| Morelia bredli | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Pythonidae |
| Genus: | Morelia |
| Species: | M. bredli
|
| Binomial name | |
| Morelia bredli (Gow, 1981)
| |
| Synonyms[3] | |
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Morelia bredli is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is endemic to Australia. No subspecies are recognized.[4] Its common names include Bredl's python, the Centralian python, the Centralian carpet python, the central Australian carpet python, Bredl's carpet python, the central Australian Bredl's carpet python, and the central Bredl's carpet python.
Etymology
editThe specific name bredli is in honor of Australian crocodile conservationist Josef "Joe" Bredl (1948–2007), brother of "the barefoot bushman" Rob Bredl.[5]
Description
editMorelia bredli is a slender python that can reach lengths of up to, although rare, 3 meters. The color pattern consists of a brown to reddish ground color with a highly variable pattern of pale intrusions. There are normally black borders around the intrusions that become more extensive around the tail. The belly is yellowish to pale cream.[6]
Geographic range
editIn Australia, M. bredli is found in the mountains of the southern Northern Territory. The type locality given is "Pitchie Ritchie Park, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia (23°42', 133°51')".[3]
Habitat
editM. bredli is found in a variety of habitats, including dry desert, savanna, woodland forest, and freshwater wetlands, preferring to inhabit foothills, ridges, and rocky outcroppings.[1] These animals can be found hunting and resting arboreally (in trees), as well as terrestrially.
Ecology
editM. bredli eats birds that nest in tree holes, possums, rock wallaby and occasionally feral cats and rabbits.[1]
Reproduction
editM. bredli is oviparous.[7] and may lay between 13-47 eggs
Gallery
edit-
Facial detail, anterior -
Detail of markings on wild specimen -
Zoo specimen -
Juvenile
References
edit- ^ a b c Cogger, H.; Fenner, A.; Hutchinson, M.; McDonald, P. (2017). "Morelia bredli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017 e.T42494066A42494080. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T42494066A42494080.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ "Morelia bredli (Gow, 1981)". Species+. UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
- ^ a b McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- ^ "Morelia bredli ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 11 September 2007.
- ^ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Morelia bredli, pp. 37-38).
- ^ Centralian Carpet Python, Morelia spilota bredli Archived 2008-07-19 at the Wayback Machine at the Snake Ranch. Accessed 11 April 2008.
- ^ Species Morelia bredli at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
Further reading
edit- Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350. (Morelia bredli, p. 826).
- Gow GF (1981). "A new species of python from central Australia". Australian Journal of Herpetology. 1 (1): 29–34. (Python bredli, new species).
