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Burmese python

February 16, 2024

The Burmese python (Python bivittatus) is one of the largest species of snakes. It is native to a large area of Southeast Asia and is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.[1] Until 2009, it was considered a subspecies of the Indian python, but is now recognized as a distinct species.[3] It is an invasive species in Florida as a result of the pet trade.[4]

Burmese python
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Pythonidae
Genus: Python
Species:
P. bivittatus
Binomial name
Python bivittatus
(Kuhl, 1820)
Native distribution in green
Synonyms[2]

Python molurus bivittatus Kuhl, 1820

Description

The Burmese python is a dark-colored non-venomous snake with many brown blotches bordered by black down the back. In the wild, Burmese pythons typically grow to 5 m (16 ft),[5][6] while specimens of more than 7 m (23 ft) are unconfirmed.[7] This species is sexually dimorphic in size; females average only slightly longer, but are considerably heavier and bulkier than the males. For example, length-weight comparisons in captive Burmese pythons for individual females have shown: at 3.47 m (11 ft 5 in) length, a specimen weighed 29 kg (64 lb), a specimen of just over 4 m (13 ft) weighed 36 kg (79 lb), a specimen of 4.5 m (15 ft) weighed 40 kg (88 lb), and a specimen of 5 m (16 ft) weighed 75 kg (165 lb). In comparison, length-weight comparisons for males found: a specimen of 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) weighed 12 kg (26 lb), 2.97 m (9 ft 9 in) weighed 14.5 kg (32 lb), a specimen of 3 m (9.8 ft) weighed 7 kg (15 lb), and a specimen of 3.05 m (10.0 ft) weighed 18.5 kg (41 lb).[8][9][10][11][12] In general, individuals over 5 m (16 ft) are rare.[13] The record for maximum length of Burmese pythons is 5.79 m (19 ft 0 in) and was caught 10 July 2023 in South Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve.[14] Widely published data of specimens reported to have been several feet longer are not verified.[7] At her death, a Burmese named "Baby" was the heaviest snake recorded in the world at the time at 182.8 kg (403 lb),[7] much heavier than any wild snake ever measured.[15] Her length was measured at 5.74 m (18 ft 10 in) circa 1999.[7] The minimum size for adults is 2.35 m (7 ft 9 in).[16] Dwarf forms occur in Java, Bali, and Sulawesi, with an average length of 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in Bali,[17] and a maximum of 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) on Sulawesi.[18] Wild individuals average 3.7 m (12 ft) long,[5][6] but have been known to reach 5.79 m (19 ft 0 in).[14]

Diseases

In both their native and invasive range they suffer from Raillietiella orientalis (a pentastome parasitic disease).[19]

Distribution and habitat

The Burmese python occurs throughout Southern and Southeast Asia, including eastern India, southeastern Nepal, western Bhutan, southeastern Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, northern continental Malaysia, and southern China in Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, and Yunnan.[20] It also occurs in Hong Kong, and in Indonesia on Java, southern Sulawesi, Bali, and Sumbawa.[21] It has also been reported in Kinmen.[22]

It is an excellent swimmer and needs a permanent source of water. It lives in grasslands, marshes, swamps, rocky foothills, woodlands, river valleys, and jungles with open clearings. It is a good climber and has a prehensile tail. It can stay in water for 30 minutes but mostly stays on land.[citation needed]

As an invasive species

Main article: Burmese pythons in Florida
 
United States range in 2007
 
A captured Burmese python in the Florida Everglades

Python invasion has been particularly extensive, notably across South Florida, where a large number of pythons can now be found in the Florida Everglades.[23][24] Between 1996 and 2006, the Burmese python gained popularity in the pet trade, with more than 90,000 snakes imported into the U.S.[25] The current number of Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades may have reached a minimum viable population and become an invasive species. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 was deemed responsible for the destruction of a python-breeding facility and zoo, and these escaped snakes spread and populated areas into the Everglades.[26] More than 1,330 have been captured in the Everglades.[27] A genetic study in 2017 revealed that the python population is composed of hybrids between the Burmese python and Indian python.[28]

By 2007, the Burmese python was found in northern Florida and in the coastal areas of the Florida Panhandle. The importation of Burmese pythons was banned in the United States in January 2012 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.[29] A 2012 report stated, "in areas where the snakes are well established, foxes, and rabbits have disappeared. Sightings of raccoons are down by 99.3%, opossums by 98.9%, and white-tailed deer by 94.1%."[30] Road surveys between 2003 and 2011 indicated an 87.3% decrease in bobcat populations, and in some areas rabbits have not been detected at all.[31] Experimental efforts to reintroduce rabbit populations to areas where rabbits have been completely eliminated have mostly failed "due to high (77% of mortalities) rates of predation by pythons."[32] Bird and coyote populations may be threatened, as well as the already-rare Florida panther.[30] In addition to this correlational relationship, the pythons have also been experimentally shown to decrease marsh rabbit populations, further suggesting they are responsible for many of the recorded mammal declines. They may also outcompete native predators for food.[33]

For example, Burmese pythons also compete with the native American alligator, and numerous instances of alligators and pythons attacking—and in some cases, preying on—each other have been reported and recorded.

By 2011, researchers identified up to 25 species of birds from nine avian orders in the digestive tract remains of 85 Burmese pythons found in Everglades National Park.[34] Native bird populations are suffering a negative impact from the introduction of the Burmese python in Florida; among these bird species, the wood stork is of specific concern, now listed as federally endangered.[34]

Numerous efforts have been made to eliminate the Burmese python population in the last decade.[when?] Understanding the preferred habitat of the species is needed to narrow down the python hunt. Burmese pythons have been found to select broad-leafed and low-flooded habitats. Broad-leafed habitats comprise cypress, overstory, and coniferous forest. Though aquatic marsh environments would be a great source for prey, the pythons seem to prioritize environments allowing for morphological and behavioral camouflage to be protected from predators.[clarification needed] Also, the Burmese pythons in Florida have been found to prefer elevated habitats, since this provides the optimal conditions for nesting. In addition to elevated habitats, edge habitats are common places where Burmese pythons are found for thermoregulation, nesting, and hunting purposes.[25]

One of the Burmese python eradication movements with the biggest influence was the 2013 Python Challenge in Florida. This was a month-long contest wherein a total of 68 pythons were removed. The contest offered incentives such as prizes for longest and greatest number of captured pythons. The purpose of the challenge was to raise awareness about the invasive species, increase participation from the public and agency cooperation, and to remove as many pythons as possible from the Florida Everglades.[35]

A study from 2017 introduced a new method for identifying the presence of Burmese pythons in southern Florida; this method involves the screening of mosquito blood. Since the introduction of the Burmese python in Florida, mosquito communities use the pythons as hosts even though they are recently introduced.[36]

Invasive Burmese pythons also face certain physiological changes. Unlike their native South Asian counterparts who spend long periods fasting due to seasonal variation in prey availability, pythons in Florida feed year-round due to the constant availability of food. They are also vulnerable to cold stress, with winter freezes resulting in mortality rates of up to 90%. Genomic data suggests natural selection on these populations favors increased thermal tolerance as a result of these high-mortality freezes.[37]

They have carried Raillietiella orientalis (a pentastome parasitic disease) with them from Southeast Asia. Other reptiles in Florida have become infested, and the parasite appears to have become endemic.[19]

In April 2019, researchers captured and killed a large Burmese python in Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve. It was more than 5.2 m (17 ft) long, weighed 140 lb (64 kg), and contained 73 developing eggs.[38]

In December 2021, a Burmese python was captured in Florida that weighed 98 kg (215 lb) and had a length of 5.5 m (18 ft); it contained a record 122 developing eggs.[39]

In July 2023, local hunters captured and killed a 19-foot long Burmese python in Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve.[14]

Behavior

Burmese pythons are mainly nocturnal rainforest dwellers.[40] When young, they are equally at home on the ground and in trees, but as they gain girth, they tend to restrict most of their movements to the ground. They are also excellent swimmers, being able to stay submerged for up to half an hour. Burmese pythons spend the majority of their time hidden in the underbrush. In the northern parts of its range, the Burmese python may brumate for some months during the cold season in a hollow tree, a hole in the riverbank, or under rocks. Brumation[41] is biologically distinct from hibernation. While the behavior has similar benefits, allowing organisms to endure the winter without moving, it also involves the preparation of both male and female reproductive organs for the upcoming breeding season. The Florida population also goes through brumation.[42]

They tend to be solitary and are usually found in pairs only when mating. Burmese pythons breed in the early spring, with females laying clutches of 12–36 eggs in March or April. They remain with the eggs until they hatch, wrapping around them and twitching their muscles in such a way as to raise the ambient temperature around the eggs by several degrees. Once the hatchlings use their egg tooth to cut their way out of their eggs, no further maternal care is given. The newly hatched babies often remain inside their eggs until they are ready to complete their first shedding of skin, after which they hunt for their first meal.[43]

Diet

Like all snakes, the Burmese python is carnivorous. Its diet consists primarily of birds and mammals, but also includes amphibians and reptiles. It is a sit-and-wait predator, meaning it spends most of its time staying relatively still, waiting for prey to approach, then striking rapidly.[44] The snake grabs a prey animal with its sharp teeth, then wraps its body around the animal to kill it through constriction.[45] The python then swallows its prey whole. It is often found near human habitation due to the presence of rats, mice, and other vermin as a food source. However, its equal affinity for domesticated birds and mammals means it is often treated as a pest. In captivity, its diet consists primarily of commercially available appropriately sized rats, graduating to larger prey such as rabbits and poultry as it grows. As an invasive species in Florida, Burmese pythons primarily eat a variety of small mammals including foxes, rabbits, and raccoons. Due to their high predation levels, they have been implicated in the decline and even disappearance of many mammal species.[4][33] In their invasive range, pythons also eat birds and occasionally other reptiles. Exceptionally large pythons may even require larger food items such as pigs or goats, and are known to have attacked and eaten alligators and adult deer in Florida.[46][47]

Digestion

The digestive response of Burmese pythons to such large prey has made them a model species for digestive physiology. Its sit-and-wait hunting style is characterized by long fasting periods in between meals, with Burmese pythons typically feeding every month or two, but sometimes fasting for as long as 18 months.[44] As digestive tissues are energetically costly to maintain, they are downregulated during fasting periods to conserve energy when they are not in use.[48] A fasting python has a reduced stomach volume and acidity, reduced intestinal mass, and a 'normal' heart volume. After ingesting prey, the entire digestive system undergoes a massive re-modelling, with rapid hypertrophy of the intestines, production of stomach acid, and a 40% increase in mass of the ventricle of the heart to fuel the digestive process.[49] During digestion, the snake's oxygen consumption rises drastically as well, increasing with meal size by 17 to 40 times its resting rate.[44] This dramatic increase is a result of the energetic cost of restarting many aspects of the digestive system, from rebuilding the stomach and small intestine to producing hydrochloric acid to be secreted in the stomach. Hydrochloric acid production is a significant component of the energetic cost of digestion, as digesting whole prey items requires the animal to be broken down without the use of teeth, either for chewing or tearing into smaller pieces. To compensate, once food has been ingested, Burmese pythons begin producing large amounts of acid to make the stomach acidic enough to turn the food into a semi-liquid that can be passed through to the small intestine and undergo the rest of the digestive process.

The energy cost is highest in the first few days after eating when these regenerative processes are most active, meaning Burmese pythons rely on existing food energy storage to digest a new meal.[44][50] Overall, the entire digestive process from food intake to defecation lasts 8–14 days.[48]

Conservation

 
Leather goods and skins of Burmese pythons and reticulated pythons (Malayopython reticulatus) at a local shop at Mandalay, Myanmar

The Burmese python is listed on CITES Appendix II.[1] It has been listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 2012, as the wild population is estimated to have declined by at least 30% in the first decade of the 21st century due to habitat loss and over-harvesting.[1]

To maintain Burmese python populations, the IUCN recommends increased conservation legislation and enforcement at the national and international levels to reduce harvesting across the snake's native range. The IUCN also recommends increased research into its population ecology and threats. In Hong Kong, it is a protected species under Wild Animals Protection Ordinance Cap 170. It is also protected in Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia. However, it is still common only in Hong Kong and Thailand, with rare to very rare statuses in the rest of its range.[citation needed]

In captivity

 
Audience volunteers holding an adult Burmese python
An amelanistic Burmese python at a zoo in Japan

Burmese pythons are often sold as pets, and are made popular by their attractive coloration and apparently easy-going nature. However, they have a rapid growth rate, and can exceed 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) in length in a year if power fed. However this may cause health issues in the future. By age four, they will have reached their adult size, though they continue growing very slowly throughout their lives, which may exceed 20 years.

Although the species has a reputation for docility, they are very powerful animals – capable of inflicting severe bites and even killing by constriction.[51][52][53][54][55][56] They also consume large amounts of food, and due to their size, require large, often custom-built, secure enclosures. As a result, some are released into the wild, and become invasive species that devastate the environment. For this reason, some jurisdictions (including Florida, due to the python invasion in the Everglades[57]) have placed restrictions on the keeping of Burmese pythons as pets. Violators could be imprisoned for more than seven years or fined $500,000 if convicted.

Burmese pythons are opportunistic feeders;[58] they eat almost any time food is offered, and often act hungry even when they have recently eaten. As a result, they are often overfed, causing obesity-related problems to be common in captive Burmese pythons.

Like the much smaller ball python, Burmese pythons are known to be easygoing or timid creatures, which means that if cared for properly, they can easily adjust to living near humans.[59]

Handling

Although pythons are typically afraid of people due to their great stature, and generally avoid them, special care is still required when handling them. Given their adult strength, multiple handlers (up to one person per meter of snake) are usually recommended.[60] Some jurisdictions require owners to hold special licenses, and as with any wild animal being kept in captivity, treating them with the respect an animal of this size commands is important.[61]

Variations

 
Caramel Burmese python

The Burmese python is frequently captive-bred for color, pattern, and more recently, size. Its amelanistic form is especially popular and is the most widely available morph. This morph is white with patterns in butterscotch yellow and burnt orange. Also, "labyrinth" specimens with maze-like patterns, khaki-colored "green", and "granite" with many small angular spots are available. Breeders have recently begun working with an island lineage of Burmese pythons. Early reports indicate that these dwarf Burmese pythons have slightly different coloring and pattern from their mainland relatives and do not grow much over 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) in length. One of the most sought-after of these variations is the leucistic Burmese. This particular variety is very rare, being entirely bright white with no pattern and blue eyes, and has only in 2008/2009 been reproduced in captivity as the homozygous form (referred to as "super" by reptile keepers) of the co-dominant hypomelanistic trait. The caramel Burmese python has a caramel-colored pattern with "milk-chocolate" eyes.

See also

References

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  58. ^ Orzechowski SC, Romagosa CM, Frederick PC (2019-07-01). "Invasive Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) are novel nest predators in wading bird colonies of the Florida Everglades". Biological Invasions. 21 (7): 2333–2344. doi:10.1007/s10530-019-01979-x. S2CID 102350541.
  59. ^ . www.gbif.org. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  60. ^ "Playing with the Big Boys: Handling Large Constrictors". www.anapsid.org. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  61. ^ "Captive Animals - Most states have no laws governing captive wild animals". Animal Legal Defense Fund. Retrieved 8 April 2019.

Further reading

  • Christy (2008). The Lizard King: The True Crimes and Passions of the World's Greatest Reptile Smugglers. New York: TWELVE. ISBN 978-0-446-58095-3.
  • Mattison C (1999). Snake. DK Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7894-4660-2.
  • Willson JD, Dorcas ME, Snow RW (2010-11-21). "Identifying plausible scenarios for the establishment of invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus) in Southern Florida". Biological Invasions. 13 (7): 1493–1504. doi:10.1007/s10530-010-9908-3. S2CID 207096799.

