Morelia spilota
Description
The Coastal Carpet python (Morelia spilota) is a large python which can grow to 4 metres (but more commonly found between 2 and 3 metres). Carpet pythons are found in a range of different habitats all around Australia, from rainforest to dry woodlands. Carpet pythons are an arboreal (climbing) species of snake. It is usually most active at night (nocturnal) but can be encountered during the days.
The coastal carpet python is one of the most frequently encountered snakes in Brisbane.
Carpet pythons lay 10-50 eggs in late spring/early summer. The female incubates the eggs for around 10-15 weeks until they hatch. Juvenile are then left to fend for themselves.
Adaptations
- Excellent camouflage
- Flexible ligaments in between their four jaw bones allows them to eat large prey items
- Forked tongue is used to transfer particles from the air 1o a special organ (Jacobson’s Organ) allows them to detect where the prey item is
- Can go for long periods of time without eating
- Long-lived (up to 20 years)
Feeding relationships
- What I eat: Mice, rats, rabbits, possums, birds, bats, small wallabies, bandicoots, frogs, lizards
- What eats me: Kookaburras, cats, foxes (as juveniles)
Interesting facts
Carpet pythons are excellent parents. Once she has laid her eggs, she will coil around them in order to maintain the correct temperature for embryo development.