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African Rock Python
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Liz Brown (lizbrown)
![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 18 W: 1 N: 24]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-s.gif) (114) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2006-08-25 |
| Categories: Reptiles |
| Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 |
| Exposure: f/3.3, 1/30 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2006-10-15 6:25 |
| Viewed: 3409 |
| Points: 3 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
African Rock Python
Genus: Python
Species: sebae
This python was lying next to the road in a straight line - such was his disguise that we drove past him! One of the guests shouted 'there's a snake back there'. The guide said, yeah, where and how big.... meaning dont believe you!! We reversed and there it was as big as you can imagine - the guide estimated 20 ft!! The guide rushed and tried to pick it up!! It lashed out at him and went into the grass up up a tree... He was pretty mad and watched us all with those eyes. I have never been so close to a wild snake. It was incredible. The guide let us smell his hand as it gives off a musty, rotting smell when touched. The girth of this snake was about 60 cm... will post the photo of him up the tree tomorrow!
Information on Rock Python: Up to 30 ft. in length, it is the third largest snake in the world. The African rock python is the only large snake found on the African continent. It is very bulky and has a dark arrowhead shape on its head. Brown blotches outlined by black on tan background surround its body.They can get to be over 250 lbs. They look like they would be slimy, but they are dry and smooth to the touch.Like all snakes, the African rock python moves by slithering its body over the ground.
All pythons kill by constricting their prey. The African rock python can live for up to a year without food if the animal it eats is big enough to sustain it. Starch ligaments hold the jaw together, which stretches out like a rubber band allowing it to eat prey as big as an antelope. Small teeth surround its jaw. The teeth are used to hold prey as the python coils its body around it.
The African rock python is dependent on water and becomes dormant during the dry season.It can lay up to 100 eggs. The mother incubates them for 2-3 months and aggressively defends her eggs. The hatchlings are 18-24 inches in length. The newly hatched pythons have brighter colors than their parents.They live up to 30 years. This animal lives alone and hunts alone.The python stops eating during their dormant period.
The African pythons are carnivores which means they only eat meat. They eat warthogs, small buck, birds, eggs, and small mammals.They don't chew their food but have strong acids in their stomach that digests their food well. It has few predators as an adult, except for man.
Info: www.blueplanetbiomes.org/ |
Valf, njmv79 has marked this note useful
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- Scott
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 224 W: 0 N: 316]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(1540) - [2006-10-15 11:32]
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Liz,
could you have done a little pp to make this sharper?
scott
- Valf
(522)
- [2006-10-15 11:35]
- [+]
Hi Liz,
The lighting condition was not probably good, the speed was to slow. So, the python is blurr, and the leaves in front of the face are disturbing.
Regards, Francois
- njmv79
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 112 W: 17 N: 85]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(413) - [2006-10-28 7:22]
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Hello Liz,
I really hope you did not take this shot before you were bitten by the snake ;-) just kidding, it is really fuzzy and out of focus perhaps the rush for you to get it all over done with it, I can see you are not very fond with snakes, but overall I appreciate your courage and the pleasure to share it all with us.
Kind regards,
Nelson
