The Diamond Python
Diamond pythons (Morelia spilota spilota) are beautiful, non-venomous Australian snakes which can grow up to 3 metres in length. Their name comes from the diamond-shaped patterns on their black and gold scales, which help them blend into the trees and forests they call home. These snakes are a type of carpet python and are known for being gentle and shy. This was certainly our experience when we encountered one near to the summit of Mount Dromedary/Gulaga.
Diamond pythons love to climb and can often be found coiled up in trees, but are often found slithering along the ground in search of a meal. They eat small animals like birds, rodents, and lizards, catching them by wrapping their strong bodies around them in constriction. The female Diamond Python lays eggs and coils around them to protect them and keep them warm which is uncommon in snakes.
They’re not speedy. They like to wait quietly for their prey to come close. Diamond pythons are mostly active at night, which makes them nocturnal hunters.
Did you know?
Diamond pythons can go weeks or even months without eating after a big meal!
They are fantastic climbers and often sleep in tree hollows or on branches.
Instead of laying eggs and leaving them, mother diamond pythons coil around their eggs to keep them warm.
Their beautiful scales shine like jewels in the sunlight!