Sulawesi Reticulated Python

Olivia’s turn and of-course she picks another reptile. These snakes compete with South America’s anaconda for the tile of world’s largest snake.

They are the world’s longest snakes and longest reptile, but are not the most heavily built. Like all snakes of this species, they are nonvenomous constrictors and normally not considered dangerous to humans. Although large specimens are powerful enough to kill an adult human, attacks are only occasionally reported. These snakes live in rain forests, woodland and nearby grassland. It is also associated with rivers and is found in areas with nearby streams and lakes. An excellent swimmer, it has even been reported far out at sea and has consequently colonized many small islands within its range.

So here are Olivia’s questions: Tell us what type of snake this is and where they can be found in the wild? Also, in 1912 one of these snakes was found and killed near a mining camp on the island of Sulawesi which was reportedly the longest ever recorded. Tell us how long this snake was?

Answer:

Congratulations to our loyal friend Angela Williams for being the first to identify this giant snake. The snake we featured is the Reticulated Python. Python reticulatus, also known as the (Asiatic) reticulated python. This species of python can be found in Southeast Asia; Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, North and South Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippine Islands and most of Indonesia.