External links

February 16, 2024
burmese, python, python, bivittatus, largest, species, snakes, native, large, area, southeast, asia, listed, vulnerable, iucn, list, until, 2009, considered, subspecies, indian, python, recognized, distinct, species, invasive, species, florida, result, trade, . The Burmese python Python bivittatus is one of the largest species of snakes It is native to a large area of Southeast Asia and is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List 1 Until 2009 it was considered a subspecies of the Indian python but is now recognized as a distinct species 3 It is an invasive species in Florida as a result of the pet trade 4 Burmese pythonConservation statusVulnerable IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder SerpentesFamily PythonidaeGenus PythonSpecies P bivittatusBinomial namePython bivittatus Kuhl 1820 Native distribution in greenSynonyms 2 Python molurus bivittatus Kuhl 1820 Contents 1 Description 1 1 Diseases 2 Distribution and habitat 3 As an invasive species 4 Behavior 5 Diet 5 1 Digestion 6 Conservation 7 In captivity 7 1 Handling 7 2 Variations 8 See also 9 References 10 Further reading 11 External linksDescriptionThe Burmese python is a dark colored non venomous snake with many brown blotches bordered by black down the back In the wild Burmese pythons typically grow to 5 m 16 ft 5 6 while specimens of more than 7 m 23 ft are unconfirmed 7 This species is sexually dimorphic in size females average only slightly longer but are considerably heavier and bulkier than the males For example length weight comparisons in captive Burmese pythons for individual females have shown at 3 47 m 11 ft 5 in length a specimen weighed 29 kg 64 lb a specimen of just over 4 m 13 ft weighed 36 kg 79 lb a specimen of 4 5 m 15 ft weighed 40 kg 88 lb and a specimen of 5 m 16 ft weighed 75 kg 165 lb In comparison length weight comparisons for males found a specimen of 2 8 m 9 ft 2 in weighed 12 kg 26 lb 2 97 m 9 ft 9 in weighed 14 5 kg 32 lb a specimen of 3 m 9 8 ft weighed 7 kg 15 lb and a specimen of 3 05 m 10 0 ft weighed 18 5 kg 41 lb 8 9 10 11 12 In general individuals over 5 m 16 ft are rare 13 The record for maximum length of Burmese pythons is 5 79 m 19 ft 0 in and was caught 10 July 2023 in South Florida s Big Cypress National Preserve 14 Widely published data of specimens reported to have been several feet longer are not verified 7 At her death a Burmese named Baby was the heaviest snake recorded in the world at the time at 182 8 kg 403 lb 7 much heavier than any wild snake ever measured 15 Her length was measured at 5 74 m 18 ft 10 in circa 1999 7 The minimum size for adults is 2 35 m 7 ft 9 in 16 Dwarf forms occur in Java Bali and Sulawesi with an average length of 2 m 6 ft 7 in in Bali 17 and a maximum of 2 5 m 8 ft 2 in on Sulawesi 18 Wild individuals average 3 7 m 12 ft long 5 6 but have been known to reach 5 79 m 19 ft 0 in 14 Diseases In both their native and invasive range they suffer from Raillietiella orientalis a pentastome parasitic disease 19 Distribution and habitatThe Burmese python occurs throughout Southern and Southeast Asia including eastern India southeastern Nepal western Bhutan southeastern Bangladesh Myanmar Thailand Laos Cambodia Vietnam northern continental Malaysia and southern China in Fujian Jiangxi Guangdong Hainan Guangxi and Yunnan 20 It also occurs in Hong Kong and in Indonesia on Java southern Sulawesi Bali and Sumbawa 21 It has also been reported in Kinmen 22 It is an excellent swimmer and needs a permanent source of water It lives in grasslands marshes swamps rocky foothills woodlands river valleys and jungles with open clearings It is a good climber and has a prehensile tail It can stay in water for 30 minutes but mostly stays on land citation needed As an invasive speciesMain article Burmese pythons in Florida nbsp United States range in 2007 nbsp A captured Burmese python in the Florida EvergladesPython invasion has been particularly extensive notably across South Florida where a large number of pythons can now be found in the Florida Everglades 23 24 Between 1996 and 2006 the Burmese python gained popularity in the pet trade with more than 90 000 snakes imported into the U S 25 The current number of Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades may have reached a minimum viable population and become an invasive species Hurricane Andrew in 1992 was deemed responsible for the destruction of a python breeding facility and zoo and these escaped snakes spread and populated areas into the Everglades 26 More than 1 330 have been captured in the Everglades 27 A genetic study in 2017 revealed that the python population is composed of hybrids between the Burmese python and Indian python 28 By 2007 the Burmese python was found in northern Florida and in the coastal areas of the Florida Panhandle The importation of Burmese pythons was banned in the United States in January 2012 by the U S Department of the Interior 29 A 2012 report stated in areas where the snakes are well established foxes and rabbits have disappeared Sightings of raccoons are down by 99 3 opossums by 98 9 and white tailed deer by 94 1 30 Road surveys between 2003 and 2011 indicated an 87 3 decrease in bobcat populations and in some areas rabbits have not been detected at all 31 Experimental efforts to reintroduce rabbit populations to areas where rabbits have been completely eliminated have mostly failed due to high 77 of mortalities rates of predation by pythons 32 Bird and coyote populations may be threatened as well as the already rare Florida panther 30 In addition to this correlational relationship the pythons have also been experimentally shown to decrease marsh rabbit populations further suggesting they are responsible for many of the recorded mammal declines They may also outcompete native predators for food 33 For example Burmese pythons also compete with the native American alligator and numerous instances of alligators and pythons attacking and in some cases preying on each other have been