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Children's python

Antaresia childreni
Antaresia childreni.jpg
Children's python
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Pythonidae
Genus: Antaresia
Species: A. childreni
Binomial name
Antaresia childreni
(Gray, 1842)
Synonyms
  • Liasis childreni
    Gray, 1842
  • Nardoa gilbertii
    Gray, 1842
  • Liasis maculosus
    W. Peters, 1873
  • Liasis childreni
    Boulenger, 1893
  • Antaresia childreni
    Kluge, 1993

Children's python (Antaresia childreni ) is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is named after John George Children. It is a nocturnal species occurring in the northern half of Australia and generally found on the ground although it often climbs trees. Usually growing to about 1.0 metre (3 ft) in length, it is typically a reddish-brown colour, darker on the upper surface, and with many darker blotches, especially on younger specimens. It feeds mostly on small mammals and bird and, as with other pythons, it constricts its prey before swallowing it whole. It is a popular pet amongst reptile enthusiasts.

Antaresia childreni adults grow to a total length (including tail) of about 1–1.5 metres (3–5 ft). The scales on the top of the head are enlarged while those on the upper surface of the body are small and smooth, with a rainbow sheen that can be seen when exposed to direct sunlight. The upper surface of the snake is brown with darker spots in five or six longitudinal series. A dark streak on each side of the head passes through the eye. The lips are yellowish, spotted with brown. The lower surface of the snake is uniformly yellowish. The head of the snake is distinct from the neck. The nostril is superolateral, pierced in a large semidivided nasal scale. The eye is moderate in size, with a vertical pupil. The body is slightly laterally compressed. The tail is short. There are 41 to 45 rows of dorsal scales across the snake's back, and 257 to 287 ventral scales along the lower surface. There is a single undivided anal scale immediately in front of the anus, and 38 to 53 subcaudal scales on the lower surface between the anus and the tip of the tail, all or mostly in two rows.

The rostral is broader than high, barely visible from above. The internasals are slightly longer than broad and are shorter than the anterior prefrontals. The second pair of prefrontals are in contact at the midline, or are separated by a small shield. These posterior prefrontals are sometimes broken into several shields. The frontal is 1½ times as long as broad, slightly shorter than its distance from the end of the snout, longer than the small parietals. There are 3 to 10 small loreal shields, some almost granular, and 11 to 13 upper labials. Three or four of the posterior lower labials have deep pits.


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