Blood Python - Five Sisters Zoo

Most individuals have a grey head, with a body that is predominantly brown, orange or red.  They usually have a stripe behind the angle of their eyes to the jaw though their colouration can vary widely between individuals and location.. Their body is typically muscular with a shorter tail, which may be the source of the other common name for this snake, the Sumatran Short-tailed Python.

Facts

Diet: Carnivore; small rodents such as rats, other small mammals, and birds.

Length: 2m

Weight: 15-18kg

Habitat: Endemic to Sumatra; prefers forest habitats with vegetation cover.

Lifespan: 25 years under human care; inconclusive in the wild

Adapted to Survive

Scales act as camouflage in the forest; able to swim to evade predators or seek prey

Threats

Illegal wildlife and pet trade; captured and sold for the leather industry; deforestation and agricultural expansion

IUCN Conservation Status

Least Concern