This carpet python snared itself a black crow for lunch!
{Common names: carpet python, Northwestern carpet python. |Morelia spilota variegata is a non-venomous python subspecies found in New Guinea and Australia. | It is smaller than the nominate subspecies Morelia spilota and has a more restricted geographic range. | Adults grow to an average length of 8 feet (244 cm) with a maximum of 12 feet (366 cm). |The color pattern consists of a beige or brown ground color overlaid with blackish or gray blotches, cross-bands or stripes, or a combination of any of these. | Regional color variations can include bright yellow, gold, rust and clear grays. |Carpet python, Northwestern carpet python, Irian Jaya carpet python, West Papuan carpet python. | Found in New Guinea (Western New Guinea and Papua New Guinea) and Australia in northwestern Western Australia and in the northern portion of the Northern Territory. | The type locality given is North Australia: Port Essington (Northern Territory, Australia). | The snake is not venomous and kills prey by constriction. | Their diet is varied and includes many different birds and mammals. | Populations that inhabit forested areas are mostly arboreal and often feed on brush-tailed possums, Trichosurus. | Oviparous, females deposit their eggs in secluded places such as hollow logs and tree boles where they protect and incubate them. | Captive specimens have produced up to 18 eggs that hatch after a 40 day incubation period. | The hatchlings are about 12 inches (30 cm) in length. |Common names: carpet python, Northwestern carpet python. | Morelia spilota variegata is a non-venomous python subspecies found in New Guinea and Australia. | It is smaller than the nominate subspecies Morelia spilota and has a more restricted geographic range. | Adults can grow to 4 m in length and weigh over 5 kg. | Morelia spilota mcdowelli is the largest form, regularly attaining lengths of 270-300 cm (9-10 feet). | Morelia spilota variegata is the smallest, averaging of 120-180 cm (4-6) feet in length. | The average adult length is roughly 2 m (6 and a half ft). | However, one 3-year-old captive male Morelia spilota mcdowelli, measured in Ireland, was found to exceed 396 cm (13 ft). | Males are typically smaller than females and the head is triangular heads with a conspicuous row of thermoreceptive labial pits. | The color pattern for Morelia spilota spilota is black with white or cream and gold markings. | Most other forms have intricate markings made up of light and dark bands on a background of gray or a version of brown. |Morelia spilota is a non-venomous python species found in Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia. | Currently, 6 subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here. |Found in Indonesia (southern Western New Guinea in Merauke Regency), Papua New Guinea (southern Western Province, the Port Moresby area of Central Province and on Yule Island) and Australia (excluding southern Victoria and much of the center and the west of the country). | The type locality given is Nouvelle-Hollande . | Occurs in a wide variety of habitats, from the rainforests of northeastern Queensland ( Morelia spilota cheynei) through the River Red Gum/Riverbox woodlands of the Murray and Darling Rivers (Morelia spilota metcalfei), to the arid, tree-less islands of Nuyts Archipelago off the South Australian west coast (Morelia spilota imbricata). | Often found near human habitation where they perform a useful service by eating rats and other vermin. | Morelia spilota spilota is even know to occur in areas that receive snowfall. | Diamond pythons are tree snakes, they do not completely rely on trees, however, and are capable of moving around elsewhere. | The nominate subspecies, Morelia spilota spilota, is under threat due to habitat destruction. | Described as semi-arboreal, they are largely nocturnal, climbing trees and shrubs as well as crossing open areas such as rock faces, forest floors and even roads. | However, basking behavior is commonly observed. | The diet consists mainly of small mammals, bats, birds and lizards. | Captive specimens are normally fed live or frozen rats. | Oviparous, with females laying 10-50 eggs at a time. | Afterwards, females coil around the eggs to protect them and keep them warm through using muscular contractions to generate heat. | This type of maternal care, which is typical for pythons, ceases once the hatchlings have emerged. | This species is a popular pet among enthusiasts. | Some forms can be more irascible than others, such as Morelia spilota mcdowelli and Morelia spilota variegata. | Forms that tend to be more even tempered include Morelia spilota spilota and Morelia spilota metcalfei. | However this is not a hard rule. | Although they can grow to a reasonable size (200-350 cm) and can be nippy as hatchlings, most will grow into docile, trustworthy adults. | However, care must be taken when feeding, as these snakes have a strong feeding response; behavior that can be mistaken for aggression. | They can be fed on rats and mice and have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years. |||||||||||||||||||}