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Reticulated Python

Python reticulatus

Quick Facts

Scientific name: Python reticulatus
Class: Reptile
Weight: 100 to 300 pounds
Diet: Carnivore
Lifespan in the wild: Unknown
Lifespan in professional care: Up to 30 years
Conservation status: Least concern
Number of eggs: 20 to 40 eggs at a time

About

I LIVE IN ASIA

Reticulated pythons are native to southern and southeast Asia. They inhabit lowland rainforests, grassland, and woodlands as far north as China and India and as far south as Indonesia.


I AM A CARNIVORE

The reticulated python eats a variety of small animals including birds, fish, rats, and chickens. This species of snake will consumer just about any animal they can.


RETICULATED PYTHONS ARE SOLITARY

Like many other reptilian species, reticulated pythons are a very solitary species.


WORLD RECORD HOLDER

The reticulated python is the world’s longest snake. The average reticulated python is about 20 feet long, but the longest one ever measured was 33 feet.


HELPING THE RETICULATED PYTHON IN THE WILD

The reticulated python at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is enrolled in the Species Survival Plan (SSP). SSP is a program implemented by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to help ensure a genetically viable population exists.


I AM IMPORTANT TO MY ECOSYSTEM

As a carnivorous species, reticulated pythons play a crucial role in keeping rodent and other animal populations under control.


 

Conservation

Learn more about our efforts, our conservation partners around the world, and the simple steps you can take to contribute.

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