Threat Level
Least Concern

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Reticulated Python
Fact Sheet

(Python reticulatus)

Reticulated Pythons have amazing patterns on their bodies which are designed to help them blend into the leaf litter of the rainforests. These patterns are a mixture of light browns, creams, yellow dark brown and even black. Their heads are yellowish with a dark, thin line and their bellies are yellow or white. The Reticulated Python is one of the world's largest snakes reaching a huge 10 metres in length. Reticulated Pythons grow to be the longest snakes in the world.

Habitat

The Reticulated Python is commonly found in the jungles of South East Asia, the Philippines and parts of the Indonesian archipelago. Reticulated Pythons enjoy the tropical areas in rainforests, and they rely on water and are often found near ponds, creeks and river systems.

Diet

Reticulated Pythons are non-venomous. Pythons are constrictors, coiling about their prey and squeezing it until it suffocates. Like most other snakes they can swallow animals much larger than the diameter of their own heads because the bones of the skull and the lower jaw are loosely attached to each other by ligaments. This allows the bones to separate when the prey is being swallowed. Their skin also expands and large prey items form an obvious lump in the body until digested. A Reticulated Python will prey on large mammals, birds and reptiles.

Breeding

The female Reticulated Python may lay up to 90 eggs and incubates them by coiling around them and shivering to raise and maintain temperatures. The young are over 2 feet long at hatching and may grow up to a foot longer each year.

Lily

Sex: Female

Length: 7.1m (22.72ft)

Weight: 150kg (330lbs)

You Can Adopt Lily

Lily is by far the largest snake here at Australia Zoo, at a length 23ft or a touch over 7 meters and an estimated to weight of about 150kg. She is huge! In fact Reticulated Pythons are one of only two types of snakes in the world that are regarded to have the capability to eat people. She has many years ahead of her yet, as these snakes may live up to and over 50 years. So hopefully with another 20+ years Lily may be up close with what is the maximum length. These snakes have been known to reach 30+ feet or 10 meters. So if you are in and around the Zoo make sure you don't miss our beautiful big girl Lily.