Morelia spilota (Carpet Python)

Python

The Carpet Python (Morelia spilota) is the only species of python naturally found in the Canberra and Southern Tablelands region. Worldwide there are eight genera and 26 species of python. Pythons are non-venomous snakes which mostly are ambush predators - typically they remain motionless in a camouflaged position and then strike suddenly at passing prey. They use their sharp, backward-curving teeth, to grasp prey, which is then killed by constriction causing death by asphyxiation.

Carpet Pythons belongs to the genus Morelia or tree python which has seven species and is found in Australia, New Guinea and Indonesia. Highly variable in colour and pattern with several recognised subspecies around Australia. Colouration ranges from tan to grey background colours with various darker brown-dark grey blotches, sometimes coalescing longitudinally and/or forming somewhat irregular bands and ocelli, depending on the subspecies. The Diamond Python is black with cream to yellow spots and rosettes. They can grow to around two metres in length, although they may reach three metres.

Distribution: Patchily distributed throughout NSW, except the far NW. The subspecies naturally occuring within the region are the Murray/Darling Carpet Python (Morelia spilota metcalfei) found along rivers west of Canberra, like around Gundagai and the Diamond Python (Morelia spilota spilota) found on or east of the ranges, more commonly on the coast like along the NSW South Coast. Other localities within the region where a Diamond Python may be seen is up around Bungonia and near the Abercrombie River.

There is a 1974 sighting of a Carpet Python (Morelia spilota) in Fyshwick, Canberra, however the record states "locality unlikely, probably escaped from captivity". More recently in 2017 another Morelia spilota was found in Weston, Canberra that is likewise thought to be an escaped pet, as it doesn't resemble either of the local subspecies.