Indian rock python

Python molurus
Near Nagarhole National Park
Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Pythonidae
Genus:	Python
Species:	P. molurus
Binomial name
Python molurus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Distribution of Indian python
Synonyms
[Coluber] Molurus Linnaeus, 1758 Boa Ordinata Schneider, 1801 Boa Cinerae Schneider, 1801 Boa Castanea Schneider, 1801 Boa Albicans Schneider, 1801 Boa Orbiculata Schneider, 1801 Coluber Boaeformis Shaw, 1802 Python bora Daudin, 1803 Python tigris Daudin, 1803 Python tigris castaneus - Daudin, 1803 Python tigris albanicus [sic] - Daudin, 1803 Python ordinatus - Daudin, 1803 Python Javanicus Kuhl, 1820 Python molurus - Gray, 1842 Python Jamesonii Gray, 1842 Python (Asterophis) tigris - Fitzinger, 1843 Python molurus - Boulenger, 1893 Python molurus [molurus] - F. Werner, 1899 [Python molurus] var. ocellatus F. Werner, 1899 [Python molurus] var. intermedia F. Werner, 1899 Python molurus molurus - Stull, 1935 Python molurus - M.A. Smith, 1943 Python molurus pimbura Deraniyagala, 1945 Python molurus molurus - Stimson, 1969 [Python molurus] var. [molurus] - Deuve, 1970 Python molurus - Kluge, 1993

Python molurus is a large nonvenomous python species found in many tropic and subtropic areas of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is known by the common names Indian python,black-tailed python and Indian rock python. The species is limited to Southern Asia. It is generally lighter colored than the Burmese python and reaches usually 3 metres (9.8 ft).

Indian python, black-tailed python, Indian rock python, Asian rock python. Referred to as "Ajingar" in Nepali,"Ajgar" in Hindi and Marathi,"Ajagara" in Odiya, "Azdaha" in Urdu and "অজগর (Awjogor)", "মেঘডম্বুর (Meghdombur)" & "মেগডুম (Megdum)" in Bengali, Malai pambhu (மலைப் பாம்பு) in tamil. In Sri Lanka the species is commonly referred to as "Pimbura-පිඹුරා" in Sinhala. The subspecies Python molurus pimbura was thought to have stemmed from the alias given in Sri Lanka, however the pimbura, or Ceylonese Python is no longer considered a valid subspecies or locality and are known and registered as the same animal.

The color pattern is whitish or yellowish with the blotched patterns varying from shades of tan to dark brown. This varies with terrain and habitat. Specimens from the hill forests of Western Ghats and Assam are darker, while those from the Deccan Plateau and East Coast are usually lighter.

In India, the nominate subspecies grows to 3 metres (9.8 ft) on average This value is supported by a 1990 study in Keoladeo National Park, where the biggest 25% of the python population was 2.7–3.3 metres (8.9–10.8 ft) long. Only two specimen even measured nearly 3.6 metres (11.8 ft). Because of confusion with the Burmese python, exaggerations and stretched skins in the past, the maximum length of this subspecies is hard to tell. The longest scientifically recorded specimen, which hailed from Pakistan, was 4.6 metres (15.1 ft) in length and weighed 52 kilograms (115 lb). In Pakistan, Indian Pythons commonly reach a length of 2.4–3 metres (7.9–9.8 ft).

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