SOUTHERN AFRICAN ROCK PYTHON - Suiderlike Afrika-luislang

(Python sebae natalenisis)

Length: 3 - 6.5m - Mainly Nocturnal

The Southern African Rock Python is the largest snake in South Africa and although not poisonous, it has numerous sharp, recurved (backward bending) teeth and is capable of inflicting a painful wound. It is not aggressive and prefers to flee when disturbed. Large specimens (3m or more) are potentially dangerous to man and should be avoided. Pythons are protected and may not be killed on sight. They are listed as Vulnerable. Pythons are extremely valuable as they kill large numbers of dassies and cane rats. They possess infra red "vision" located in heat sensory pits on the upper jaw which enables them to detect minute differences in temperature and accurately locate warm-blooded prey in pitch darkness.

Pythons are oviparous (egg-laying) laying between 30 and 50 eggs, 100mm in diameter (just smaller than a tennis ball) each weighing between 130 - 160 grams. The female then coils herself around her eggs and remains there for 2 - 3 months until they hatch. During this time she will not feed, only leaving the eggs to drink.