PYTHONPRESENTED BY-NIDHI SINGH

(12BSLSCFS004)

CLASSIFICATION Kingdom- Animalia Phylum:- Chordata Subphylum:- Vertebrata Class:- Reptilia Order:- Squamata Sub-phylum:- Serpenta Family:- Pythonidae Genus:- Python

Geographic RangeFound in Africa in the tropics south of the Sahara, but not in southern Africa, the extreme southwestern tip, or in Madagascar. In Asia it is found from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, including the Nicobar Islands, through Myanmar, east to Indochina, southern China, Hong Kong and Hainan, as well as in the Malayan region of  Indonesia .

Behaviour

•Most members of this family are ambush predators, in that they typically remain motionless in a camouflaged position and then strike suddenly at passing prey.• They will generally not attack humans unless startled or provoked, although females protecting their eggs can be aggressive. •Reports of attacks on human beings were once more common in South and Southeast Asia, but are now quite rare.

Feeding Prey is killed by a process known

as constriction; after an animal has been grasped to restrain it, a number of coils are hastily wrapped around it. Then, by applying and maintaining sufficient pressure to prevent it from inhaling, the prey eventually succumbs due to asphyxiation.

Larger specimens usually eat animals about the size of a house cat, but larger food items are known: some large Asian species have been known to take down adult deer, and the African rock python, Python sebae, has been known to eat antelope. Prey is swallowed whole, and may take several days or even weeks to fully digest.

Contrary to popular belief, even the larger species, such as the reticulated python, P. reticulatus, do not crush their prey to death; in fact, prey is not even noticeably deformed before it is swallowed.

The speed with which the coils are applied is impressive and the force they exert may be significant, but death is caused by suffocation, with the victim not being able to move its ribs to breathe while it is being constricted.

The larger the meal, the longer it takes to digest.

This means that a Pyhton may only need to eat 4-5 times a year.

Ways of Reproduction  pythons reach sexual maturity in

four to five years. Males breed at 7 to 9 feet and females breed when they are at least 9 feet.

When ready to mate, the female pythons release Pheromones, chemicals that are secreted to send messages to other animals, which notify male Pythons in the area that there is a female that is ready to mate.

After mating, the female may lay up to 100 eggs, but the average amount of eggs they lay is about 35.

Unlike most snakes, the female coils around the clutch until the eggs hatch, keeping them warm. This is accomplished by hiccuping or muscle spasms which increases the temperature by as much as seven degrees.

The mother also stays with the eggs to protect them from predators. During this entire time, the mother does not leave the eggs, not even to eat.

Once the babies hatch, the mother leaves them on their own. They must find their own food and shelter, and must protect themselves from predators.