What type of animal is a ball python?

How did the ball python get its name?

The Ball Python, also known as a Royal Python, gets its name from its tendency to curl up into a ball. They are strikingly beautiful reptiles, with a wide array of colors and patterns, which make them one of the most popular pet pythons in the world.

What is a yellow belly ball python?

The Yellow Belly was first proven in 2003 and is bred from a basic codominant gene. Yellow Bellies are known for their ability to intensify the color of other morphs when bred together. They have only subtle differences from normal Ball Pythons.

Do all axanthic ball pythons look the same?

Though all axanthic ball pythons will have the fading that results from not having red or green pigments, the resulting snake can look different, depending on the morphs used.

Why is it called a ball python?

Ball pythons are known for the protective mechanism of “balling,” where they form a tight ball with the head at the center in response to threats, earning them their common name, “ball python.” ( Bustard, 1969; De Vosjoli, et al., 1995; Greene, 1997; McDonald, 1996; Sillman, et al., 1999)

What is a ball python morph?

Ball Pythons are some of the most incredibly diverse snakes. Ball Python Morphs are bred to be a variety of unique colors and patterns from beautiful “alien” spots to a completely white body. These snakes are loved for their tame, gentle demeanor, as well as their amazing patterns.

What types of snakes do you keep as pets?

I’ve been actively keeping, breeding, selling, wrestling and performing educational shows with snakes and other reptiles for over ten years now, with many types of species, including huge, rare, and venomous animals. Ball pythons, corn snakes, and Burmese pythons are still my top favorite three species for keeping as my personal pets.

Are crocodiles cold blooded or warm blooded?

So let’s recap what we learned at school – reptiles and amphibians are known as ‘cold-blooded ’ creatures, while the other animals are, well, “ warm-blooded .” But what does this mean? Let’s find out and understand why science has divided these animals based on their blood temperature. What Do Crocodiles Eat?

Are snakes cold blooded or warm-blooded?

Because let’s face it – this is probably the first word that comes to mind when thinking about snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodiles, or iguanids. So let’s recap what we learned at school – reptiles and amphibians are known as ‘cold-blooded ’ creatures, while the other animals are, well, “ warm-blooded .” But what does this mean?

Why are they called ball pythons?

These snakes are called ball pythons because of their defensive posture of coiling into a tight ball with their heads protected in the center of the coil. The name royal python is believed to be derived from the fact that many African rulers were known to have worn live pythons as jewelry.

How long do ball python snakes live?

Heavy-bodied snakes can exceed 40 years, even longer in captivity; longest lived recorded is 47 yr. 6 mos. These snakes are called ball pythons because of their defensive posture of coiling into a tight ball with their heads protected in the center of the coil.

What does a ball python look like after giving birth?

Ball pythons are typically black or dark brown in color, with light brown or golden spots, and have a white belly. Males attain sexual maturity by 6-18 months after their birth, while the females achieve the same in around 12-36 months.

Did Cleopatra wear ball pythons around her wrists?

That Cleopatra used to wear this python species around her wrists like bracelets may be a bit too far-fetched, but there do exist some interesting facts about the ball python, which make it one of the most desirable exotic pets in the world.

What is the scientific name of the royal python?

Its scientific name, Python regius, can be traced to the Egyptian legend, according to which Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, used to wear these snakes around her wrists as bracelets. As for the name royal python, it is derived from the word, Regius, which is Latin for ‘royal’.

What are vertebrates and invertebrates?

Vertebrates are animals that have a backbone or spinal column, also called vertebrae. These animals include fish, birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. Also, why are vertebrates better than invertebrates?

Are ball python snakes good for beginners?

Ball pythons ( Python regius) are great snakes for a beginner snake owner. They grow to an average size of 3-5 feet, which makes them ideal for handling. They are also beautiful, shy, calm, and docile.

What are the characteristics of a ball python?

They are also beautiful, shy, calm, and docile. In the U.S., they are called ball pythons because they roll into a ball and tuck their heads in the center when frightened. Over in Europe and many other countries, they are known as royals because Egyptian royalty used to keep ball pythons as pets and often wore them wrapped around their wrists.

Where can I buy a ball python?

Breeders will also will also offer ball pythons in all different types of exciting colors & patterns, which are called morphs. Most ball pythons sold at large chain pet stores are imported from Africa. You can find healthy, local, quality captive bred snakes at a reptile expo or an exotic animal store.

Why do they call them ball pythons as pets?

In the U.S., they are called ball pythons because they roll into a ball and tuck their heads in the center when frightened. Over in Europe and many other countries, they are known as royals because Egyptian royalty used to keep ball pythons as pets and often wore them wrapped around their wrists. A pet ball python is a joy…

What kind of ball python has black eyes and yellow belly?

However, the super form of the yellow belly ball python is quite striking. Called the ivory ball python, these relatively patternless snakes are peach-colored and possess dark black eyes. The butter morph and the lesser platinum morph are both very similar-looking mutations, but they appear to be different traits.

What is a leucistic ball python?

This means you can breed a Mojave to a lesser platinum to create a leucistic snake. One of the first morphs to be established, the “albino” ball python (which is better described as being amelanistic) remains one of the most eye-catching morphs available.

What is a morph of a ball python?

But the point remains: Ball pythons who exhibit unusual colors or patterns that are associated with a heritable gene mutation qualify as morphs. Most morphs lack the cryptic color patterns of their normal-looking counterparts, so oddly colored snakes often stand out in the habitat.

What is an albino ball python?

One of the first morphs to be established, the “albino” ball python (which is better described as being amelanistic) remains one of the most eye-catching morphs available. Albino ball pythons are unable to produce melanin – the brown to black pigment which makes typical ball pythons dark looking.

What is the difference between adult and juvenile ball python colors?

Adult Axanthics lack the golden and yellow hues of a normal ball python, so their background color is a more neutral umber. Some lines reportedly carry more of their juvenile coloration into adulthood. TSK and VPI Axanthics are said to brown less: Jolliff Axanthics reputedly brown more.