The Central African Rock Python (Python sebae) is the largest snake species native to sub-Saharan Africa with the largest reaching a massive 6 metres in length! It is also the eighth-largest snake species in the world.
Average Adult Size: | 3 - 3.5 Metres Long (6 Metres Recorded) |
Diet: | Carnivore |
Lifespan: | 20 - 30 Years |
Natural Habitat: | Forests and near deserts. |
ICUN Red List Rating: | Near Threatened (NT) (2019) |
Description:
These thick-bodied snakes are generally brown-yellow in colour, fading to white on the belly with darker blotches covering the brown areas - although this can vary between individuals. Like all pythons, the Central African Rock Python possesses heat pits around the mouth. Males of this species are typically smaller than females.
Habitat:
The Central African Rock Python can be found throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa in many habitats, from forests, semideserts, grasslands, rocky areas, and savannahs. They can often be found near sources of water.
In 2009, a Central African Rock Python was found in the Florida Everglades starting fears they may breed and establish themselves as an invasive species. This is on top of reports from the 1990s of these snakes being found in the same area.
Diet and Feeding:
Like all pythons, the Central African Rock Python is non-venomous and kills its prey using constriction. These snakes feed on various large rodents, monkeys, large mammals such as antelopes, and other reptiles such as monitor lizards and even crocodiles. They may also feed on rats, dogs, and goats in urban areas.
Breeding:
Breeding season for these snakes takes place during the spring when the female will lay between 20 and 100 hard-shelled eggs in an old animal burrow, termite nest, or similar area before caring for them and protecting them from predators until they hatch around 90 days later. She will then protect the young for another 2 weeks while they grow. This maternal behaviour is unusual for snakes in general.
Conservation:
A lack of education about these animals making people fear them, being hunted for leather in some areas, as well as being collected for the pet trade has reduced this species' population. As a result, they are listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List. Some areas of the Central African Rock Python's habitat are under threat as well, their mangrove and rainforest habitats are being destroyed for the oil industry.
Although not much seems to have been done to protect these snakes, they are currently listed on CITES Appendix II which means the trade of these animals is carefully monitored and controlled. They also occur in a number of protected areas such as the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
This species receives no protection in Florida however as it is considered an invasive species and a threat to native wildlife. In fact, the culling of these snakes is encouraged there.