Black Headed Python
Scientific Name
Aspidites melanocephalus
Conservation Status
This species is yet to be evaluated by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
This animal can visit your location for a presentation.
This animal is used for Wilbur’s Wildlife displays.
This animal is on show during private zoo tours.
Our Animals
Wilbur’s Wildlife are home to 2 black headed pythons which we regularly allow people to hold during our wonderful wildlife presentations. Severus has been one of our stars since his arrival in early 2016. Bob joined our team in late 2018. Unfortunately when we received him he was overweight and had burns to large sections of his back. Fortunately these conditions have both responded well to treatment and he has recently made his debut as part of our wildlife presentations.
Appearance
The black headed python is instantly recognizable due to the namesake black head scales which extend 20 scales down the back. The rest of the body is coloured a creamy white, light brown or even yellow banded with stripes of dark or orange brown running the length of the body. There are some albino black headed pythons in captivity. This species is incredibly large attaining lengths of up to 3m (9.8ft) long. Females are generally longer than males.They can weigh up to 16kg (35lb) on average. They differ from other pythons in that the heat sensing pit is located under the rostral scale instead of the labial scale. The lack of a labial pit has long led to the species being seen as a venomous snake, which it is not.
Lifespan
Average lifespan for the black headed python is 25 to 30 years.
Diet
The black headed python is a carnivore. Most of their diet consists of reptiles but they can also eat small mammals and birds. Most of their reptile prey is skinks but they can eat animals up to the size of a perentie (Australia’s largest lizard). They can also eat venomous snakes due to being impervious to their venom. Once prey is captured it is constricted using the coils of their body.
Due to their warmer habitat these snakes digest their food faster and will eat more frequently than snakes from colder climates.
Habitat
Australia is the native home of the black headed python. They can be found across the north of the country across Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. In these areas they can be found across sclerophyll forests, scrubland plains, sparsely vegetated deserts and rocky areas.
They will shelter inside of logs, termite mounds, burrows and under rocks. They are also one of the few snakes in Australia which burrow under the ground.
Reproduction
Breeding takes place from June to July. The eggs develop inside of the mother until October or November when the eggs are laid in a protected place. Around 5 to 10 eggs will be laid around which the mother coils to keep them cool. If it gets too cold she will shiver to keep the eggs warm.
It will take 2 months of incubation for the eggs to hatch. After they emerge from their eggs the hatchlings are independent and are hunting by their second day.
Sexual maturity is achieved between the 4th and 5th year.
Behaviour
Black headed pythons are nocturnal. During the day they will rest in a hiding place. When the black headed python wants to warm up it can stick the black head out of its burrow. This keeps the rest of the body out of harm’s way while they can still warm up. When they wish to cool down they may bury the
head.
This species is capable of swimming but this behaviour is not often engaged in.
The only species which prey upon adult black headed pythons are dingoes and humans. Juveniles are also cannibalized by adults.
Quick facts
The black headed python is also known as the black headed rock snake and the tarpot due to their head looking like it has been dipped in tar.
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