Scrub python facts for kids
Morelia amethistina is a fascinating snake known by a few names, like the amethystine python or scrub python. It's a type of python, which means it's a non-venomous snake. You can find these amazing creatures in countries like Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Australia.
While some amethystine pythons have been found to be very long, up to 8.5 meters (about 28 feet), most of them are usually around 5 meters (16 feet) long. Imagine seeing a snake that long!
What Do They Eat?
The amethystine python is a carnivore, meaning it eats other animals. Its main diet includes birds, bats, rats, and possums. They also hunt other small mammals.
Bigger amethystine pythons, especially those found in Australia and Papua New Guinea, can even eat larger prey. This includes animals like wallabies and cuscus, which are marsupials similar to possums. These snakes are powerful hunters that use their strong bodies to catch their meals.
Images for kids
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A 3.2-m-long, intact amethystine python skin in Australia: The snake that shed this skin would be significantly shorter than 3.2 m, as the snake skin is folded on top of and below each scale. This causes a shed skin to be almost twice as long as the snake that shed it.
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S. amethistina from the Bronx Zoo in New York City
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Wild S. amethistina, North Queensland
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Amethystine python near Cooktown, Queensland, Australia, 2014
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Amethystine python visiting a kitchen at a home near Cooktown, Queensland, Australia, 2014
