Black-headed Python

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=95 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="21a8dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>SOFAR</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SOFAR"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id102.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Red bellied Black"><U>Red - bellied Black</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bandybandy"><U>Bandy-bandy</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Childrens Python"><U>Children's Python</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id135.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Coastal Carpet Python"><U>Coastal Carpet Python</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Olive Python"><U>Olive Python</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Water Python"><U>Water Python</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Diamond Python"><U>Diamond Python</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Yellowfaced Whip Snake"><U>Yellow-faced Whip Snake</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id148.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Curl Snake"><U>Curl Snake</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mainland Taipan"><U>Mainland Taipan</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id154.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Eastern Brown Snake"><U>Eastern Brown Snake</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id155.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bluebellied Black Snake"><U>Blue-bellied Black Snake</U></A>   |   <B>Black-headed Python</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=385 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="21a8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I>Black-headed Python</I></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="753" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#003300" BORDERCOLORDARK="#006633" FRAME="BOX" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> <I><B>Common Name: </B></I>Black-headed Python</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP ROWSPAN=6><NOBR><bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="35354090.jpg" border=0 width="340" height="265" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> <I><B>Scientific Name: </B></I>Aspidites melanocephalus</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP ROWSPAN=4 HEIGHT= 1 WIDTH="379"><div> <I><B>General characteristics: </B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" >Non-V<I>enomous.  </I></FONT>The head is slightly pointed, indistinct from the neck.  Dorsal coloration is light to dark brown with numerous narrow, dark cross-bands on the body and tail.  The head, neck and throat are glossy black.  The ventral surface is creamish, sometimes with dark blotches.  Juveniles, although replicas of the adults, are more vividly marked, being creamish with orange to brick-red bands.  They are nocturnal species, although it may be found active on cool days, particularly during or after rain storms.   After mating the females fast from July to September and frequently warm their bellies in the sun.  They lay 5-12 soft shelled eggs in a sticky clump in October or November, coiling around the clutch for 9-13 weeks to incubate the eggs and protect them from predators, shivering to raise their body temperature on cool days.  The hatchlings are about 51-55 cm in length and stay in their split egg for 24-30 hours absorbing the remaining yolk.  They grow to 3 metres. </div> <div> <I><B>Diet: </B></I> Small mammals, birds and reptiles, including venomous snakes.</div> <div> <I><B>Habitat: </B></I>Found in Northern Australia, extending into the drier inland areas.</div> <div> <I><B>Status:</B></I> Secure.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> </tR> <tR> </tR> <tR> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Page updated 1 February 2006</div> </td> </tr></table></body>