IUCN Conservation Status –
Least Concern
Extinct In The Wild
Class: Reptiles
Order: Squamata
Family: Pythonidae
Paignton Zoo is the home of a female reticulated python called Lyra. She lives in her own exhibit inside Crocodile Swamp.
This huge snake is found in tropical forests and nearby grassland throughout southeast Asia. Being fond of the water and very competent swimmers, they are typically found in areas near lakes and streams.
Reticulated pythons are top carnivores – they are ambush hunters. Their natural diet in the wild includes mammals such as deer and monkeys, and occasionally birds and insects.
Interesting facts!
- Reticulated pythons are the world’s longest snake. They have amazing patterns on their bodies which have evolved to help them blend into the leaf litter of the rainforests.
- This reptile is a solitary creature and is usually most active during the night.
- When shedding their skin (called a slough) they rub their head on a rough surface to break the skin then wriggle out of it. Sometimes a complete shed is achieved. The first sign a snake is about to shed is when their eyes go cloudy. At her current size of 16ft long and weighing 5kg, our python, Lyra, will shed around every 6 months.
Conservation
This beautiful snake faces threats of hunting for its skin, capture for the pet trade and habitat destruction. Fortunately at this time their wild population is thought to be stable throughout its native range.