Ball Pythons

Taxonomy

Evolution

Subspecies: No subspecies are currently recognized in the wild
Timeline: Their popularity exploded around the 1990s, but their history goes back much further
Closest living relative: The Angolan Python
Three ancestors: Worm Lizard, Wall Lizard, Whiptail Lizard

Description

Physical: It's a snake with a relatively small head and smooth scales, usually black or dark brown scales with pale or light brown spots along its back and sides.
Characteristics: Scales are neutral colors to blend in with enviornment, can be albino.
Size: Average length is 4-6 Feet
Weight: Average weight is 3-5 Pounds
Life Span: Average lif span is 10 Years
M+F Differences: Males have thicker/ fatter tails than females, Males are smaller in size but have larger anal spurs.

Habitat

Habitat: Theyre typically found in grasslands and open forests in Central and West Africa- They are invasive in the U.S
Rainfall: Average rainfall in central Africa is 1,500 - 1,800 mm, Average rainfall in West Africa is 1,600 mm.
Plants: There are many plants in Central and West Africa, mostly consisting of Flowers and trees
Animals: Many animals are native to Central and West Africa, mailnly comsisting of Mammals and Birds
Atleast 936 of these plants and animals are endangered due to being globally threatened
Tempatures: The country experiences hot, dry winters and mild to hot, wet summers

Diet

Ball pythons eat small mammals and birds, Males typically eat birds, Females eat small mammals.
They dont have a set feeding schedule, they usually eat only when they can catch prey or prey is near them, likely eating once every 1-2 weeks.
Ball pythons are constrictors, meaning theyre non venomes, they catch their prey in its recurved teeth tohold it.

Social Structure

Ball Pythons are Solitary, meaning they live alone
If two male pythons were to interact theyd likely fight, especially during mating season.

Reproduction

Development

55-65 days after laid, eggs will hatch
Ball pythons have around 30 teeth, size based of fully grown size
They grow their full length at 3 years old
Female ball pythons reach reproductive maturity from 27 to 31 months. Males reach reproductive maturity at 16 to 18 months
Female ball pythons will grow to around 5 feet while Males will only grow to 4 feet

Cause of death

Predation: Small/ young Ball pythons may be preyed on by brids, wild dogs and hyenas.
Ball pythons may attack eachother when trying to attract or take a partner, but they'd never kill each other
Wild Ball pythons are rareley affected by dieseases

Competition

Within the species, males will fight each other to assert dominance during mating season
Ball pythons compete with other species for food/ prey, specifically mammals, birds, and other reptiles
Ball pythons effect the U.S as invasive species by killing small mammals as prey before other predators can, giving then less food recources

IUCN Rating

Human impact

At the time, humans have capture methods that cause harm to ball pythons, leading to high levels of stress
An estimated 28,000 Ball pythons are kept as exotic pets across Canada
Wild caught Ball pythons are still being imported in Europe and North America, likely to boost the captive breeding industry
Ball pythons are farmed in West Africa in dirty conditions that can create a lethal hotbed of disease
if this continues, the population may begin declining
Humans have been interacting with ball pythins for an unknown amount of time
people arw trying to protect the lives of ball pythons by making petitions and websited educating people.

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