reported and recorded By 2011 researchers identified up to 25 species of birds from nine avian orders in the digestive tract remains of 85 Burmese pythons found in Everglades National Park 34 Native bird populations are suffering a negative impact from the introduction of the Burmese python in Florida among these bird species the wood stork is of specific concern now listed as federally endangered 34 Numerous efforts have been made to eliminate the Burmese python population in the last decade when Understanding the preferred habitat of the species is needed to narrow down the python hunt Burmese pythons have been found to select broad leafed and low flooded habitats Broad leafed habitats comprise cypress overstory and coniferous forest Though aquatic marsh environments would be a great source for prey the pythons seem to prioritize environments allowing for morphological and behavioral camouflage to be protected from predators clarification needed Also the Burmese pythons in Florida have been found to prefer elevated habitats since this provides the optimal conditions for nesting In addition to elevated habitats edge habitats are common places where Burmese pythons are found for thermoregulation nesting and hunting purposes 25 One of the Burmese python eradication movements with the biggest influence was the 2013 Python Challenge in Florida This was a month long contest wherein a total of 68 pythons were removed The contest offered incentives such as prizes for longest and greatest number of captured pythons The purpose of the challenge was to raise awareness about the invasive species increase participation from the public and agency cooperation and to remove as many pythons as possible from the Florida Everglades 35 A study from 2017 introduced a new method for identifying the presence of Burmese pythons in southern Florida this method involves the screening of mosquito blood Since the introduction of the Burmese python in Florida mosquito communities use the pythons as hosts even though they are recently introduced 36 Invasive Burmese pythons also face certain physiological changes Unlike their native South Asian counterparts who spend long periods fasting due to seasonal variation in prey availability pythons in Florida feed year round due to the constant availability of food They are also vulnerable to cold stress with winter freezes resulting in mortality rates of up to 90 Genomic data suggests natural selection on these populations favors increased thermal tolerance as a result of these high mortality freezes 37 They have carried Raillietiella orientalis a pentastome parasitic disease with them from Southeast Asia Other reptiles in Florida have become infested and the parasite appears to have become endemic 19 In April 2019 researchers captured and killed a large Burmese python in Florida s Big Cypress National Preserve It was more than 5 2 m 17 ft long weighed 140 lb 64 kg and contained 73 developing eggs 38 In December 2021 a Burmese python was captured in Florida that weighed 98 kg 215 lb and had a length of 5 5 m 18 ft it contained a record 122 developing eggs 39 In July 2023 local hunters captured and killed a 19 foot long Burmese python in Florida s Big Cypress National Preserve 14 BehaviorBurmese pythons are mainly nocturnal rainforest dwellers 40 When young they are equally at home on the ground and in trees but as they gain girth they tend to restrict most of their movements to the ground They are also excellent swimmers being able to stay submerged for up to half an hour Burmese pythons spend the majority of their time hidden in the underbrush In the northern parts of its range the Burmese python may brumate for some months during the cold season in a hollow tree a hole in the riverbank or under rocks Brumation 41 is biologically distinct from hibernation While the behavior has similar benefits allowing organisms to endure the winter without moving it also involves the preparation of both male and female reproductive organs for the upcoming breeding season The Florida population also goes through brumation 42 They tend to be solitary and are usually found in pairs only when mating Burmese pythons breed in the early spring with females laying clutches of 12 36 eggs in March or April They remain with the eggs until they hatch wrapping around them and twitching their muscles in such a way as to raise the ambient temperature around the eggs by several degrees Once the hatchlings use their egg tooth to cut their way out of their eggs no further maternal care is given The newly hatched babies often remain inside their eggs until they are ready to complete their first shedding of skin after which they hunt for their first meal 43 DietLike all snakes the Burmese python is carnivorous Its diet consists primarily of birds and mammals but also includes amphibians and reptiles It is a sit and wait predator meaning it spends most of its time staying relatively still waiting for prey to approach then striking rapidly 44 The snake grabs a prey animal with its sharp teeth then wraps its body around the animal to kill it through constriction 45 The python then swallows its prey whole It is often found near human habitation due to the presence of rats mice and other vermin as a food source However its equal affinity for domesticated birds and mammals means it is often treated as a pest In captivity its diet consists primarily of commercially available appropriately sized rats graduating to larger prey such as rabbits and poultry as it grows As an invasive species in Florida Burmese pythons primarily eat a variety of small mammals including foxes rabbits and raccoons Due to their high predation levels they have been implicated in the decline and even disappearance of many mammal species 4 33 In their invasive range pythons also eat birds and occasionally other reptiles Exceptionally large pythons may even require larger food items such as pigs or goats and are known to have attacked and eaten alligators and adult deer in Florida 46 47 Digestion The