Amethystine python

Morelia amethistina
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Pythonidae
Genus:	Morelia
Species:	M. amethistina
Binomial name
Morelia amethistina (Schneider, 1801)
Synonyms
[Boa] Amethistina Schneider, 1801 Python amethystinus – Daudin, 1803 [Constrictor] amethystina – Wagler, 1830 Boa amethystina – Wagler, 1830 Python amethystinus – Schlegel, 1837 [Boa Python] amethystinus – Schlegel, 1837 Liasis amethystinus – Gray, 1842 Liasis amethystinus – A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Liasis (Simalia) amethystinus – Gray, 1849 Aspidopython Jakati Meyer, 1874 Liasis amethystinus – W. Peters & Doria, 1878 Liasis duceboracensis Günther, 1879 Hypaspistes dipsadides Ogilby, 1891 Python amethystinus – Boulenger, 1893 Liasis clarki Barbour, 1914 Liasis a[methistinus]. amethistinus – Stull, 1933 Liasis amethistinus kinghorni Stull, 1933 Liasis amethistinus – Brongersma, 1953 Liasis amethystinus kinghorni – Kinghorn, 1956 Liasis amethystinus amethystinus – Kinghorn, 1956 Liasis amethistinus – Stimson, 1969 Python amethistinus – McDowell, 1975 Morelia amethistina – H.G. Cogger, Cameron & H.M. Cogger, 1983 Australiasis amethistinus – Wells & Wellington, 1984 Australiasis kinghorni – Wells & Wellington, 1984 Morelia amethistina – & Stimson, 1990 M[orelia]. amethistina – Kluge, 1993 Morelia amethystina – Barker & Barker, 1994 Morelia amethistina amethistina – O'Shae, 1996 Morelia amethistina kinghorni – O'Shae, 1996

Morelia amethistina is a non-venomous species of snake, known as the amethystine, scrub python or Sanca permata locally, found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Popular among reptile enthusiasts, and noted for its coloration and size, it is one of the six largest snakes in the world, as measured either by length or weight, and is the largest native snake in Australia and Papua New Guinea. There are currently four subspecies of the nominate race, Morelia amethystina amethystina, which are generally recognized. The Mollucan islands, including Halmahera, Ternate and Tidore are home to Morelia a. tracyei. The Tanimbar Islands are home to a smaller subspecies, Morelia a. nauta. On the island of Seram, Morelia a. clastolepis can be found, and mainland PNG (including the Indonesian western half, once called Irian Jaya—now West Papua) and many of its near offshore islands Morelia a. amethystina is quite common. In Australia, Morelia a. kinghorni is represented.

Specimens have reportedly been measured at more than 8.5 m (27.9 ft) in total length, but this is exceptional, as 5 m (16.4 ft) specimens are already considered large. As is typical for very large constricting snakes, almost no verified specimens of this species have exceeded 6 m (19.7 ft). However, in 1990, while conducting a herpetological survey, Tom Mendelson collected a wild female specimen on Biak Island, far Eastern Indonesia, which measured 22 feet 7 inches. Another huge female, in a report considered reliable by the staff of the Guinness Book of World Records, was measured by S. Dean in 1954 as 7.2 m (23.6 ft). A typical adult specimen will measure around 2 to 4 m (6.6 to 13.1 ft). Females typically weigh around 15 kg (33 lb). Some exceptional specimens have been confirmed to weigh over 30 kg (66 lb) and unconfirmed outsized specimens have been reported to scale 90 kg (200 lb), although no specimen of this enormous size has been authenticated. Males are much smaller and slimmer, averaging at 5.1 kg (11 lb) in mass at maturity, and occasionally weighing upwards of 11 kg (24 lb). The body is relatively slim, unlike those of many other large members of this family.

The specific name, amethistina, is an allusion to the milky iridescent sheen on its scales, which gives it an amethyst-like color.

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Wikipedia