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Wildlife Guide · Africa & Asia

Python

Family Pythonidae — ~40 species native to Africa, Asia and Australia

Non-venomous constrictors of three continents — powerful, slow and heavily traded.

Varies by species (Least Concern to Endangered)
A juvenile green tree python (Morelia viridis) with vivid lime-green scales coiled on a rainforest floor among brown dead leaves and forest debris in its natural habitat

Image: Photo: JJ Harrison / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

In brief

Pythons are egg-laying constrictors (family Pythonidae) with ~40 species in Africa, Asia and Australia — non-venomous snakes threatened by skin trade, exotic pet demand and habitat loss.

By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated

Pythons are non-venomous constrictors of the family Pythonidae, found in Africa, Asia and Australia but not the Americas — where boas fill a similar niche. Roughly 40 species range from the tiny anthill python to the reticulated python, among the longest snakes on Earth. Pythons kill by constriction, lay eggs — unlike most boas — and often possess heat-sensing pits along the lips. Skin trade, pet demand and habitat loss threaten species from Burmese pythons in Myanmar to ball pythons in West Africa.

40

Recognised python species

6 m+

Maximum length (reticulated python)

CITES I/II

Trade regulated by species

Varies

IUCN status from Least Concern to Endangered

Figures sourced from IUCN Red List — reticulated python, Smithsonian National Zoo — python, Encyclopaedia Britannica — python snake and other references on this page.

Python: Quick Facts

Vital statistics and key facts about the Python
Family Pythonidae (~40 species)
Range Africa, Asia, Australia
Venom None — constrictor
Reproduction Oviparous — lays eggs
Longest Reticulated python — 6 m+
Trade Skins, pets — CITES regulated

Scientific Classification

Scientific classification of the Python
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Pythonidae

Conservation Status

IUCN Status
Varies by species. Reticulated python Least Concern but heavily traded; some populations Endangered locally.
Population
Unknown for most species; reticulated python widely distributed but declining regionally
Trend
Decreasing where harvest and habitat loss combine
Assessed
Varies by species
CITES
Appendix I or II depending on species and population

Invasive Burmese pythons in Florida are a separate conservation crisis from native range protection.

Key Facts: Python

  • Pythons are not found wild in the Americas — boa constrictors occupy that ecological role.
  • Reticulated and Burmese pythons rank among the world's longest and heaviest snakes.
  • Ball pythons dominate the legal pet trade; wild capture still supplies laundered animals.
  • Invasive Burmese pythons devastate native mammals in the Florida Everglades.
  • Python skins supply the luxury leather industry — ranching and wild harvest both occur.
  • Heat pits along jaws detect warm-blooded prey in darkness.

Python biology and constricting hunt

Pythons ambush or stalk prey, strike with speed and coil around victims. Constriction stops blood flow to the brain and heart — prey loses consciousness within seconds. Jaws unhinge to swallow animals larger than the head. Females of many species brood eggs, shivering muscles to raise clutch temperature. Hatchlings are independent immediately. Growth rates depend on food availability; captives often exceed wild size. Heat-sensitive labial pits appear in pythons as in pit vipers — convergent evolution for nocturnal hunting. Reticulated python colour patterns camouflage among forest leaf litter.

Major species and ranges

The reticulated python Python reticulatus ranges across South-East Asia — Indonesia and Malaysia are WARN partner regions with significant populations. Burmese python Python bivittatus inhabits mainland South-East Asia and was introduced to Florida via the pet trade. Ball python Python regius from West Africa is the most traded pet snake globally, with millions exported historically — now heavily captive-bred but wild laundering persists. African rock pythons reach southern Africa. Australian pythons — carpet, scrub, olive — fill diverse niches from desert to rainforest, generally less impacted by international trade than Asian giants.

Trade, invasion and conservation

Python skin exports supply European fashion houses; CITES permits aim to limit wild offtake. Burmese python leather from Vietnam and Thailand is ranching-dominated; reticulated python harvest remains contentious. Florida's Everglades invasion demonstrates release risk: Burmese pythons consume deer, raccoons and birds, collapsing native mammal populations. Eradication efforts use detector dogs, radio tracking and public reporting. IUCN status varies: reticulated python Least Concern but heavily exploited; some subspecies Endangered. Habitat conversion in Indonesia and Malaysia removes primary forest pythons require.

Pythons and people

Pythons rarely kill humans — reticulated and African rock pythons account for occasional fatalities where large snakes encounter children or sleeping adults. Respect and secure housing prevent tragedies. Pet keepers must research adult size: Burmese and reticulated pythons exceed five metres and are unsuitable for most households. Ball pythons remain manageable but need proper heat gradients and veterinary care. Readers should reject wild-caught pets, support habitat protection in South-East Asia and never release unwanted snakes into non-native ecosystems.

What WARN Does

WARN educates readers in Indonesia and Malaysia — major python range countries — about wildlife trade, habitat protection and responsible reptile stewardship. Free guides support informed choices in partner nations from Pakistan to Brazil.

If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.

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How does the python compare?

Python vs Boa →

Python: Frequently Asked Questions

How many python species are there?
About 40 species in family Pythonidae, native to Africa, Asia and Australia. They are absent from the Americas.

What is the largest python?
The reticulated python is the longest, exceeding six metres. The Burmese python rivals it in mass, sometimes exceeding 90 kg.

Are pythons venomous?
No. Pythons kill by constriction. They have no venom glands.

Are Burmese pythons invasive?
Yes in the Florida Everglades, where released and escaped pets established a breeding population devastating native wildlife.

What do pythons eat?
Pythons are egg-laying constrictors (family Pythonidae) with ~40 species in Africa, Asia and Australia — non-venomous snakes threatened by skin trade, exotic pet demand and habitat loss. The guide's ecology sections give the prey or forage detail behind that summary.

Where do pythons live?
Pythons live in Africa, Asia, Australia. Pythons are egg-laying constrictors (family Pythonidae) with ~40 species in Africa, Asia and Australia — non-venomous snakes threatened by skin trade, exotic pet demand and habitat loss.

Are pythons dangerous?
Pythons are non-venomous constrictors of the family Pythonidae, found in Africa, Asia and Australia but not the Americas — where boas fill a similar niche. Give wild pythons space; do not corner or handle them.

How long do pythons live?
A precise wild lifespan for pythons is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. Pythons are egg-laying constrictors (family Pythonidae) with ~40 species in Africa, Asia and Australia — non-venomous snakes threatened by skin trade, exotic pet demand and habitat loss. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

How big is a python?
A Python is about 6 m+ (Maximum length (reticulated python)). Pythons are egg-laying constrictors (family Pythonidae) with ~40 species in Africa, Asia and Australia — non-venomous snakes threatened by skin trade, exotic pet demand and habitat loss.

Sources & References

Population figures, conservation status and biological facts on this page are drawn from authoritative scientific and intergovernmental sources.

Terms used on this page

Plain-English definitions, from our wildlife and conservation glossary.

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