(Liasis mackloti savuensis)
Familie: Pythons (Pythonidae)
Orden: Squamates or Scaly Reptiles (Squamata)
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Savu Python
(Liasis mackloti savuensis) Familie: Pythons (Pythonidae) Orden: Squamates or Scaly Reptiles (Squamata) |
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Other names: White-eyed Water Python. Size: Usually 70-90 cm, occasionally more than 1,30 m, possibly up to 2 m. Distribution: Known only from the Indonesian island Savu (west of Timor). Habitat: Said to be found over the entire island of Savu, which is low and heavily vegetated, but also has a large human population. Food: Mammals, birds, and probably reptiles. Reproduction: Each clutch consists of only 4-5 eggs, measuring about 50 mm. The eggs are laid about 6 weeks after mating, which is thought to take place in August-September in the wild. Hatching time is 60-70 days. Hatchlings measure about 32 cm and differ a great deal from adults. The colour is brick red or rusty brown with pale upper lips, white belly, and pale golden orange eyes. As they grow up, the colour changes, mostly to dark brown, mottled or spotted with paler brown or reddish brown. Activity and behaviour: Nocturnal. Enemies: Dogs, pigs, and chickens presumably feed on the pythons or their eggs. Sexual differences: Males are expected to have relatively longer tails than females, as in most other snakes. Status: Unknown, but due to the restricted range of the species on an island with a large human population, there is reason to believe that it might be in decline, possibly threatened. The Savu Python has also been collected in large numbers since around 1993 for the international pet trade, where a high demand could be expected because of the scarcity of the species among breeders. Notes: The Savu Python is usually considered a race (subspecies) of Macklot's Python (Liasis mackloti), although some sources regard it as a separate species (e.g., Walls 1998). The Savu Python was first described in 1956 (Brongersma 1956), but based on specimens in the British Museum, which had been collected already in the late 1800's. Subsequently, it is believed not to have been collected again in Savu until the 1980's. References: Brongersma, L.D. 1956. On two species of boid snakes from the Lesser Sunda Islands. Proceedings Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen (C) 59(3): 290-300. Walls, J.G. 1998. The living pythons: a complete guide to the pythons of the world. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City. 256 pp. Text & layout: Rune Midtgaard |
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