Carpet Python
Morelia spilota
A widespread, non-venomous python found throughout Australia and New Guinea, highly variable in pattern and color across its many subspecies.
- Venomous?
- Non-venomous
- Adult length
- 1.5-3.0 m (5-10 ft)
- Range
- Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia
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Overview
The Carpet Python is a highly adaptable, non-venomous constrictor found across a wide range of habitats in Australia, New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia. It comprises several recognized subspecies, each with distinctive coloration and patterning, ranging from the boldly diamond-patterned form in southeastern Australia to more variably blotched forms elsewhere.
It is one of the most commonly encountered large snakes across much of Australia, thriving in both wild and human-modified environments.
How to identify it
- Highly variable coloration and pattern depending on subspecies and region, ranging from olive and black with cream blotches to striking diamond-shaped markings
- Robust, muscular body
- Broad, triangular head with heat-sensing labial pits
- Vertically elliptical pupils
- Distinguished from other Australian pythons by pattern variability and widespread distribution across diverse habitats
Habitat & range
Occupies an extremely broad range of habitats, including rainforests, woodlands, grasslands, rocky outcrops, and suburban areas across Australia, New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia. Often found sheltering in tree hollows, rock crevices, or roof spaces in urban areas.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Both nocturnal and crepuscular, with activity patterns varying by region and season. Feeds on birds, mammals, and occasionally reptiles, constricting prey before consumption. Reproduction is oviparous, with females coiling around their eggs to regulate incubation temperature.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Carpet Python venomous?
No, it is a non-venomous constrictor.
Why does its appearance vary so much?
It comprises several subspecies across a wide range, each adapted with different coloration and patterning to their local environment.
Where is it commonly found?
It is widespread across Australia, New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia, including in and around suburban areas.
What does it eat?
It preys on birds, mammals, and occasionally reptiles, using constriction to subdue prey.
Carpet Python guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Carpet Python.
Carpet Python identified by the community
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