BALL PYTHON
Ball Pythons are one of our most turned in and adopted out animals. They live a long time and are easy to care for which means many younger people get them as pets and then grow tired of them.
Trippy is a gorgeous blue eyed leucistic ball python. She was surrendered to us and every volunteer has just fallen in love. She has a permanent spot in our new trailer.
Jen is our most popular ambassador animal. She was originally turned in to our Southport team and came to us to use in education. She goes to almost every event we do and loves to educate children about snakes.
Remy used to belong to our oldest son. When he passed away, she came to live with us. She was also originally a rescue when our son got her. Remy doesn't go many places but you may see her in the future event trailer.
Common Name: Ball Python
Scientific Name: Python Regius
Type: Python
Diet: Carnivore
Average Life Span: 30 to 40 years
Size: Up to 5 feet in length
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern
Current Population Trend: Unknown
Scientific Name: Python Regius
Type: Python
Diet: Carnivore
Average Life Span: 30 to 40 years
Size: Up to 5 feet in length
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern
Current Population Trend: Unknown
About the Ball Python
These are small, heavy-bodied pythons averaging 3 to 6 feet in length. Females are generally larger than males. They are primitive snakes that still possess a pelvic girdle and "vestigial" limbs (an early stage presence of hind limbs, left from evolutionary adjustments). Both lungs are functional. The base color of these snakes vary and may be brown, tan or reddish with 15 to 25 yellow-edged, tan to medium brown blotches of varying sizes that run the length of their bodies. These snakes have upwards of 100 "recurved" teeth (curved inward), which are used to hold prey until the snake can kill them by constriction. Ball pythons, as with all snakes, do not chew or tear their food but instead swallow it whole.
Found in Central and West Africa in the dry forest savannah and thorn scrub.
These are small, heavy-bodied pythons averaging 3 to 6 feet in length. Females are generally larger than males. They are primitive snakes that still possess a pelvic girdle and "vestigial" limbs (an early stage presence of hind limbs, left from evolutionary adjustments). Both lungs are functional. The base color of these snakes vary and may be brown, tan or reddish with 15 to 25 yellow-edged, tan to medium brown blotches of varying sizes that run the length of their bodies. These snakes have upwards of 100 "recurved" teeth (curved inward), which are used to hold prey until the snake can kill them by constriction. Ball pythons, as with all snakes, do not chew or tear their food but instead swallow it whole.
Found in Central and West Africa in the dry forest savannah and thorn scrub.
Behavior:
These pythons are primarily terrestrial although they may occasionally be found in water or in low stumps and foliage. They are largely nocturnal, hunting for food at night. Ball pythons can hunt even on the darkest of nights due to adaptations such as heat sensing pits located in the scales around their mouths, and eyes that are adapted to low light levels. Noted for their gentle disposition, when frightened, ball pythons will tuck their head and curl into a ball, which is why they are named, "ball python."
Several African cultures revere ball pythons as sacred animals.
These pythons are primarily terrestrial although they may occasionally be found in water or in low stumps and foliage. They are largely nocturnal, hunting for food at night. Ball pythons can hunt even on the darkest of nights due to adaptations such as heat sensing pits located in the scales around their mouths, and eyes that are adapted to low light levels. Noted for their gentle disposition, when frightened, ball pythons will tuck their head and curl into a ball, which is why they are named, "ball python."
Several African cultures revere ball pythons as sacred animals.
Conservation
Because of their beautiful skin, ball python populations in the wild are declining. People have hunted these animals to use their skin to make boots. Unfortunately the skin is not very durable (not like cow hide), and the boots must be replaced often.
Source: Utah's Hogle Zoo
Because of their beautiful skin, ball python populations in the wild are declining. People have hunted these animals to use their skin to make boots. Unfortunately the skin is not very durable (not like cow hide), and the boots must be replaced often.
Source: Utah's Hogle Zoo