Coastal Carpet Python

Scientific Name: Morelia spilota

Coastal Carpet Python is the common name for this kind of snake. Its scientific name is Morelia Spilota McDowelli. This is a great snack for anybody searching for a large and impressive snake. It is one of the popularly bred and kept python. Its popularity is attributed to its impressive size coupled by an attractive demeanor.

The normal adult size of the Coastal Carpet Pythons is 8 to 9 feet long. They are the biggest of all the other Carpet Python species the females being bigger than the male. Older species become heavy bodied and develop triangular-shaped heads that are impressive to look at. The hatchlings of Coastal Carpets are colored and patterned attractively.

The ground color is commonly a dark brown shade but can be black, green or gray. The pattern elements can be stripes, bands, blotches or a blend of the three and are light colored than the color of the ground. The color of the pattern elements can be khaki, yellow, gray, orange or brown. It is pale ventrally and dark dorsally with 60 to 80 pale blotches evenly arranged from the tail to the head. The labials are commonly white or pale but the pattern of the head is distinct looking like that of a dragon.

Coastal Carpet Pythons Are Beautiful Creatures

Facts About Coastal Carpet Pythons

Geographic Location

The snake is native to Australia down to the northeastern corner of New South Wales all along the Queensland Coast ranging westward past the big dividing range. They are also found in the area around Port Douglas. They snake is commonly available in the United States too. It is also found in the Cape York Peninsula and Coffs Harbor.

Habitat

In its native land Australia, the snake commonly occurs within forested areas. It also thrives in semi-temperate and tropical areas. You can encounter this snake in heavily timbered areas or on roof rafters.

Behavior

The hatchlings normally feed on small mice until they grow big. The adults feed on some birds, reptiles, mice, fruit bats, possums and small wallabies. The young baby snakes can be snappy but they resolve down rapidly as they mature. The adults are normally calm and pleasurable to handle. The snake can be slightly high strung. When young, it is highly sensitive to any potential threats.

Reproduction

The snake reaches sexual maturity at around 2 to 3 years. The female Coastal Carpet Python clutches about 20 to 30 eggs depending on the female’s size. The average incubation period is 50 to 55 days while the average incubation temperature is 88F-90F degrees. The hatchling Coastal Carpets are colored and patterned attractively and normally feed on small mice.

Captivity

The snake thrives in captivity mainly because the specimens available for collectors have all been bred in captivity. The captive life span of the snake is about 20 to 30 years for the larger females. The precise pedigree of the Coastal Carpet Pythons in captivity is not known. When in captivity, the males reach the average length of 5 to 8 feet while the female normally reach lengths of 8 to 10 feet. The snake is maintained in commercial plastic or wooden cages.