Aspidites
Genus of snakes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aspidites is a genus of pythons endemic to Australia. The name can be translated as "shield bearer" and pertains to the symmetrically shaped head scales. Currently, two species are recognized.[2]
| Aspidites | |
|---|---|
| |
| Black-headed python, Aspidites melanocephalus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Pythonidae |
| Subfamily: | Pythoninae |
| Genus: | Aspidites W. Peters, 1877 |
| Synonyms | |
Description
These snakes lack the heat-sensitive pits between the labial scales that most other python species have.[citation needed]
The head is slightly wider than the neck, and the eyes are small, with a vertically elliptic pupils.[3]
Distribution and habitat
Behavior
Both species are nocturnal,[4] and terrestrial.[5]
Reproduction
Oviparous, the females stay with their eggs until they hatch.
Species
| Species[2] | Taxon author[2] | Common name[4] | Geographic range[1] |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. melanocephalusT
|
(Krefft, 1864) | Black-headed python | Australia in the northern half of the country, excluding the very arid regions. |
| A. ramsayi
|
(Macleay, 1882) | Woma python | Australia in the west and center of the country: from Western Australia through southern Northern Territory and northern South Australia to southern Queensland and northwestern New South Wales. Its range may be discontinuous. |
T) Type species.[1]
