Liasis olivaceus barroni facts for kids
Liasis olivaceus barroni is a type of python snake. It lives in the Pilbara region of northwest Australia. This snake is a special kind, or subspecies, of the Liasis olivaceus. It's different from the olive pythons found further east.
The Pilbara olive python is a large snake. It often grows to about 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) long. Some can even get much bigger! This python is a hunter that waits quietly for its prey. It might hide on a path or even under water. It catches many different animals that live in its dry home. Its meals can include frogs, birds, other reptiles, and even mammals as big as a rock wallaby.
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About the Pilbara Olive Python
How It Was Discovered
A scientist named Laurie A. Smith first described this subspecies in 1981. He studied nine snake specimens from the Western Australian Museum. These snakes were different enough from other olive pythons to be considered their own subspecies. The very first snake used to describe this group was collected by W. H. Butler in 1964 at Tambrey Station in Western Australia.
One of the earliest mentions of this snake might be from Ernest Giles. He reported seeing a large snake near the Ashburton River in May 1876.
What It's Called
People often call this snake the Pilbara olive python. Sometimes it's just called the olive python (Pilbara subspecies). The name barroni was given to honor Gregory Barron, who helped study reptiles.
Local Aboriginal peoples in northwest Australia have their own names for this snake. The Yindjibarndi call it Bargumyji. The Kurrama call it Parkanurra or Palkunyji. These names are part of their traditional creation stories.
Appearance and Senses
How It Looks
Adult Pilbara olive pythons are usually larger than other olive pythons. They have a specific number of scales on their bodies. They have fewer scales along their back (58-66) and more scales on their belly (374-410).
These snakes are typically around 2.5 meters long, but some can reach up to 4 meters (about 13 feet). Their scales feel smooth. The scales around their mouth have small pits. Their color can vary. They might be a dull olive-green or a pale fawn color. Some are two-toned, with a dark brown back and a cream or white belly.
Amazing Senses
The Pilbara olive python is an ambush predator. This means it waits for its prey to come close. It has special senses to help it hunt. Like many animals active at night, its eyes have slit pupils. This helps it see better in the dark.
It also has special pits on the front of its head. These pits can sense heat, like a heat camera! This helps the python find warm-blooded animals moving nearby. It can also feel vibrations through its body, which tells it if something is approaching. The snake uses its tongue to pick up scents from the air. Then, a special organ called the Jacobson's organ helps it understand these smells. All these senses work together to help the python know what's around it.
Hunting Style
A typical hunting spot for this python is near water, like a billabong (a waterhole). It will almost completely hide itself underwater. It uses its tail to hold onto something, and its body is coiled up. Its head stays above the water in an S-shape, ready to strike. These pythons also wait on trails that rock wallabies use.
Early explorers noted how big these snakes could get. One report from 1876 described a snake about 2.7 meters (9 feet) long and weighing about 23 kilograms (50 pounds). Another report from 1923 mentioned snakes up to 5.5 meters (18 feet) long! In 1952, a python collected at Hooley Station was 3.7 meters (12 feet) long and weighed 9.3 kilograms (20 pounds).
Life and Habits
Where They Live and Travel
People used to think these pythons only lived near permanent water. But studies using small radio transmitters showed they use many different environments. They can even travel across tough, rocky land.
Reproduction and Young
The breeding season for these pythons is during the cooler months, from June to August. Males find females by following their scent trails. Mating happens over several weeks while a pair stays at a breeding spot. Males leave before the female lays her eggs, usually around October. The female lays her eggs in a safe place, like a cave under rocks, often far from water. We don't know exactly how many eggs they lay or how many babies survive. The young snakes hatch in January. They are slender with a noticeable large head. They then spread out to find shelter and food.
Interactions with People
Sometimes, these pythons have problems with people. However, people in the area are now more interested in protecting them. Laws also help keep them safe. One common danger is roads. Pythons sometimes stay still when they feel a car coming, which can lead to accidents. Some drivers also mistake them for dangerous venomous snakes and hit them on purpose.
Interestingly, some Pilbara olive pythons live near people without any problems. A group at Red Hill Station seems comfortable with humans around. These snakes are also seen at camping grounds in National Parks. They might be attracted by the smell of mice. They have even tried to eat things like raincoats and tent bags! Young pythons are sometimes drawn to bird cages, especially for canaries and budgerigars. There are special services that help move these pythons safely away from homes.
Where They Live
Distribution and Habitat
The Pilbara olive python lives only in the Pilbara and northern Gascoyne regions. These are dry areas in northwest Australia. The first snake used to describe the species was found at "Tambrey, Western Australia."
These pythons are found in many places within this range. This includes the Burrup Peninsula, Karijini, and Robe River. They also live on some islands offshore. Surveys show that they are common in suitable habitats. Studies using radio transmitters have helped scientists understand how these pythons move and live. They usually move slowly or lie in ambush. But they can use a large area, and males might travel several kilometers to find a female during breeding season.
Preferred Environment
Their favorite places often have open water, like swamps and rock pools. They don't need to drink the water themselves. Instead, they are attracted to the animals that come to drink. For example, they live along the Fortescue River. This river only flows during floods, but it supports many frogs, mammals, and birds that the pythons eat.
Their diet includes birds like corellas, ducks, and pigeons. They can also catch young euros or rock wallabies. They are known to live near fruit bat colonies. Smaller pythons likely eat frogs and other reptiles. These pythons can travel across difficult land to find food or shelter. Their environment often includes rocky hills, cliffs, and plains with thick grass mounds of Triodia (spinifex). They have also been seen in places made by humans, like near railways, homes, lakes, and sewage ponds in mining areas.
Conservation
The Pilbara olive python is a protected animal in Western Australia. It is listed under the Wildlife Conservation Act (1950). This means it is considered a rare species or one that might become extinct. It is also listed as "Vulnerable" under a federal law called the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999). This protection helps ensure these amazing snakes can continue to thrive in their natural habitat.
