An uncommon striped pattern on McDowell's Carpet Python.By Dick and Patti Bartlett

Excluding the Green Tree, Amethystine and Oenpelli pythons, Australia is home to 3 species and 6 subspecies of heavy bodied, moderately sized (to about 8 feet/ 2- 1/3 meters) Carpet Pythons.

• Morelia bredli, Centralian or Bredl’s Carpet Python
  
• Morelia carinata, Rough-scaled Python
  
• Morelia spilota, Diamond Python and Carpet Python
  
  
  • M. s. cheneyi, Tableland Carpet Python
    
  • M. s. imbricata, Southern Carpet Python
    
  • M. s. mcdowelli, McDowell’s Carpet Python
    
  • M. s. metcalfi, Interior Carpet Python
    
  • M. s. spilota, Diamond Python
    
  • M. s. variegata, Northern Carpet Python
    

Except for the southeasterly most member, the one that is usually referred to as the Diamond Python, the carpet pythons are often referred to simply as Carpet Snakes by Australians. All are constrictors, all are nonvenomous, all are capable of biting, but their readiness to do so varies individually. All are accomplished climbers but may be found terrestrially in habitats as diverse as gardens, attics, or the remote outback. All are oviparous, reproducing by egg clutches that are protected by the female. All feed primarily on small mammals and birds.

All (except the Diamond Python which is black with a variable but often speckled pattern of white or cream) are colored in various shades of yellowish, cream or tan with a darker pattern. But sometimes the dark color prevails, and the light markings are reduced in size or number. Subspecies may interbreed where their ranges abut or overlap. The resulting hatchlings may be patterned non-typically. Encompassing all species and suggested subspecies the ranges include southern Western Australia, then hops to eastern South Australia and northward well into western Queensland, then throughout most of New South Wales and northward in the coastal forests and plateaus to Cape York. Then after another break in range it may again be found in northern Northern Territory westward to newest Australia. Bredl’s Python, seen as a full species by some and as a subspecies of the carpet python by others, seems more arboreal and ranges widely in southwest Northern Territory. The uncommon Rough-scaled Python is found in northwest Kimberly Region of Western Australia.

This is a typical Green Tree Python.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

Long the only species in the monotypic genus, Chondropython, the green tree python has now been lumped with the diamond/carpet pythons in the genus Morelia where it remains despite nomenclatural controversy. Hobbyists still often refer to this snake by the shortened name of "Chondro." The species name is viridis, this meaning green. And this name fits the vast majority of the adults well, for almost all adults are green (occasional occurrences of yellow, blue, or albino adults have been verified) with or occasionally without white vertebral markings. But for the hatchlings it is a misnomer, for by locale they vary from bright yellow to a rich maroon-brown with reddish-brown or white highlights. These snakes are adult at 4 ½ to 5 ½ feet. The head is large, the neck slender, and the body laterally compressed.

Whether juvenile or adult, this is a beautiful snake. Adult coloration is assumed at an age of about 9-12 months and a length of about ~20 inches. It is an oviparous species, laying from a half dozen to two dozen eggs. Incubation periods of 49 to 60 days have been mentioned.

The diet consists primarily of rodents and occasional lizards. Prey is killed by constriction.

This beautiful python is a rainforest inhabitant of northeastern Australia, the Papua and New Guinea mainland and many of the surrounding islands. Adults are considered snakes of closed canopy forest while hatchlings and juveniles seemingly prefer more open and sunny perches.

This snake is a herpetocultural favorite and is bred extensively in captivity.

Sheltopusik may be patterned or unicolored. They are interesting lizards are are popular with herp keepers.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

Called by many different names around the world -- glass lizards (USA), Slowworm (England and Europe), Sheltopusik (Eurasia), and Legless Lizards California, Baja, Australia) -- all are legless (or in the case of the sheltopusik essentially legless), secretive, many are burrowers, and many have fragile, easily autotomized tails.

Glass lizards (seUSA, , Eurasia, Europe, Asia) have functional eyelids, ear openings, and an expandable fold along each side of their body. These may exceed 3 feet in length and lack the suppleness of a snake. Tail readily breaks from body (autotomizes).

Sheltopusik (aka European or Giant Glass Lizard) (Balkans, Crimea, Caucasus, Southwest and Central Asia) have eyelids, ear openings, lateral grooves. The tail is less easily broken off than in most smaller species. (a fold of skin running the entire body length from behind head to but not including the tail. The latter is easily broken off). Usually about 30 inches but rarely to about 50 inches long. May bluff or bite, but they are defensive, not aggressive.

Legless lizards (Western California and Northwest Baja) have tiny eyes with functional eyelids, no ear opening, short blunt tipped tail that is barely discernible from the torso, and seldom exceed 10 inches in total length. Despite being short and thick the tail can be autotomized.

Slowworms (England, Europe) have functional eyelids, tiny ear openings, and are usually under 18 inches in length. Tail readily breaks from body.

Although a few species of the legless lizards of Australia also occur in PNG, most are endemic to Australia.

And remember, no matter how similar these may seem to snakes, they are all harmless lizards.

These interesting reptiles feed primarily on arthropods and worms.

Despite folk tales to the contrary, allow me to assure you that the autotomized tails of these lizards do not reassemble and rejoin the body. A broken tail is a broken tail and if the affected lizard again has a tail, it is a regenerated one. When fully regrown the tail is sometimes as long as the original, but always discernible by aberrant scalation or other differences.

Like most racer type snake the Horseshoe Racer has big eyes and periscopes for prey.
By Dick and Patti Bartlett

Once considered common, this long, dark, fast snake now seems uncommon to rare in many parts of its extensive range. Adults of the Horseshoe Racer, Hemorrhois (formerly Coluber) hippocrepis ssp. (there are 2 subspecies, the validity of one being questionable) may attain a length of 5 feet. As are other racers, this slender, alert snake is a periscope hunter, lifting its head above surrounding vegetation when seeking its prey. It consumes rodents and birds, lizards and amphibians. Carrion is also eaten.

An oviparous species, clutch size has been recorded as 6 to 8 eggs.

The ground color may vary from tan to brown or gray. Against this the pattern of large black or black edged deep brown dorsal and smaller lateral spots are very evident. Both common and species name are derived from the light horseshoe shaped marking on the top of the head and anterior neck. There is also a dark interorbital bar. The venter is orange(ish). The preferred habitat includes open rock-strewn land, grasslands and brushy regions as well as yards. This snake ranges from Algeria to Portugal and Spain and includes several islands.