Python is a genus of non-venomous snakes. The snakes are primarily found in Africa and Asia. One of the species of python family holds the record for being one of the world’s largest snakes. There are a number of snakes that fall under this category, varying in physical, behavioral and habitation patterns. Usually, pythons attack their prey with surprise and suffocate them to death. The color of the snake also helps in this process, as pythons usually have their color matching their habitat and surroundings. Their slow and quiet movements are extremely cautious, not giving any opportunity to the prey to escape. Given below is some interesting and amazing information on Pythons.
Facts about Python
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Pythonidae
Species: 7
Genus: Python
Length: 0.5 m - 10 m
Weight: Up to 40 Kg
Diet: Carnivorous
Natural Habitat: Africa, Asia
Average Age: 20 - 30 years
Age of Maturity: 2 - 8 years
Gestation Period: 3 - 4 months
Number of Eggs: 15 to 100 eggs (depending upon species)
Interesting and amazing Information on Pythons
- Pythons kill their prey by constriction, which means wrapping their own body around the body of the prey, several times. The prey dies of asphyxiation.
- Pythons eat large animals, such as deer, gazelle, etc and swallow them whole.
- It takes weeks and even months for a python to digest the ingested animal.
- Pythons are usually not dangerous to humans.
- Pythons are ambush predators and attack the pray with surprise.
- The color of a python’s skin depends on the region it lives in.
- During the time of incubation, female pythons do not eat anything.
- Some of the species of the python family are very good swimmers.
