Dwarf Burmese Python
Python bivittatus progschai
A smaller-bodied insular form of the Burmese python found on Java, notably more modest in maximum size than mainland Burmese pythons.
- Venomous?
- Non-venomous
- Adult length
- 1.8-2.7 m (6-9 ft)
- Range
- Java and surrounding islands, Indonesia
Found a snake like this?
Identify any snake from a photo, free.
Overview
The dwarf Burmese python is a locality form of Python bivittatus native to Java and nearby Indonesian islands, distinguished from mainland Burmese pythons by its considerably smaller adult size. Some taxonomic treatments recognize it as the subspecies Python bivittatus progschai, though its status remains debated among herpetologists.
Despite the size difference, it shares the general appearance, biology, and heavy-bodied build characteristic of Burmese pythons, making it a notable example of island-driven dwarfism within a large-bodied python species.
How to identify it
- Blotched brown, tan, and cream pattern similar to mainland Burmese pythons but on a notably smaller body
- Large, arrow-shaped head marking
- Heat-sensing pits along the upper and lower lips
- Heavy, muscular build relative to length
- Vertically elliptical pupils
- Distinguished from mainland Burmese pythons primarily by significantly reduced maximum adult size
Habitat & range
Found in lowland forest, grassland, and marshy areas on Java and neighboring islands in Indonesia, often near water sources such as rivers, swamps, and rice paddies.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Largely nocturnal and semi-aquatic, often found near water where it ambushes prey including small to medium mammals and birds. Uses constriction to subdue prey. Oviparous, with females coiling around and thermoregulating their egg clutches until hatching.
Frequently asked questions
How does it differ from a typical Burmese python?
It reaches a much smaller maximum adult size, generally under 3 m, compared to mainland Burmese pythons which can exceed 5 m.
Is the dwarf Burmese python a distinct species?
Taxonomic opinions vary; it is often treated as a subspecies or island locality of Python bivittatus rather than a full species.
Is it venomous?
No, it is a non-venomous constrictor.
Where does it live?
On Java and some surrounding Indonesian islands, in lowland forest and wetland habitats.
Dwarf Burmese Python guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Dwarf Burmese Python.
