Pythonidae
Papuan Spotted Python
HarmlessAntaresia papuensis
3 photographs of the Papuan Spotted Python. (c) brendonjames, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Papuan Spotted Python (Antaresia papuensis) is a non-venomous snake in the Pythonidae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Pythonidae
About the Papuan Spotted Python
Antaresia papuensis, the Papuan spotted python, is a species of small python native to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia. It can grow to lengths of up to 108 cm (43 in), with a maximum tail length of 9.5 cm (3.7 in). It forms a light stripe in the latter third of its body where there is insufficient space between patches or spots. It has smaller, widely dispersed spots as opposed to large, black patches like A. m. maculosa. Additionally, it rarely possesses prefrontal scales numbering two or three. Large aligned shields make up its head scales, and it has one substantial frontal scale, more or less hexagonal in shape. It also has a pair of internal scales. Around 10 to 12 supralabials are present as well as 10–14 infralabials. There are noticeable heat pits in four infralabial regions and 3-5 loreal scales of varying sizes are present. Smooth, rhombus shaped, and barely overlapping are the distinguishing characteristics of the dorsal scales.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Papuan Spotted Python
- Is the Papuan Spotted Python venomous?
- No. The Papuan Spotted Python (Antaresia papuensis) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Papuan Spotted Python poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Papuan Spotted Python is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Papuan Spotted Python dangerous?
- The Papuan Spotted Python is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Papuan Spotted Python live?
- The Papuan Spotted Python has verified records in 1 country, including Australia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Pythonidae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Pythonidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Antaresia
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Antaresia papuensis
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.