CARPET PYTHONS - Morelia spilota - (Lacepede, 1804) and related species - Australian Reptiles and Frogs - The Book - By Raymond Hoser

CARPET PYTHONS Morelia spilota (Lacepede, 1804) and related species
The taxonomic status of this species complex is one of the most argued about subjects by Australian snake experts. There are several forms of Carpet Python recognized as occurring within Australia, with another closely related species Morelia carinata, known only from a limited number of specimens, although the latter was bred in captivity for the first time in early 2001.
Because Carpet Pythons are common and well known throughout Australia I have dealt with them in some detail here.

The various identified Morelia pythons can be summarized as below:

Morelia bredli (Gow, 1981) - Centralian Carpet Python. Separated from others in the genus except carinata by it's distinct bluish-grey eye. M. bredli has less rugose scalation than carinata.

Morelia carinata (Smith, 1981) - Rough-scaled Python, known only from the Kimberley ranges in WA. It is the only Carpet Python with strongly keeled scales.

Morelia cheynei Wells and Wellington, 1983 - Jungle Carpet Python. Known from the Atherton Tableland and nearby areas of North-east Queensland. These snakes rarely exceed two and a half metres. Adults are usually slightly less than two metres. They are often characterised by contrasting yellow and black markings.

Morelia harrisoni Hoser 2000 - Found in New Guinea, including Irian Jaya.

Morelia imbricata (Smith, 1981) - The south-west Australian population of carpet snakes. They are characterised by an imbricate pattern, hence their scientific name.

Morelia macdowelli Wells and Wellington, 1983 - This is the 'Coastal Carpet' from northern NSW and south-east Queensland. This is perhaps the largest of the Carpets with specimens in excess of 3 metres fairly common.

Morelia metcalfei Wells and Wellington, 1985 - The Murray-Darling Carpet. This is a smallish race with an unusually even temperement. Usually distinguishable by it's creamy colouration around the head.

Morelia spilota (Lacepede, 1804) - Diamond Python. Found in coastal NSW south of Port Macquarie and adjacent parts of far north-east Victoria.
Morelia variegata (Gray, 1824) - Top-end Carpet Python. Found from Cape York, Queensland, west to the Kimberley in WA, including the tropical parts of the NT.

Where the ranges of the different forms converge, hybrid specimens are found, although Morelia bredli and Morelia imbricata are apparently isolated populations. Photos of most forms of Morelia (DIAMOND/CARPET PYTHON) are shown.
General
Carpet Pythons are found in most parts of mainland Australia, and the colour varies strongly with locality and within a given locality. In some areas juveniles are a different colour to adults. The average adult size of Carpet Pythons also varies with locality, with adult specimens averaging 2 metres in length, occurring in north Queensland, the tropical north of Australia and inland eastern Australia and South Australia.
Elsewhere specimens up to and over 3 metres occur. In south east Queensland specimens of nearly four metres are known.
The temperament of specimens varies both with locality and even within a locality. Queensland, Northern Territory and Kimberley specimens tend to be unpredictable, whilst those from NSW, Southern WA, and inland areas tend to be docile.
This snake is diurnal in cold weather and nocturnal in warm weather.
Carpet Pythons occupy all habitats, although in arid areas are usually found adjacent to water courses or rocky hills. Carpet Pythons are a climbing snake, and feed mainly on birds and mammals.
This species commonly enters aviaries, where it feeds on birds, and then is unable to escape through the wire due to the bulge in its body caused by the swallowed birds.
In certain periods Carpet Pythons are known to aggregate in large numbers, presumably for breeding purposes, and are among the few Australian snakes that are known to do this.
These snakes lay about twelve eggs in spring which hatch about seventy days later. One specimen is recorded as having produced 47 eggs. When coiled around the eggs, the female Carpet Python will 'shiver' and increase her own body temperature and that of the eggs above the ambient environmental temperature, to aid in the incubation of the eggs.
Hatchling Carpet Pythons typically measure about 30 cm.

Python Taxonomy (as of 2000).

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