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.