Reticulated Python

Physical Characteristics

The average size for a full grown Reticulated Python is about 25 feet. They will grow to between 15 and 25 feet and may at times be longer than 30 feet long. This makes the Reticulated Python the longest snake in the world today. Most Reticulated Pythons are about 300 pounds or a little more. They are beautiful snakes with broad lovely markings the full length of their body.

Habitat and Location: Reticulated Pythons live in the South Eastern portions of Asia. They live in countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, the Phillipines, as well as Indonesia. The Reticulated Python will most often be found near the water. They enjoy swimming and moist air that is found near rivers, lakes, pond and in the rainforest areas of Asia.

Reticulated Pythons, oddly enough, will very frequently be found where there is human interaction. They seem to have tendencies to live near areas where humans are active.

What Do They Eat

The diet of the Reticulated Python is widely ranging and diverse. They like birds as well as mammals. They will eat larger prey such as deer and pigs when they can get it. Being very large they will also eat whole animals that are several times around larger than they are. It appears to be possible that the Reticulated python has also very rarely ingested humans.

The python is an ambush hunter that lies in wait for their prey,and will grasp it very quickly with a strike before winding around and suffocating the prey. They swallow their prey whole, wriggling down over it.

Breeding and Reproduction

Unlike many other constrictors, the Python females do not bear live young, but lay eggs. The female python will breed and then may lay as few as 20 eggs but can lay as many as 100 at a time. The mother coils around the eggs and actually keeps them warm as many birds do. She quivers in a certain way, and the contractions or vibrations of her muscles will cause the temperature of the eggs to actually rise.