digestive response of Burmese pythons to such large prey has made them a model species for digestive physiology Its sit and wait hunting style is characterized by long fasting periods in between meals with Burmese pythons typically feeding every month or two but sometimes fasting for as long as 18 months 44 As digestive tissues are energetically costly to maintain they are downregulated during fasting periods to conserve energy when they are not in use 48 A fasting python has a reduced stomach volume and acidity reduced intestinal mass and a normal heart volume After ingesting prey the entire digestive system undergoes a massive re modelling with rapid hypertrophy of the intestines production of stomach acid and a 40 increase in mass of the ventricle of the heart to fuel the digestive process 49 During digestion the snake s oxygen consumption rises drastically as well increasing with meal size by 17 to 40 times its resting rate 44 This dramatic increase is a result of the energetic cost of restarting many aspects of the digestive system from rebuilding the stomach and small intestine to producing hydrochloric acid to be secreted in the stomach Hydrochloric acid production is a significant component of the energetic cost of digestion as digesting whole prey items requires the animal to be broken down without the use of teeth either for chewing or tearing into smaller pieces To compensate once food has been ingested Burmese pythons begin producing large amounts of acid to make the stomach acidic enough to turn the food into a semi liquid that can be passed through to the small intestine and undergo the rest of the digestive process The energy cost is highest in the first few days after eating when these regenerative processes are most active meaning Burmese pythons rely on existing food energy storage to digest a new meal 44 50 Overall the entire digestive process from food intake to defecation lasts 8 14 days 48 Conservation nbsp Leather goods and skins of Burmese pythons and reticulated pythons Malayopython reticulatus at a local shop at Mandalay MyanmarThe Burmese python is listed on CITES Appendix II 1 It has been listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 2012 as the wild population is estimated to have declined by at least 30 in the first decade of the 21st century due to habitat loss and over harvesting 1 To maintain Burmese python populations the IUCN recommends increased conservation legislation and enforcement at the national and international levels to reduce harvesting across the snake s native range The IUCN also recommends increased research into its population ecology and threats In Hong Kong it is a protected species under Wild Animals Protection Ordinance Cap 170 It is also protected in Thailand Vietnam China and Indonesia However it is still common only in Hong Kong and Thailand with rare to very rare statuses in the rest of its range citation needed In captivity nbsp Audience volunteers holding an adult Burmese python source source source source source source source source An amelanistic Burmese python at a zoo in JapanBurmese pythons are often sold as pets and are made popular by their attractive coloration and apparently easy going nature However they have a rapid growth rate and can exceed 2 1 m 6 ft 11 in in length in a year if power fed However this may cause health issues in the future By age four they will have reached their adult size though they continue growing very slowly throughout their lives which may exceed 20 years Although the species has a reputation for docility they are very powerful animals capable of inflicting severe bites and even killing by constriction 51 52 53 54 55 56 They also consume large amounts of food and due to their size require large often custom built secure enclosures As a result some are released into the wild and become invasive species that devastate the environment For this reason some jurisdictions including Florida due to the python invasion in the Everglades 57 have placed restrictions on the keeping of Burmese pythons as pets Violators could be imprisoned for more than seven years or fined 500 000 if convicted Burmese pythons are opportunistic feeders 58 they eat almost any time food is offered and often act hungry even when they have recently eaten As a result they are often overfed causing obesity related problems to be common in captive Burmese pythons Like the much smaller ball python Burmese pythons are known to be easygoing or timid creatures which means that if cared for properly they can easily adjust to living near humans 59 Handling Although pythons are typically afraid of people due to their great stature and generally avoid them special care is still required when handling them Given their adult strength multiple handlers up to one person per meter of snake are usually recommended 60 Some jurisdictions require owners to hold special licenses and as with any wild animal being kept in captivity treating them with the respect an animal of this size commands is important 61 Variations nbsp Caramel Burmese pythonThe Burmese python is frequently captive bred for color pattern and more recently size Its amelanistic form is especially popular and is the most widely available morph This morph is white with patterns in butterscotch yellow and burnt orange Also labyrinth specimens with maze like patterns khaki colored green and granite with many small angular spots are available Breeders have recently begun working with an island lineage of Burmese pythons Early reports indicate that these dwarf Burmese pythons have slightly different coloring and pattern from their mainland relatives and do not grow much over 2 1 m 6 ft 11 in in length One of the most sought after of these variations is the leucistic Burmese This particular variety is very rare being entirely bright white with no pattern and blue eyes and has only in 2008 2009 been reproduced in captivity as the homozygous form referred to as super by reptile keepers of the co dominant hypomelanistic trait The caramel