Children's Python
/
Antaresia childreni or the Children's Python
The Children's python is one of the smallest pythons in Australia, reaching a maximum length of about 1 metre. They get the name Children's python not because they eat children, or because they make great children's pets, but from an English naturalist by the name of John Children. The Children's Python is usually found on the ground, utilising rocks, logs or animal burrows for shelter. They feed on small rodents, birds and lizards. Children's pythons will often climb to the roof of caves and snatch out of midair bats that are leaving for their night time feed. The Children's python is naturally a very placid snake. For this reason, and its compact size, it is a popular pet. The Children's python is an egg- laying species, as are all pythons.
A female will lay up to 20 eggs and then wrap her body around these eggs and regulate their temperature. If the temperature of the eggs feels a little warm she will loosen the coils of her body to allow the air to circulate. If the eggs feel a little cool the female python will shiver to increase the temperature up to 6 degrees Celcius above air temperature. The temperature that the female python will aim to keep her eggs at is 30 degrees Celcius. Once the eggs begin to hatch the female feels her job is complete and leaves.
Did you know...
- Children's pythons get their name not because they eat children, or because they make great children's pets, but from an English naturalist by the name of John Children.
- Children's pythons will often climb to the roof of caves and snatch out of midair bats that are leaving for their night time feed.
- The Children's python is naturally a very placid snake. For this reason, and its compact size, it is a popular pet.
- A female will lay up to 20 eggs and then wrap her body around these eggs to help protect them and regulate their temperature.
Where Children's Pythons are found in Australia:
