The African Rock Python is native to the Sub Saharan Africa. The python has seven species and African rock python is one of them. They are non venomous snakes and are the largest snakes in Africa. The name Python Sebae was derived from the Greek mythology, which refers to a huge serpent. They have two sub-species of African Rock Python, one of which are found in the Southern Africa which are also called Python Sebae Natalis and the other types are found in the Western and Central parts of Africa. The largest snake in Africa and the third largest snake in the world, it’s enormous and bulky. They can weigh up to 135kgs. An average male African Rock Python measures around 16 feet however the largest that has been confirmed are around 20 feet long. It has a very thick body with blotches which are joined like irregular stripes and ultimately fade to white underneath. Their body color varies between brown, chestnut to olive. They have a triangular dark arrow head shaped head. They have a triangular mark below their eyes. Smooth and dry to touch, their scales are small and smooth. The African Rock Python have these heat sensitive pits around their lips which help them to detect warm blooded preys.
The African Rock Python are usually found on the open savanna, grassland, rocky area, forest and semi deserts type of habitat. They are dependent on water soften found near the water bodies like lakes, swamps and marshy areas, they become dormant during the dry season. The African Rock Python are carnivorous and non venomous; therefore they coil around their prey and constrict them. The prey ultimately dies due to cardiac arrest. They hold a tight grip and tighten it every time the prey breathes out. They swallow the entire prey and if the prey is big enough they can do without eating for almost a year. They can swallow up to 60 kilo grams of lifeless prey. Since their upper and lower jaws are attached together and their ligament stretches they have the ability to swallow preys bigger than themselves. They have strong acids inside their stomach which helps them to digest their food. The African Rock Python feeds on rodents, small and medium antelopes, monkeys, domestic pigs, lizards, dogs, goats, crocodiles and at times even fishes. Whatever is being fed, make sure that only 1 item is offered at a time and at least 1-2 weeks is left between feedings. African Rock Python can live up to 30 years in captivity.