Burmese python has a caramel colored pattern with milk chocolate eyes See alsoInclusion body disease a viral disease affecting pythonsReferences a b c d Stuart B Nguyen T Q Thy N Grismer L Chan Ard T Iskandar D Golynsky E amp Lau M W 2019 errata version of 2019 assessment Python bivittatus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019 e T193451A151341916 Retrieved 6 April 2021 Python bivittatus at the Reptarium cz Reptile Database Jacobs H J Auliya M Bohme W 2009 On the taxonomy of the Burmese Python Python molurus bivittatus KUHL 1820 specifically on the Sulawesi population Sauria 31 3 5 11 a b Sarill M 2016 Burmese Pythons in the Everglades Berkeley Rausser College of Natural Resources Retrieved 2021 03 17 a b Smith MA 1943 Python molurus bivittatus pp 108 109 in The Fauna of British India Ceylon and Burma Including the Whole of the Indo Chinese Sub region Reptilia and Amphibia Vol III Serpentes London Secretary of State for India Taylor and Francis a b Campden Main SM 1970 A Field Guide to the Snakes of South Vietnam Washington District of Columbia pp 8 9 a b c d Barker D G Barten S L Ehrsam J P amp Daddono L 2012 The corrected lengths of two well known giant pythons and the establishment of a new maximum length record for Burmese Pythons Python bivittatus PDF Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 47 1 1 6 Retrieved 2020 03 02 Van Mierop L H amp Barnard S M 1976 Observations on the reproduction of Python molurus bivittatus Reptilia Serpentes Boidae Journal of Herpetology 10 4 333 340 doi 10 2307 1563071 JSTOR 1563071 Barker D G Murphy J B amp Smith K W 1979 Social behavior in a captive group of Indian pythons Python molurus Serpentes Boidae with formation of a linear social hierarchy Copeia 1979 3 466 471 doi 10 2307 1443224 JSTOR 1443224 Marcellini D L amp Peters A 1982 Preliminary observations on endogeneous heat production after feeding in Python molurus Journal of Herpetology 16 1 92 95 doi 10 2307 1563914 JSTOR 1563914 Jacobson E R Homer B amp Adams W 1991 Endocarditis and congestive heart failure in a Burmese python Python molurus bivittatus Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 22 245 248 Groot T V Bruins E amp Breeuwer J A 2003 Molecular genetic evidence for parthenogenesis in the Burmese python Python molurus bivittatus Heredity 90 2 130 135 doi 10 1038 sj hdy 6800210 PMID 12634818 Saint Girons H 1972 Les serpents du Cambodge Memoires du Museum national d Histoire naturelle Serie A 40 41 a b c Jones Dustin 13 July 2023 A record breaking Burmese python as long as a giraffe is tall caught in Florida NPR Retrieved 14 July 2023 Rivas J A 2000 The life history of the green anaconda Eunectes murinus with emphasis on its reproductive Biology PDF Ph D thesis University of Tennessee Archived from the original PDF on 2016 03 03 Murphy J C amp Henderson R W 1997 Tales of Giant Snakes A Historical Natural History of Anacondas and Pythons Krieger Pub Co pp 2 19 37 42 55 56 ISBN 0 89464 995 7 McKay J L 2006 A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Bali Krieger Publishing Company pp 13 14 18 86 ISBN 1 57524 190 0 De Lang R amp Vogel G 2005 The Snakes of Sulawesi A Field Guide to the Land Snakes of Sulawesi with Identification Keys Frankfurt Contributions to Natural History Band 25 ed Chimaira pp 23 27 198 201 ISBN 3 930612 85 2 a b Waymer J 2019 Bloodsucking worms in pythons are killing Florida snakes study says Florida Today Retrieved 2021 12 16 Barker D G Barker T M 2010 The Distribution of the Burmese Python Python bivittatus in China PDF Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 45 5 86 88 Archived from the original PDF on 2016 03 03 Retrieved 2012 06 26 Barker D G Barker T M 2008 The distribution of the Burmese Python Python molurus bivittatus PDF Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 43 3 33 38 Archived from the original PDF on 2014 05 20 Retrieved 2012 10 17 Breuer H Murphy W C 2009 2010 Python molurus bivittatus Snakes of Taiwan Archived from the original on 26 June 2012 Retrieved 17 October 2012 Top 10 Invasive Species Time 2010 Archived from the original on February 6 2010 Retrieved 27 April 2010 Species Profile Burmese Python Python molurus bivittatus National Invasive Species Information Center United States National Agricultural Library a b Walters TM Mazzotti FJ Fitz HC 2016 Habitat selection by the invasive species Burmese python in Southern Florida Journal of Herpetology 50 1 50 56 doi 10 1670 14 098 S2CID 86327588 Democrats Hold Hearing on Administration s Plan to Constrict Snakes in the Everglades House Committee on Natural Resources Naturalresources house gov 2010 Archived from the original on 16 September 2012 Retrieved 9 August 2012 US National Park Service website December 31 2009 nps gov Retrieved 8 April 2019 Hunter M E Johnson N A Smith B J Davis M C Butterfield John S S Snow R W Hart K M 2017 Cytonuclear discordance in the Florida Everglades invasive Burmese python Python bivittatus population reveals possible hybridization with the Indian python P molurus Ecology and Evolution 8 17 9034 9047 doi 10 1002 ece3 4423 PMC 6157680 PMID 30271564 Salazar Announces Ban on Importation and Interstate Transportation of Four Giant Snakes that Threaten Everglades doi gov Press release January 17 2012 Retrieved April 26 2022 a b Adams G 2012 Pythons are squeezing the life out of the Everglades scientists warn The Independent London Dorcas ME Willson JD Reed RN Snow RW Rochford MR Miller MA Meshaka WE Andreadis PT Mazzotti FJ Romagosa CM Hart KM 2012 Severe mammal declines coincide with proliferation of invasive Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 7 2418 2422 doi 10 1073 pnas 1115226109 PMC 3289325 PMID 22308381 Willson J 2017 Indirect effects of invasive Burmese pythons on ecosystems in southern Florida Journal of Applied Ecology 54 4 1251 1258 doi 10 1111 1365 2664 12844 a b McCleery RA Sovie A Reed RN Cunningham MW Hunter ME Hart KM 2015 Marsh rabbit mortalities tie pythons to the precipitous decline of mammals in the