Rough-scaled python

Morelia carinata, commonly known as the rough-scaled python, is a large-scaled python species endemic to Australia. No subspecies are currently recognized.[3]

Rough-scaled python
Rough-scaled python pictured in captivity.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Pythonidae
Genus: Morelia
Species:
M. carinata
Binomial name
Morelia carinata
(L.A. Smith, 1981)[1]
Synonyms
  • Python carinatus
    L.A. Smith, 1981
  • Morelia carinata
    – H.G. Cogger, Cameron &
    H.M. Cogger, 1983    [2]

Description

The rough-scaled python is able to grow to around 2 m (6.6 ft) in total length. It has a triangular shaped head with a conspicuous constriction at the neck area.[4] M. carinata is distinguished by the presence of a large parietal scale and by having distinct keeled dorsal scales. The body is slim and muscular. The color pattern is light honey-tan with darker reddish-brown markings or dark brown with pale brown blotches. The blotches become larger toward the tail so the patter appears to be reversed.[4] The belly is white, possibly with black spots. The markings are thought to assist in providing camouflage. The wrinkled to corrugated scales also assist the snake in climbing up sandstone and crevices.[5]

The species was first formally identified by the biologist L.A.Smith in 1981 as part of the work A revision of the python genera Aspidites and Python (Serpentes: Boidae) in Western Australia as published in the Records of the Western Australian Museum.[6]

Captivity

They are now available to private owners, originating from a few wild caught specimens, as it was found they breed readily in captivity.

Three males and two females were collected and transferred to the Australian Reptile Park in 2000 and had produced 71 offspring by 2012. These in turn had produced another offspring.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Found in Australia, northwestern Western Australia in the lower sections of the Mitchell and Hunter Rivers, just inland from the coast.[5]

The type locality given is "Mitchell River Falls, Western Australia (14°50'S, 125°42'E)" [Australia].[2]

They are found in rocky valleys of Kimberley region in far northern Western Australia where they climb on low trees and shrubs of monsoon rainforest. The species has one of the smallest distributions of any snake.[4]

The species is often associated with fruit-bearing trees, possibly indicating a preference of ambush sites for herbivorous animals, and also close to permanent freshwater.[5]

Behavior

So far reported to be strictly crepuscular. The temperament is quite docile with rarely any attempts to bite.

Reproduction

This species is confirmed to be an egg-layer (oviparous) like other pythons. The mating season is between July and August. Females usually lay around ten eggs and coils about them providing warmth until they hatch. Once the eggs do hatch the female does not take care of the young.[4]

Media

This species was only filmed for the first time by wildlife conservationist Malcolm Douglas, and shown on his Kimberley Adventure Part 1.

gollark: Are you just going to frame *anything I say* as "he is clearly evil and must be destroyed"?
gollark: It got there because of, seemingly, some weird inexplicable bug.
gollark: ss13?
gollark: HOW?!
gollark: I had absolutely no interaction with the mob farm apart from removing an instance of potatOS on it which somehow got on there.

References
  1. Smith, L.A. (1981). "A Revision of the Python Genera Aspidites and Python (Serpentes: Boidae) in Western Australia". Records of the Western Australian Museum. 9 (2): 211–226.
  2. McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. "Morelia carinata". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
  4. "Rough-scaled python Scientific Name: Morelia carinata". Australian Reptile Park. 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  5. Porter, R.; Weigel, J.; Shine, R. (January 2012). "Natural history of the rough-scaled python, Morelia carinata (Serpentes: Pythonidae)". Australian Zoologist. 36 (2): 137–142.
  6. "Morelia carinata (Smith, 1981) Rough-Scaled Python". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 2 February 2019.

Further reading
  • Smith, L.A. 1981. A Revision of the Python Genera Aspidites and Python (Serpentes: Boidae) in Western Australia. Rec. West. Australian Mus. 9 (2): 211-226. ("Python carinatus sp. nov.", pp. 220–222, Figures 5 & 6.)
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