Reptiles · Squamata · Pythonidae

Reticulated Python

Python reticulatus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is the longest snake in the world, exceeding even the green anaconda in length though not in bulk. It hunts mammals and birds of varying size by constriction.

Weight

75 kg – 100 kg

Size

3 m – 6 m

Lifespan

22 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

RainforestCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Reptile Rainforest

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Fun facts

It can reach almost 10 metres long, a record widely cited in the specialist literature.
The female incubates her eggs by generating heat through muscular contractions.
It can lay between 15 and 80 eggs in a clutch.
récordIt is the longest snake in the world confirmed by scientific records, with documented individuals over 6 metres long.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
Habitat & environment: Tropical forest, riverbanks and mangroves of South East Asia
Birth weight: ~140 grams (the young ~60-70 cm long)
Size at birth: 60 - 70 cm long at hatching
Sexual maturity: Males: ~18 months, or 2.4-3 m | Females: ~3 years, or 3.3-4.3 m (maturity depends on size more than age)
Gestation / incubation: ~70-90 days of incubation (an ideal temperature of 31-32°C)
Litter / clutch size: 15 to 80 eggs per clutch (typical 25-50)
Lifespan in captivity: Up to 32 years in captivity