Content deleted Content added
m block evasion, User:Mcfoureyes |
→Distribution and habitat: Amethystine pythons are found in Northern Australia, this is well documented and easily found by search. Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
||
(6 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown) | |||
Line 6:
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn|
| genus = Simalia
| species = amethistina
Line 48:
==Taxonomy==
Formerly, five [[subspecies]] of ''Morelia amethistina'', including the nominate race, ''M. a. amethystina'', were generally recognized. The [[Moluccan Islands]] (including [[Halmahera]], [[Ternate]] and [[Tidore]]) are home to the former ''M. a. tracyae''. The [[Tanimbar Islands]] are home to a smaller subspecies, the former ''M. a. nauta''. On the island of [[Seram]], the former ''M. a. clastolepis'' can be found. On mainland of [[Papua New Guinea]] (including the Indonesian western half, once called Irian Jaya—now [[West Papua (province)|West Papua]]), and many of its nearby offshore islands, the former ''M. a. amethystina'' is quite common. In Australia, the former ''M. a. kinghorni'' is represented.<ref name="ITIS">{{ITIS |id=634775 |taxon=''Morelia amethistina'' |access-date=18 September 2007}}</ref> American biologist Michael Harvey and colleagues investigated the amethystine python complex and recognised five separate species{{snd}} ''Simalia amethistina'', ''[[Simalia clastolepis]]'', ''[[Simalia kinghorni]]'', ''[[Simalia nauta]]'', and ''[[Simalia tracyae]]''{{snd}} based on cladistic analysis of cytochrome b sequences and morphology.<ref name="Harvey2000">{{cite journal |
According to McDiarmid ''et al.'' (1999), all cases in which the [[Specific name (zoology)|specific name]] was spelled with a ''y'' follow Daudin's (1803) ''Python amethystinus'' and are therefore unjustified emendations.<ref name="McD99"/> The [[Specific name (zoology)|specific name]], ''amethistina'', is an allusion to the milky iridescent sheen on its scales, which gives it an [[amethyst]]-like colour.
==Description==
Specimens of ''S. amethistina'' have reportedly been measured at more than {{
The smooth [[dorsal scales]] are arranged in 39–53 rows at midbody. There are deep, heat-sensing pits on six or seven of the posterior lower labials.<ref>[[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger GA]] (1893). ''Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families ... Boidæ ...'' London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I–XXVIII. (''Python amethystinus'', pp. 83–84).</ref>
==Distribution and habitat==
The Amethystine python is found in Indonesia ([[Maluku Islands]], [[Tanimbar Islands|Timur Laut Islands]], [[Banda Islands|Banda]], [[Kai Islands]], [[Aru Islands]], [[Misool]], [[Salawati]], most of [[Western New Guinea]], many islands in [[Cenderawasih Bay|Geelvink Bay]], such as Biak, Numfor, Yapen, and Supiori), and [[Papua New Guinea]] (including [[Umboi Island]], [[Bismarck Archipelago]], [[Trobriand Islands]], the [[d'Entrecasteaux Islands]] to [[Rossel Island (Yela)|Rossel Island]], [[Louisiade Archipelago]]). Amethystine pythons are also distributed in Northern Australia. The [[Type locality (biology)|type locality]] is unknown.<ref name="McD99"/>
''S. amethistina'' occurs in both [[bushland]] and [[suburb]]ia. In Indonesia, it is found mostly in [[rainforest]]s. Warm, humid [[habitat]]s with good water sources are preferred. In
==Feeding==
|