African Rock Python: Difference between revisions

|conservationstatus={{NT}}

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|appearance=African Rock Python has somewhat messy blonde hair, with choppy asymmetrical bangs and two neater tails at the back which somewhat flare out to each side. Her hair sports violet highlights at the ends of the side-bangs framing her face, her right-side front bangs, and the aforementioned tails, giving the latter the appearance of snake tongues. She has sharp purple eyes with the vertical pupils seen in most snake Friends.

=== Differences in Old Design ===

|reallife=[[File:African_Rock_Python.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|left|''Python sebae'' (Central African rock python)]]

The Central African rock python ''(Python sebae)'' is a massive snake species that can be found in various habitats across central and southern Africa; they are comfortable in grasslands, forests, rocky expanses, savannas, and swamps alike. Regardless of where they make their homes, they seem to prefer territory near permanent bodies of water such as lakes and rivers, and are even known to flourish in habitats disturbed by human activities such as farming; consequently, these snakes are not an unusual sight in cane fields. Otherwise, they can often be found sheltering in rocky outcrops or the abandoned burrows of other animals. The Central African rock python is the largest snake species in Africa, with the largest specimens of ''Python sebae'' approaching or exceeding lengths of 6 m (20 ft) and weights of 90 kg, and is in turn considered to be one of the six largest snake species in the world alongside such giants as the [[Wikipedia:Reticulated_python|reticulated python]] and [[Wikipedia:Green_anaconda|green anaconda]].

As with all snakes, Central African rock pythons have a well-developed and functional vomeronasal organ system, supplied by their forked tongues. The unique shape of the tongue allows the snake to bring chemicals in the environment, such as those given off by predators, prey, or other pythons, back to a specialized organ which then allows them to interpret data in a matter not dissimilar to how some animals use their nostrils; however, while the use of the nasal system entails the detection of ''odors'' via ''olfaction,'' the snake's use of the vomeronasal system relates to the detection of ''vomodors'' via ''vomerolfaction.'' Pythons also possess heat-sensing pits in the labial scales that detect infrared (heat) patterns given off by endothermic predators and prey; unlike the vomeronasal system, this trait is present only in the constrictor snakes and the pit vipers.

|trivia=* The generic name, ''Python'', is a Greek word referring to the enormous serpent slain by [[Wikipedia:Apollo| Apollo]] at [[Wikipedia:Delphi| Delphi]] in Greek mythology. The specific name, ''sebae'', is the [[Wikipedia:Latinisation_of_names|Latinised surname]] of Dutch zoologist [[Wikipedia:Albertus Seba|Albertus Seba]].

* Though they were once believed to be one pan-tropical species under two subspecies, the Central African rock python, ''Python sebae,'' and the Southern African rock python- ''Python natalensis-'' have since been deemed more than distinct enough to be considered two individual species under the ''Python'' genus. Nonetheless, the two are highly similar and easily confused; the most obvious difference is that the scales of ''P. sebae'' are typically considered to be more vibrant in color than those of ''P. natalensis''.

* [http://eol.org/pages/1055462/details "Python sebae"] Encyclopedia Of Life.

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