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Burmese Python

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Features

  • Scientific name: Python Bivittatus

  • Native to southeast Asia

  • Carnivores

  • First reported in U.S. in 2000

  • Weigh up to 200 lbs

  • Grow up to 23 ft long

  • 20-25 year lifespan

  • Mainly nocturnal 

  • Appendix I and II on CITES

The Python Bivittatus is a species native to southeast Asia. It is one of the 5 largest species of snakes in the world. Populations were first reported in the US in 2000. The most notable environmental impacts of the Burmese python in the U.S are preying on native species and competes with already endangered species in the U.S. They are carnivores. Their populations have led to a major decline in mammal life in the everglades. With little to no natural predators in the everglades their populations have boomed a dangerous amount. However, the Burmese python is currently protected in countries such as Thailand and across southeast Asia due to environmental loss. They can grow up to 23 feet long weighing up to 200 lbs. The Burmese python lifespan ranges from 20-25 years. They are identifiable by a tan color with dark patches and blobs on their back with pale underside. When young they spend most of their time in trees and as they age, move to environments such as grasslands, marshes, swamps. Rocky foothills, woodlands, river valleys, and jungles with open clearings. They are mainly nocturnal.

The native range of the Burmese Python extends throughout Southeast Asia far beyond the borders of Burma. Starting in the westernmost part of their range, Burmese pythons inhabit the forests and low plains of Bangladesh extending into India along the Ganges, Brahmaputra and tributary rivers to those. Moving east along the coast, we come to the Irrawaddy river valley in Burma (Myamarr). Further to the east, the Burmese python range covers most of the rest of peninsular southeast asia, including the countries of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and southern China. This area is humid and tropical. It is somewhat seasonal, with more temperature variance than the islands and some dry spells. However, it has a monsoonal climate, so it gets a lot of rain across the course of the year. The seasonal movement of the intertropical convergence zone, a low pressure area with lots of storms, is the controlling factor in this climate. However, Burmese pythons do not natively live on the Malay peninsula. Burmese pythons also inhabit the southern coast of China, including the island of Hainan, east to Fuzhou. There are also populations on the islands of Java, Bali, Sulawesi, and the lesser Sunda islands. Insular southeast Asia is also humid and tropical, with a very stable climate because of the ocean breezes. This climate also has monsoonal influences but does not vary as much as peninsular southeast Asia. (Chuan, 2005; Helmenstine, 2021) Burmese pythons particularly like water habitats in low rainforest biomes, which are plentiful throughout their range.

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