Pythonidae | |
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Indian python, Python molurus | |
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Family: | Pythonidae |
Python is the name given to a genus of constricting snakes. Such snakes are not venomous. its family is the Pythonidae. Pythons are more closely related to boas than to any other snake family.
Boulenger (1890) thought this group was a subfamily (Pythoninae) of the family Boidae (boas). However, boas produce live young, while pythons are oviparous: they lay eggs.
Python can be found in Southeast Asia and Africa, and other members of the family are found in New Guinea and Australia. Pythons can range from 3 feet long in species like ball pythons to 29 feet in species like reticulated pythons. Python is one of eight genera in the family. They all have a rather similar life style.