite threats, populations are thought to be increasing in size because they are successfully establishing populations in palm oil plantations which attract rodents o Although the increase in palm oil plantations may benefit blood python populations, a 2007 report by the United Nations Environment Program showed that palm oil plantations are the leading source of rainforest destruction in Malaysia and Indonesia, home of endangered animals such as orangutans and Asian elephants At the Zoo Monty came to the Maryland Zoo from a private breeder in August 2012. He was hatched around May 2012. What We Can Do Make environmentally responsible lifestyle decisions to help conserve habitat – conserve energy, reduce litter, and pollution o To help slow the destruction of tropical rainforests and to save endangered wildlife such as the orangutan and Asian elephant, consumers can choose to purchase products containing sustainable palm oil which are labeled with the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) trademark – visit http://www.betterpalmoil.org/ for more information Make sure you know the origin of the products you buy – buying something imported illegally supports the black market by sustaining demand o Ex. Rosewood is still being illegally imported from Madagascar despite bans on logging because people are still buying it Do your research before buying a pet o Make sure you are not purchasing a wild-caught individual – captive-bred species are often easy to find o Make sure you know how to properly care for any animal before you decide to buy it as a pet Some things to consider include adequate housing, diet, temperature requirements, and lifespan Some pets also require a lot of time and money to be properly cared for References: http://www.denverzoo.org/downloads/animal_fact_sheets/Reptiles/Python_blood_. pdf 10/31/2013 Blood Python: Python brongersmai http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/192169/0 http://www.zoossa.com.au/adelaide-zoo/animalsexhibits/animals/reptiles?species=Blood%20Python http://www.brandywinezoo.org/blood-python.html http://www.betterpalmoil.org/ http://www.rspo.org/ Staffors, Peter J. Pythons and Boas. Neptune City: TFH Publications, Inc., 1986. Print. 10/31/2013