Индийский питон: описание, ареал и статус сохранения.

Species of snake

The Indian python (Python molurus) is a large python species native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is also known by the common names black tailed python, Indian rock python, and Asian rock python. Although smaller than its close relative the Burmese python, it is still among the largest snakes in the world. It is generally lighter colored than the Burmese python and reaches usually All pythons are non venomous. The nominate subspecies occurring in India typically grows to
Because of confusion with the Burmese python, exaggerations, and stretched skins in the past, the maximum length of this subspecies is difficult to tell. The longest scientifically recorded specimen, collected in Pakistan, was long and weighed In Pakistan, Indian pythons commonly reach a length of
Differs from Burmese python (Python bivittatus) by the following signs:
the presence of light "eyes" in the centers of spots located on the sides of the trunk;
reddish or pinkish color of light stripes on the sides of the head;
a diamond shaped spot on the head blurred in the front part;
usually lighter in color, dominated by brown, reddish brown, yellowish brown and grayish brown tones;
unlike P. bivittatus, which inhabit moist and meadow habitats, it usually prefers drier and arid places;

The Indian python occurs in nearly all of the Indian Subcontinent south of the Himalayas, including southern Nepal and Bhutan, Sri Lanka, southeastern Pakistan, Bangladesh, and probably in northern Myanmar. It lives in a wide range of habitats, including grasslands, swamps, marshes, rocky foothills, woodlands, open forest, and river valleys. It needs a reliable source of water. It hides in abandoned mammal burrows, hollow trees, dense water reeds, and mangrove thickets. Roused to activity on sighting prey, the snake advances with a quivering tail and lunges with an open mouth. Live prey is constricted and killed. One or two coils are used to hold it in a tight grip. The prey, unable to breathe, succumbs and is subsequently swallowed head first. After a heavy meal, they are disinclined to move. If forced to, hard parts of the meal may tear through the body. Therefore, if disturbed, some specimens disgorge their meal to escape from potential predators. After a heavy meal, an individual may fast for weeks, the longest recorded duration being 2 years. The python can swallow prey bigger than its diameter because the jaw bones are not connected. Moreover, prey cannot escape from its mouth because of the arrangement of the teeth (which are reverse saw like).

Oviparous, up to 100 eggs are laid by a female, which she protects and incubates. The hatchlings are in length and grow quickly.

The Indian python is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List due to a likely population decline of ~30% over the decade 2010–2020, caused by habitat loss, over exploitation, and lack of conservation actions.

In the literature, one other subspecies may be encountered: P. m. pimbura Deraniyagala, 1945, which is found in Sri Lanka. The Burmese python (P. bivittatus) was referred to as a subspecies of the Indian python until 2009, when it was elevated to full species status. The name Python molurus bivittatus is found in older literature.

Kaa, a large and old Indian python, is featured as one of Mowgli's mentors in Rudyard Kipling's 1894 collection The Jungle Book.