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Scientific name: Morelia
spilota variegata . |
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We note that in the recent
past, the scientific names of the Australian carpet pythons
have been in a state of flux. There is the possibility that
future systematic investigations of Morelia spilota
that include the New Guinea forms of carpet pythons may result
in the reclassification of this and other populations in New
Guinea. |
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This subspecies is occasionally
referred to as the New Guinea carpet python. However, there
are other populations of carpet pythons in New Guinea, and the
relationships of these populations to each other and to Australian
populations of carpet pythons are unknown. Irian Jaya carpet
pythons are the only New Guinea carpet pythons that are being
maintained in captivity in significant numbers. |
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This is a slender elongate
python. The head is very distinct from the neck, the tail is
long and strongly prehensile. Adult specimens in most U.S. collections
average about 4-5½ feet in total length. The maximum size of
this form approaches 6 1/2 feet (2 meters) in total length.
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The Irian Jaya carpet is
apparently restricted to a small area of open eucalyptus woodland
about 20 km WNW of Merauke, Irian Jaya. |
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Wild-caught animals are
still collected and exported to the U.S. though with few exceptions
they are unsatisfactory captives. Wild-bred-captive-hatched
babies also are exported to the U.S., and some of these prosper
and thrive while others may do very poorly. Captive-bred animals
also are available and these have proven to be very good snakes
and do extremely well. |
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The Irian Jaya carpet has
a ringed pattern, with the dark rings wider than the pale rings.
The majority of specimens also have a thin pale vertebral stripe.
[A "vertebral stripe" is stripe running lengthwise down the
down the middle of the back.] In some specimens the vertebral
stripe is a straight line down the center of the back, while
in other animals it slightly zigzags. Some animals are perfectly
striped from the neck to the tail, but the majority of specimens
have some breaks and irregularities in the stripe. |
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Hatchlings
are colored in shades of red. The contrast between pale and
dark pattern elements increases with age until 2-3 years of
age and there is gradual color change until 3-5 years of age.
Some subadults and young adults are spectacularly beautiful
snakes, patterned in black and gold, and rivaling the best
jungle carpet pythons for beauty. Other young animals may
be colored in dark brown and yellow-tan.
The dark rings of
older animals typically have black-margins and are dark brown
to chestnut in color with a wash of orange color on the lower
sides; the pale coloration varies among individuals from medium
gray to tan to yellow-tan.
There are no reported
mutations of color in this population--albinism, or other
inheritable forms of hypomelanism are unreported, as are axanthic
or anerythristic conditions.
Most Irian Jaya carpets
are very good looking snakes. However, there is an observable
wide variation of color and pattern--at one extreme of the
range of variation, an Irian Jaya carpet can be a drab carpet
python as an adult; at the other extreme, they can be extraordinary
snakes, very beautiful carpet pythons. Of additional interest
to keepers is their small size and calm demeanor.
It is this variation
in the color and pattern of the Irian Jaya carpet python that
interests us particularly. We feel that, with several generations
of careful selective breeding, the Irian Jaya carpet pythons
in captivity today have the greatest potential of any carpet
python taxon to found a lineage of the most beautiful carpets
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Last Updated:
Monday October 5, 2009 11:57
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