ANIMAL: Angolan Python Python anchietae Type of Animal: Python/Boa Habitat: Rocky outcroppings (especially on mountains or brushy plains), riverine bush, areas strewn w/ rocks in brush/grasslands/bush, caves, desert margins, dry rocky areas, crevices, overhangs, ravine bushes, Location(s): SW Angola & N Namibia Appearance: Only python w/ bead-like head scales, females larger than males, reddish-brown to brown to almost black ground color, w/ irregular white/cream bands & spots, yellowish belly, some resemblance to ball/royal python Food/Diet: Small mammals, birds, lizards, invertebrates Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding from zoos & breeders. Ban on export from Namibia. Lifestyle: Solitary Additional Info: Called: Male Female Young-Snakelet Group-Solitary Weight: Male-3.96 lbs Female-4.5 lbs Young-3.5 oz Gestation: 2 months Life Span: 20-30 years Body Length: Male-4.5 ft Female-5-6 ft Young-2.5 ft Tail Length: 2 ft Main predators of adults are rock pythons, lions, wild dogs, hyenas, leopards, large monitors, crocodiles, honey badgers, & large raptors. Young & juveniles preyed on by raptors, snakes, smaller monitors, & carnivorous/omnivorous mammals. These snakes are rather rare in captivity. The area where these snakes come from has very little precipitation. Temps in environment can range from 32 degrees F at night to 122 degrees F during daytime, depending on time of year. They tend to be secretive in the wild. Also known as Angolan Dwarf Python & Anchieta’s Dwarf Python. Females lay small clutches of 4-5 eggs. They’re active during the day (diurnal). Like their close relatives ball pythons, they roll up into a ball if threatened. National snake of Namibia. Sexually mature at 3 years. Fun Fact(s): These snakes tend to be docile. The “anchietae” part of scientific name named for Portuguese explorer Jose de Anchieta. Few people dare risk catching them in wild due to relatively remote/inaccessible habitat, & in Angola, habitat still covered w/ landmines from Angolan Civil War (1975-2002). Also, export not allowed in Namibia.
