Reticulated Python
Malayopython reticulatus • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Pythonidae, Genus: Malayopython, Species: M. reticulatus
Venomous Status
Non-venomous; lacks fangs and venom glands.
Danger Level
Moderate Risk to High Risk; while non-venomous, their extreme size, powerful constriction, and sharp recurved teeth can cause significant injury or, in rare cases, death to humans.
Geographic Range
Southeast Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN); however, they are heavily exploited for the skin trade, pet industry, and meat.
Physical Description
Features a complex 'reticulated' or net-like geometric pattern of yellow, brown, and black. The head is elongated and distinct from the neck with a dark line down the middle. Eyes have vertical slit pupils and the snout contains prominent heat-sensing pits.
Size & Dimensions
The world's longest snake; adults typically range from 3 to 6.5 meters (10-21 ft), with rare specimens exceeding 7 meters. This specimen appears to be an adult.
Habitat
Highly adaptable, found in tropical rainforests, woodlands, nearby grasslands, and often associated with water sources like rivers and lakes. Commonly found in sewers and urban areas.
Behavior & Temperament
Primarily nocturnal or crepuscular. Generally high-strung and nervous in temperament; they are quick to defend themselves with a strike if feeling threatened but spend much of their time as ambush predators.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous ambush predator. Juveniles eat birds and small mammals; adults can consume pigs, deer, monkeys, and occasionally livestock. They kill by constriction.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying). Females lay clutches of 15 to 80 eggs and exhibit maternal care by coiled incubation to maintain temperature.
Venom & Safety
Venom Type
Non-venomous - no medically significant venom.
First Aid Advice
If bitten, do not pull the snake away as recurved teeth cause tearing. Clean the wound thoroughly to prevent infection. Seek medical attention for deep lacerations or if constriction occurs. Antivenom is not applicable.
Look-alikes
Burmese Python (Python bivittatus) which has a 'giraffe-like' blotch pattern rather than a net-like pattern, and the African Rock Python (Python sebae).
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN); however, they are heavily exploited for the skin trade, pet industry, and meat.
Cultural Significance
Significant in Southeast Asian folklore and a staple of the exotic leather industry. They play a vital ecological role in controlling rodent and medium-sized mammal populations.
Notable Features
Renowned as the longest snake in the world. They possess highly sensitive infrared-sensing pits along the labial scales to detect warm-blooded prey in total darkness.