Python sebae

African rock python
Adult female P. sebae, northern subspecies (note the thick body)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Pythonidae
Genus:	Python
Species:	P. sebae
Binomial name
Python sebae (Gmelin, 1788)
Subspecies
P. s. natalensis Smith, 1833 P. s. sebae (Gmelin, 1788)
Range of Python sebae sebae   Range of Python sebae natalensis   Range of hybrids
Synonyms
Synonymy  Coluber sebae Gmelin, 1788 Coluber speciosus Bonnaterre, 1790 Boa hieroglyphica Schneider, 1801 Python houttuyni Daudin, 1803 Python liberiensis Hallowell, 1845 Hortulia sebae – Gray, 1849 Boa liberiensis – Hallowell, 1854 Python sebae – Boettger, 1887 Python sebae – Boulenger, 1893 Python jubalis Pitman, 1936 Python sebae sebae – , 1983 Python sebae – Branch, 1991 Python sebae – Kluge, 1993

The African rock python (Python sebae) is a large, nonvenomous snake of sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of 11 living species in the genus Python. It has two subspecies; one is found in Central and Western Africa, the other in Southern Africa.

Africa's largest snake and one of the six largest snake species in the world (along with the green anaconda, reticulated python, Burmese python, Indian python, and amethystine python), specimens may approach or exceed 6 m (20 ft). The southern subspecies is generally smaller than its northern relative. The snake is found in a variety of habitats, from forests to near deserts, although usually near sources of water. The African rock python kills its prey by constriction and often eats animals up to the size of antelope, occasionally even crocodiles. The snake reproduces by egg-laying. Unlike most snakes, the female protects her nest and sometimes even her hatchlings.

The snake is widely feared, though it very rarely kills humans. Although the snake is not endangered, it does face threats from habitat reduction and hunting.

The African rock python is one of ten species in the genus Python, large constricting snakes found in the moist tropics of Asia and Africa. It is divided into two subspecies, P. s. sebae (the nominate subspecies) and P. s. natalensis (the Southern African rock python). Some consider the more southerly population of this snake to be a separate species, Python natalensis, while others consider this form to be a subspecies.

P. sebae was first described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin, a German naturalist, in 1788. Therefore, he is also the author of the nominate subspecies. The southern subspecies was first identified by South African Zoologist Sir Andrew Smith, in 1833.