Everglades Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences 282 1805 20150120 doi 10 1098 rspb 2015 0120 PMC 4389622 PMID 25788598 a b Dove CJ Snow RW Rochford MR Mazzotti FJ 2011 Birds Consumed by the Invasive Burmese Python Python molurus bivittatus in Everglades National Park Florida USA The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 123 1 126 131 doi 10 1676 10 092 1 JSTOR 23033493 S2CID 55495469 Mazzotti FJ Rochford M Vinci J Jeffery BM Eckles JK Dove C Sommers KP 2016 Implications of the 2013 Python Challenge for Ecology and Management of Python molorus bivittatus Burmese python in Florida Southeastern Naturalist 15 sp8 63 74 doi 10 1656 058 015 sp807 JSTOR 26454670 S2CID 90352897 Reeves LE Krysko KL Avery ML Gillett Kaufman JL Kawahara AY Connelly CR Kaufman PE 2018 01 17 Paul R ed Interactions between the invasive Burmese python Python bivittatus Kuhl and the local mosquito community in Florida USA PLOS ONE 13 1 e0190633 Bibcode 2018PLoSO 1390633R doi 10 1371 journal pone 0190633 PMC 5771569 PMID 29342169 Card DC Perry BW Adams RH Schield DR Young AS Andrew AL et al 2018 Novel ecological and climatic conditions drive rapid adaptation in invasive Florida Burmese pythons Molecular Ecology 27 23 4744 4757 doi 10 1111 mec 14885 PMID 30269397 Mettler K A 17 foot 140 pound python was captured in a Florida park Officials say it s a record The Washington Post Retrieved 23 May 2020 Williams A B Caught Record breaking 18 foot Burmese python pulled from Collier County wilderness The News Press Retrieved 2022 06 25 Evans S 2003 Python molurus Burmese Python The deep Scaly Project Digital Morphology Retrieved 2007 07 25 Glossary of reptile and amphibian terminology Kingsnake com Retrieved 8 April 2019 permanent dead link Krusling Lindsey A 1 4 Invasive species Burmese python Python bivittatus and its effect in Florida In Shaul Travis R Shaul Kylienne A Weaver Ella M eds Environmental ScienceBites Vol 2 The Ohio State University Ghosh A 11 July 2012 Burmese Python AnimalSpot net Retrieved 27 December 2012 a b c d Secor SM Diamond J June 1995 Adaptive responses to feeding in Burmese pythons pay before pumping The Journal of Experimental Biology 198 Pt 6 1313 1325 doi 10 1242 jeb 198 6 1313 PMID 7782719 Szalay J February 2016 Python Facts livescience com Retrieved 2021 03 17 Photo in the News Python Bursts After Eating Gator Update National Geographic News 5 September 2006 Archived from the original on October 21 2018 Retrieved 8 April 2019 Large Python Captured Killed After Devouring Adult Deer KSEE 24 News Central Valley s News Station Fresno Visalia News Sports Weather Local News Ksee24 com 2011 10 31 Archived from the original on 2012 07 31 Retrieved 9 August 2012 a b Starck JM Beese K January 2001 Structural flexibility of the intestine of Burmese python in response to feeding The Journal of Experimental Biology 204 Pt 2 325 335 doi 10 1242 jeb 204 2 325 PMID 11136618 Secor Stephen M 2008 12 15 Digestive physiology of the Burmese python broad regulation of integrated performance Journal of Experimental Biology Jeb biologists org 211 24 3767 3774 doi 10 1242 jeb 023754 PMID 19043049 S2CID 5545174 Retrieved 9 August 2012 Secor SM May 2003 Gastric function and its contribution to the postprandial metabolic response of the Burmese python Python molurus The Journal of Experimental Biology 206 Pt 10 1621 1630 doi 10 1242 jeb 00300 PMID 12682094 Python Kills Careless Student Zookeeper in Caracas The Telegraph London AP 2008 08 26 ISSN 0307 1235 Archived from the original on 2022 01 12 Retrieved 2019 02 18 Chiszar D Smith HM Petkus A Doughery J 1993 A Fatal Attack on a Teenage Boy by a Captive Burmese Python Python molurus bivittatus in Colorado PDF The Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society Chicago Herpetological Society 28 12 261 ISSN 0009 3564 Archived from the original PDF on 2019 02 18 Kaplan M 1994 The Keeping of Large Pythons Realities and Responsibilities www anapsid org Herp Care Collection Retrieved 2019 02 18 Python Caused Death in Ontario Home in 1992 Case Toronto News CBC News Toronto Canadian Broadcasting Commission Canadian Press 2013 04 13 ISSN 0708 9392 Retrieved 2019 02 17 Davison J 2013 08 07 Python linked Deaths Raise Questions over Exotic Animal Laws News CBC News Toronto Canadian Broadcasting Corporation ISSN 0708 9392 Retrieved 2019 02 17 Dr D H Evans Coroner of Ontario Inquest into the Death of Mark Nevilles Verdict of Coroner s Jury Brampton Ontario June 1992 documentcloud org Retrieved 8 April 2019 Burrage G 30 June 2010 New law makes Burmese python illegal in Florida Abcactionnews com Archived from the original on 2013 05 01 Retrieved 9 August 2012 Orzechowski SC Romagosa CM Frederick PC 2019 07 01 Invasive Burmese pythons Python bivittatus are novel nest predators in wading bird colonies of the Florida Everglades Biological Invasions 21 7 2333 2344 doi 10 1007 s10530 019 01979 x S2CID 102350541 Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820 www gbif org Archived from the original on 22 October 2018 Retrieved 8 April 2019 Playing with the Big Boys Handling Large Constrictors www anapsid org Retrieved 8 September 2017 Captive Animals Most states have no laws governing captive wild animals Animal Legal Defense Fund Retrieved 8 April 2019 Further readingChristy 2008 The Lizard King The True Crimes and Passions of the World s Greatest Reptile Smugglers New York TWELVE ISBN 978 0 446 58095 3 Mattison C 1999 Snake DK Publishing ISBN 978 0 7894 4660 2 Willson JD Dorcas ME Snow RW 2010 11 21 Identifying plausible scenarios for the establishment of invasive Burmese pythons Python molurus in Southern Florida Biological Invasions 13 7 1493 1504 doi 10 1007 s10530 010 9908 3 S2CID 207096799 External linksBurmese python Python molurus EDDMapS State Distribution EDDMapS Species profile Burmese Python Python molurus National Invasive Species Information Center U S Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Burmese python amp oldid 1199017100, wikipedia, 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