Common names: Angolan python, Anchieta's dwarf python.

Python anchietae is a nonvenomous python species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 found in Angola

Angola

Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...

 and Namibia

Namibia

Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...

. It is a rare species closely related to the royal python, P. regius. No subspecies

Subspecies

Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...

 are currently recognized.

Description

Adults may grow up to 183 cm (6 ft) in length. The color pattern consists of a reddish-brown to brown to almost black ground color overlaid with irregular white or cream colored bands and spots. The belly is yellowish. A rare species seldom seen in the wild or in captivity. The only known python to have "bead-like" scales.

Geographic range

Found in Africa

Africa

Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...

 in southern Angola

Angola

Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...

 and northern Namibia

Namibia

Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...

. The type locality given is "Catumbella [Catumbela]" near Lobito, Angola.

Behavior

Diurnal, they shelter in small caves, overhangs and crevices. Exhibit similar temperament to their closest cousin, the Ball python. Are known to hiss, but are more bark than bite.

Reproduction

Oviparous, with small clutches of 4-5 eggs being produced at a time. It is not known whether the females "incubate" their eggs as is typical for the members of this family. Hatchlings are 43-46 cm (17-18 inches) in length.

Captivity

Angolan Pythons are rarely found in captivity due to an almost 3 decade long civil war in Angola, and thus are rather expensive, originally selling for more than $20,000 USD. Their price tag has significantly dropped and can be purchased for as little as $500 USD today. Although the Angolan Civil War is over, the fields and forests are still covered with land mines, and few dare to risk their lives to catch these pythons.

Taxonomy

According to Broadley (1990), this species is most closely related to the royal python, P. regius, of west Africa.