Diamond Python (Morelia spilota spilota)

Central Coast FaunaDiamond Python (Morelia spilota spilota) Frogs

Morelia spilota spilota (commonly known as the Diamond Python) is a subspecies of the carpet python (Morelia spilota). It is a medium to large snake, the average adult size is usually about 2 metres, although there are recorded rare speciments of 4 metres in length. Morelia spilota spilota are found in coastal areas and adjacent ranges of south-eastern Australia.

Morelia spilota spilota is quite variable in colour and pattern, being typically dark olive to black in colour with most of the doral scales having a yellow or cream spot in the centre (spilota meaning” spotted”). Along the Diamond Python’s body and tail are numerous clusters of yellow or cream scales that form “rosettes”, which is said to give the appearance of diamonds. The underside of the Diamond Python can be variable between individuals, beings white, cream or even yellowish in colour, although it is often spotted with black.

Like most carpet pythons, the Diamond Python prefer arboreal living conditions, although they can also be found on the ground, especially seen basking in open spaces.

Like all carpet pythons, the Diamon Python kill their prey by constriction. The diet mainly consistings of small mammals, birds, and lizards.

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• Scientific classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Subphylum Vertebrata
• Informal: Gnathostomata
• Class: Reptilia
• Subclass: Lepidosauria
• Order: Squamata
• Suborder: Serpentes
• Family: Pythonidae
• Genus: Morelia
• Species: Morelia spilota
• Subspecies:
  • Morelia spilota spilota (Lacépède, 1804)
  • Morelia spilota variegata Gray, 1842

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Central Coast FaunaDiamond Python (Morelia spilota spilota) Frogs

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