Royal Python
Python regius
Distribution
West and Central Africa, from Senegal to Sudan and Uganda
Habitat
grasslands, forests, cultivated areas
Method of reproduction
oviparous
Incubation
2 months
Number of eggs
1 - 11
Longevity
10 years in the wild, 20 years in captivity
Weight
5 kg
Size
up to 1.2 - 1.8m long
Diet
Carnivore
Conservation status
:
Not Threatened
Royal not by the size…
… But because Cleopatra used it as a bracelet! This massive snake is found in a wide variety of habitats, from grasslands to open forests, including cultivated areas. Although it is able to climb, it spends most of its time on the ground or in burrows.
In West Africa, this species is locally killed for its meat and skin, or out of fear. It is also a victim of bushfires, but the biggest threat is capture for international trade: this non-aggressive species is very popular! But abundant and widely distributed, it is not considered threatened.
