Pythonidae

A family of constricting snakes, sometimes classified as an underfamily to the boas, Boidae?. Pythons are found in Australasia?, Southeast Asia, India, and Africa. They range in size between 0.5 and 10 m. Some show vidivly patterns on their scales while others are a non-descript brown. Pythonidae consists of eight genera including:

• Aspidites
• Liasis
• Morelia
• Python

Reproduction:
Pythons lay eggs? which they arrange in a pile. They coil around the pile until all eggs have hatched.

Predatory characteristics and behaviour:
Most pythons have heat-sensing organs in their lips. These enable them to detect objects that are hotter than the surrounding environment. Pythons that do not have heat-sensing organs identify their prey by smell. Pythons typically stay in a camouflaged position and then suddenly strike. They then grasp the prey in their teeth, and kill by constriction. Death is usually a result of suffocation or heart failure rather than crushing. Pythons will not usually attack humans unless startled or provoked.