Python regius
ball python
(Also: royal python)

Royal pythons are found "in the grasslands of the Sudanese subprovince (West of the Nile); in Southern Sudan in the Bahrel Ghazal and in the region of the Nuba Mountains (Southern Kordofan); in West Africa from Senegal to Sierra Africa" (de Vosjoli, 1990).

Royal pythons are found in savannah grasslands and open forests throughout their range.

Length ranges from 1 to 2 meters in length (3 to 6 feet). Royal pythons vary considerably in their color and pattern. Some snakes are tan, brown or reddish. Others may be pale yellow or orange yellow. The patterns of these snakes also vary greatly. Some are spotted, some have stripes and others are spotted and striped. There is no obvious secondary sexual characteristic that allow for instant determination of sex. Males tend to have larger "spurs" (visible on either side of the vent) than females, but this difference is in no way clearly visible nor reliable as an indicator of sex.

Royal pythons are most active at night, when they hunt for their food. When the royal python catches its prey with its sharp, backward pointing teeth, it quickly throws coils around the victim until the prey dies of asphyxiation. After the prey is dead, the python swallows its catch whole. As a defense mechanism, the royal python rolls up into a tight ball. This is how it received the nickname "ball python."

To facilitate nocturnal hunting these pythons have eyes that are adapted to dim light. Another adaptation that helps the python in their nocturnal hunting is the heat sensitive organs located in the scales bordering in the python's mouth. These organs enable it to locate warm blooded prey in complete darkness.

Royal pythons eat rodents almost exclusively. They feed primarily on several species of native African rodents, including rats, gerbils, and gerboas. Royal pythons generally do not eat during the times of the year when night temperatures drop to the low 70's or lower.

Royal pythons are very useful in keeping rodent population under control. They are a source of food for the native people in their area of orgin, and they are important in the pet trade.

Royal pythons are a highly exploited species. They are important in the pet trade because of their beautiful colors and how easily they are kept as pets. In their countries of origin they are eaten and used as a source of leather. Considering that royal pythons only mate every two to three years and have relatively low clutch sizes, it is easy to see why there is special concern as to high rate exploitation that these snakes face. De Vosjoli (1990) states that careful management, including captive incubation of eggs laid by collected females and restocking programs, will be required if the current level of exploitation is to continue. More efforts need to be made to propagate this species in captivity.

Royal pythons are "one of the most widely sold snakes in the pet trade. They are appealing because of their beauty and their tameness. De Vosjoli (1990) states that, although they may be cheaper than other snakes in the pet trade, they are also some of the most problematic. They tend to harbour several parasites and often come in with various diseases including stomatitis (mouthrot), respiratory disorders, and protozoan and bacterial infections. Another common problem is their reluctance to feed in captivity.