# Python molurus The Indian Python is a big, beautiful snake that can grow very long! It has lovely patterns on its skin and loves to live in warm places like forests and grasslands. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Indian Python, Rock Python ![Python molurus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Python_molurus_molurus_2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Tigerpython, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Python_molurus_molurus_2.jpg) ## Appearance The Python molurus is a large, heavy-bodied snake with a distinctive blotchy pattern. Its skin ranges from light yellowish-brown to dark brown, adorned with dark-edged, lighter-centered patches. A prominent arrow-shaped mark can often be seen on its head. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Pythonidae - **Genus:** Python ## Interesting facts - After a giant meal, a Python molurus can go without eating for several months! - Female pythons coil around their eggs for months, twitching to keep them warm. - The biggest ones are as heavy as a small motorbike, making them super strong! - This python can unhinge its jaw to swallow prey much wider than its own head! ## Special abilities - **Heat Vision:** Python molurus can detect prey by their body heat because of special pit organs, helping them hunt in the dark. - **Muscle Squeeze:** Python molurus has incredibly powerful muscles that help them constrict and suffocate their prey. - **Camouflage Master:** Python molurus has intricate skin patterns that help them blend perfectly into their jungle and forest habitats. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 300-550 cm - **Weight:** 50-100 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-25 years - **Speed:** 1.6 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 15-50 - **Incubation:** 50-90 days ## Diet & Feeding These large snakes are carnivores, eating many kinds of warm-blooded animals they find. - **Age differences:** Young pythons eat smaller prey like rodents and birds, while adults can tackle much larger mammals. - **Primary Foods:** Deer, Wild Boar, Monkeys, Rodents, Birds - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Chital](https://www.snappit.app/explore/chital) (*Axis axis*) — Main food source in many forest habitats. - **Hunts:** [Wild Boar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wild-boar) (*Sus scrofa*) — Large adults can prey on young wild boar. - **Hunts:** [Red Junglefowl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-junglefowl) (*Gallus gallus*) — Opportunistic predator of various ground birds. - **Eaten by:** [Tiger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tiger) (*Panthera tigris*) — Pythons are sometimes killed and eaten by tigers. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Always keep a safe distance from snakes and never try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Python molurus? Compare the full body pattern, build, head markings and tail. Color can shift with age and lighting. Rules of thumb about triangular heads or round pupils aren't a reliable way to tell whether a snake is venomous. Snake Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Python molurus? 300-550 cm ### How much does Python molurus weigh? 50-100 kg ### How long does Python molurus live? 15-25 years ### How fast can Python molurus move? 1.6 km/h ### What does Python molurus eat? These large snakes are carnivores, eating many kinds of warm-blooded animals they find. ### How fast can Python molurus swim? 5 km/h ### Where is Python molurus usually found? Forests ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Python molurus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/python-molurus)