Oenpelli Python

 

Characteristics

Oenpelli pythons are reptiles that are native to the Northern Territory and Queensland. They are light brown, paler on the side and have irregular dark blotches. They are usually found in rocks, and shelter in crevices and in hollow trees. Their size on average is known to be 350cm and their maximum size is 430cm.    

 

Behaviour

They are most active at night which allows them to hastily ambush their prey; they remain in the same position for a long period of time and when prey is caught the snake curls its way around the prey. When they are in contact with humans they are known to rarely bite but can give a painful wound by their large fangs. 

 

Diet

They have a wide range of food that consists of fruit bats and mammals such as possums, bandicoots, wallabies, rock rats, bats and macropods.

 

Predators

Their predators are feral animals such as dogs, cats, pigs, foxes and the introduced cane toad also threatens them. 

 

Distribution and Abundance

They were first discovered by scientists in 1971.  Aboriginal people in Arnhem Land have known about this snake for a long time. They like to eat it sometimes and there are some rock paintings of very long snakes in Arnhem Land that may represent Oenpelli Pythons. There isvno data of how many there are due to them being rare or hard to find.

 

Habitat

They are known to live in Kakadu National Park and nearby Arnhem Land Plateau in the Nothern Territory.

 

Impacts

Their general threats are clearing of habitat, change in the global climate, and death on roads and evolving diseases.

 

Management

Under the conservation statutes it is known that in Northern Territory they are Vulnerable.