ANIMAL: Jungle Carpet Python Morelia cheynei Type of Animal: Boa/Python Habitat: Tropical/subtropical forests Location(s): NE Queensland Appearance: Females larger than males, yellow ground color w/ black blotches, spots blotchier on adults, different morphs in captivity such as tigers & zebras, hatchlings start drab gray-and-black Food/Diet: Mammals up to size of puppies, birds, lizards Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding from zoos, wildlife centers, & breeders Lifestyle: Solitary Additional Info: Called: Male Female Young-Snakelet Group-Solitary Weight: Male-3.3 lbs Female-5.5 lbs Gestation: 1.5-2 months Life Span: 20 years Body Length: Male-5 ft Female-7 ft Young-2.5 ft Tail Length: 1.5 ft Main predators of adults are crocodilians & large eagles. Other raptors eat young. Valued for keeping rodent populations in check but sometimes killed for eating chickens & on rarer occasions, puppies. They’re semi-arboreal. Males often stop feeding during breeding season. Females lay 8-28 eggs per clutch. Even though not warm-blooded, females can raise body temps by twitching muscles. Sexually mature at 2.5-3 years. Females usually nest in tree hollows. Males use spurs near base of tail during courtship/mating. Hunted for skins/leather & for eating chickens. Like all pythons, they kill prey by constricting & swallowing whole. Males fight by wrestling each other. Fun Fact(s): Young snakes rather nippy but adults tend to be fairly docile. Some adults stay aggressive. Get name due to resemblance to old carpet patterns. They have a very strong feeding response. The scientific name, cheynei, named in honor of Cheyne Wellington, who helped classify this snake.
