Python reticulatus or batik python snake is a kind of tribal Pythonidae large and has a body size of the longest among other snakes. The biggest size is said to exceed 8.5 meters and the longest snake in dunia.Lebih length of the anaconda (Eunectes), the largest and longest snake in South America. Other names are pythons; boa; rice-n-etem (Simeulue); snake petola (Ambon); and in English reticulated python or often abbreviated retics. While previous scientific name is Python reticulatus, now converted into Malayopython reticulatus genus.
Python reticulatus is easily recognizable because it is generally a big man. Family python (Pythonidae) relatively easily distinguished from other snakes by looking dorsal scales are more than 45 series, and scales ventralnya narrower than the width of the lower side of his body. In western Indonesia, there are three short fat-bodied species of snake that group peraca (Python Curtus group: P. Curtus, P. and P. brongersmai breitensteini) in Sumatra, Borneo and the Malay Peninsula.
Two other species that are relatively long-bodied, solid muscular: P. molurus (python bodo) and M. reticulatus. Both spread from Asia to the Great Sunda, including Java. P. molurus has a tread pattern that is different from reticulatus, especially with the big V dark pattern on its head. Python reticulatus has a pattern of circles shaped nets (reticula, nets), composed of the colors black, brown, yellow and white along the dorsal side of his body. A thin black line running over the head from nose to nape, resembling the center line that divides the two right-left symmetrically head. And each of the other black lines thicker located on each side of the head, passing through the eye to the rear.
The scales of the dorsal (back) are arranged in rows 70-80; scales ventral (belly) of 297-332 pieces, from the bottom of the neck down to the anus; subkaudal scales (under the tail) 75-102 pairs. Rostral shield (scales at the tip of the snout) and four shields supralabial (scales on the upper lip) cutting edge has a groove (gap) detection of heat (heat sensor pits) (Tweedie, 1983).
Biology and distribution
Python reticulatus counted longest snake in the world. Confirmed longest snake measuring 6.95 m in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan [1] while the maximum recorded weight was 158 kg (347.6 lbs). Snake pythons including long-lived, up to more than 25 years.
The snakes females have larger bodies. If the male has started mating in body length of about 7-9 feet, the new female at about 11 feet long. Reached sexual maturity between the ages of 2-4 years.
The mating season lasts from September to March in Asia. Reduced length of daylight and decreasing air temperature is the driving factor that stimulates the mating season. However, this season can vary from one place to another. Shine et al. 1999 found that Python reticulatus around Palembang, South Sumatra, spawn between September-October; while around Medan, North Sumatra between the months of April-May.
Males and females will fast in the breeding season, so that the body size becomes important here. Females will even continue fasting until the spawn, and may very well until the eggs hatch (McCurley 1999).
Python reticulatus lay between 10 to 100 grains. These eggs 'incubate' at a temperature of 88-90 ° F (31-32 ° C) for 80-90 days, even more than 100 days. Female snake will encircle their eggs while contract. This muscle movements generate heat that will increase the temperature of the eggs a few degrees above the ambient temperature. The females will keep their eggs from predators until they hatch. But only until it alone; once hatched, the babies snake was abandoned and handed over to the fate of nature.
Python reticulatus spread in the jungles of Southeast Asia. Start of Kep. Nicobar, Burma up to Indochina; south through the Malay Peninsula to Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Nusa Tenggara (to the East), Sulawesi; and north to the Philippines (Murphy and Henderson 1997).
Python reticulatus has three subspecies. Besides M.r. reticulatus living widespread, two more are Mr. jampeanus limited spread on the island and Mr Land Jampea saputrai limited spread in Selayar. Both off the south coast of South Sulawesi.
Ecology
Python reticulatus live in the forests of the humid tropics (Mattison, 1999). This snake is dependent on the availability of water, so often found not far from bodies of water such as rivers, ponds and swamps.
Its main food is small mammals, birds and reptiles such as lizards. Small snakes prey on frogs, lizards and fish. Large snakes reported prey dogs, monkeys, wild boar, deer, even humans who stray into place waiting for prey (Mattison 1999, Murphy and Henderson, 1997, Shine et al. 1999). These snakes prefer to wait rather than actively hunting, perhaps because of its large size spent a lot of energy.
Melilitnya paralyzed prey with hard (constricting) to smother her. Some of the bones in the circumference of the chest and pelvis may be broken by it. Then, after the death of prey swallowed from his head.
After eating, especially after swallowing large prey, the snake will be fasting a few days to a few months until he is hungry again. A python kept in Regent's Park in 1926 refused to eat for 23 months, but after that he was normal back (Murphy and Henderson 1997).
Taxonomy
Phylogenetic studies Latest getting the results are astonishing, that the pythons Flower and pythons Timor turned out closer to the Australasian genus python Python compared with true lain.Sehingga pythons Flower and pythons Timor included in a new genus, namely Broghammerus. However, in 2013-2014, the scientists conducted DNA studies again until the snake was included in a new genus again, namely Malayopython.
Python and Humans
Python-particularly the kecil-- often kept people because it is relatively benign and beautiful skin. Folk performances, such as the monkey, pythons often bring a flower that has been tame for display. Local circus also sometimes carry large pythons to display or leased to be photographed.
Python many people hunted for their skins are beautiful and good quality. More than 500,000 pieces of leather Python reticulatus trafficked each year. Most of the skins are exported from Indonesia, the main source of Sumatra and Borneo. All are caught in the wild.
Clearly python hunting is very worrying because reducing the wild population. Records of arrests commercial snake in Sumatra found that Python reticulatus arrested size varies between 1 m to 6 m, with an average size of 2.5 m for males and females between 3.1 m (Medan) - 3.6 m (Palembang). Approximately one third of females caught in a state of reproductive (Shine et al. 1999). Until now, this snake has not been reserved. CITES (Convention of trade endangered wildlife) put it in Appendix II.
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