Ball Python Fact File

Ball Python
(Python regius)

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptolia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Boidae
Subfamily: Pythonidae
Genus: Python
Species: Ball python/Royal python (Python regius)

What does the name mean? In Greek mythology "Python", the earth dragon of Delphi is often depicted as a "serpent" hence the name. The word "regius" is derived from the Latin suffix "regis" which translated means "belonging to a king". The term "regius" can therefore be described as "Royal" or "Of royalty" hence Royal python (alternative common name).

Description: These are the smallest of all African pythons. The average length for these inoffensive snakes is between 90cm - 1.2m (2.95-3.94ft). There are however records of specimens reaching 1.8m (5.9ft). This is extremely rare.
There is very little sexual dimorphism between the sexes. Males, as with all boas and pythons, have larger "spurs" than females. Females on the other hand tend to be slighlty larger than their male counterparts.
The patterns and colouration of the Ball python varies greatly depending on their locality and geographic distribution. Colours from wild specimens range from black,brown, tan, pale yellow, amber and occasionally reddish brown. The patterns range from striped, spotted, banded, or blotched.
These snakes are popular within the pet industry and various colour morphs are easily available ranging from "Caramel","Piebald", "Xanthic" and "Bumblebee" to name but a few.

Although short, these are stocky robust snakes with a slender neck and distinctive head.

Venom: Ball pythons are constrictors and possess no venom.

Distribution: Royal pythons are native to Africa and may be found in Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Senegal, Mali, Democratic republic of Congo, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan and Uganda.

Habitat: These snakes prefer savannah, open woodlands, scrub forest, and grasslands.

Habits: These snakes are primarily terrestrial and solitary in nature. They are active at night (nocturnal) seeking shelter in disused animal burrows or termite mounds during the day.
These snakes seldom bite, even when first captured, another reason why they are popular as pets. Despite the lack of "aggression", these snakes do in fact stress easily.
A common defense mechanism or when stressed, these snakes will roll up into a tight ball and hide their heads within the coils- hence the common name "Ball python".

Reproduction: Ball pythons are oviparous. The female will typically lay between 4-10 large eggs in a site she has carefully chosen, usually underground. The female coils around the eggs, and provides them with the necessary insulation until they are ready to hatch. The incubation period usually lasts between 82-103 days. During the brooding period the female does not eat which significantly weakens the animal, making her susceptible to disease.
Males usually reach sexual maturity within the first 18 months or when they have attained a weight of around 1kg (2.2lbs). Females reach sexual maturity later than males, between 2-3 years of age and typically weigh around 1.4 -1.7kg (3.08-3.74lbs). The reason for this is that the female needs to build up sufficient weight in order to carry her through the incubation period.
Breeding in the wild usually takes place in winter (December/January)when temperatures drop below 22 degrees celcius (71 degrees fahrenheit). Mating only takes place every two to three years.

Diet: In the wild prey almost exclusively consists of small mammals such as mice, shrews, gerbils, and rats.

Subspecies: There are no known subspecies.

Conservation status

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