Papuan/Papuan Olive Python

ANIMAL:
Papuan/Papuan Olive Python Apodora papuana

Type of Animal:
Python/Boa

Habitat:
Rainforest, lowland monsoon forest, savanna woodland, savanna

Location(s):
New Guinea

Appearance:
Short blunt wide head, vary from dark gray/muddy color to olive shades to dark brown to mustard yellow, younger animals lighter olive while older animals darker olive, darker above & lighter on sides & underneath (often yellowish in these areas), they can change colors from light to dark & back & can display 2 colors at once, fairly thick stocky body

Food/Diet:
Mammals up to size of wallabies, other snakes (including each other)

Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Breeding in zoos, wildlife centers, & herpetoculture

Lifestyle:
Solitary

Additional Info:

Called:
Male
Female
Young: Snakelet
Group: Solitary
 
Weight:
Male: 25-35 lbs
Female: 50-60 lbs
 
Gestation:
3 months 

Life Span:
20 years

Body Length:
Male: 9-13 ft
Female: 12-16 ft
Young: 4 ft

Tail Length:
3 ft, same for both sexes

Main predators are crocodile monitors, crocodiles, New Guinea/Papuan Harpy Eagles, & each other.
 
Active at night (nocturnal).
 
Like all pythons, they kill prey by constricting/swallowing whole.
 
Only member of Apodora genus.
 
Also known as Irian Python & New Guinea Olive Python.
 
They’re ambush predators.
 
They’re very shy in the wild & often shy in captivity.
 
Equally at home in trees & on ground.
 
Large females can lay up to 20 eggs.
 
Sexually mature at 4 years old.
 
Sometimes hunted for meat/skin.

Fun Fact(s):
Can wrap 2 items at same time w/ different body parts.
 
These pythons can change color though it’s unsure why-it may relate to mood, it may relate to time of day/surroundings.
 
Often only need to eat once every 3 weeks.
 
Babies/juveniles will display jet-black mouth if disturbed/threatened.
 
While not aggressive, they can have a dangerous feeding response.

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