The Indian python (Python molurus) is a large, non-venomous snake native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, characterized by a beige or yellowish color with blotches. This species is oviparous, laying up to 100 eggs, and is classified as lower risk/near threatened on the IUCN Red List, indicating the need for regular reassessment. It inhabits various environments, including grasslands and swamps, and displays timid behavior while being an excellent swimmer and a strict carnivore.

1. Submitted By:
Ms. Nandita Purohit
(M.Sc. Zoology)
(Python molurus)

2. Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Pythonidae
Genus: Python
Species: molurus

3. introduction
• It is a large, non
venomous python species
native to tropical and
subtropical regions of
the Indian
subcontinent and Southeast
Asia.
• It’s common names includes
Indian python, black-tailed
python, Indian rock python,
and Asian rock python.

4. Physiological Character
• The rock python's color
pattern is whitish or
yellowish with blotched
patterns varying from tan to
dark brown shades. This
varies with terrain and
habitat.
• The species occurring in
India typically grows to 3 m
(9.8 ft).
• Few individuals might nearly
3.6 m (12 ft).

5. Distribution and habitat
• Occurring in India,
southern Nepal, Pakistan, Sri
Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh,
and probably in the north
of Myanmar.
• It lives in a wide range of
habitats, including grasslands,
swamps, marshes, rocky
foothills, woodlands, open
forests, and river valleys.
• It needs a permanent source of
water and hides in abandoned
mammal burrows, hollow
trees, dense water reeds, and
mangrove thickets.

6. Behavior
• Lethargic and slow moving.
• Even in their native habitat,
they exhibit timidity and
rarely try to attack even
when attacked.
• Locomote usually with the
body moving in a straight
line, by "walking on its ribs".
• Excellent swimmers and are
quite at home in water.
• Can be wholly submerged in
water for many minutes if
necessary, but usually prefer
to remain near the bank.

8. Feeding
• Like all snakes, Indian pythons are strict
carnivores and feed on mammals, birds, and
reptiles indiscriminately, but seem to prefer
mammals.
• Roused to activity on sighting prey, the snake
advances with a quivering tail and lunges with an
open mouth.
• Live prey is constricted and killed. One or two
coils are used to hold it in a tight grip.
• The prey, unable to breathe, succumbs and is
subsequently swallowed head first.

9. An Indian python swallowing an axis deer

10. • After a heavy meal, they are
disinclined to move. If forced
to, hard parts of the meal
may tear through the body.
• Therefore, if disturbed, some
specimens disgorge their
meal to escape from potential
predators.
• The python can swallow prey
bigger than its diameter
because the jaw bones are
not connected.
• Moreover, prey cannot
escape from its mouth
because of the arrangement
of the teeth (which are
reverse saw-like).

11. Reproduction
• These animals are oviparous, and females lay up
to 100, which she protects and incubates.
• For incubation, they are capable of raising their
body temperature above the ambient level
through muscular contractions.
• The hatchlings are 45–60 cm (18–24 in) in length
and grow quickly.
• An artificial incubation method using climate-
controlled environmental chambers was
developed in India for successfully raising
hatchlings from abandoned or unattended eggs.

12. Cluster of Indian Python eggs.
Indian Python Juveniles

13. IUCN status
• The Indian python is classified as lower risk/near
threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• This listing indicates that it may become threatened with
extinction and is in need of frequent reassessment.

14. Here’s a little reference
of The Indian Python
from our childhood.

15. THANK- YOU!