Pythons are some of the biggest snakes in the world, but they’re usually not a threat to humans. Non-venomous, these snakes are constrictors, which means they squeeze their prey to death. Some pythons are so big, they can eat antelopes, monkeys and even leopards. Yes, leopards.
These fascinating snakes come in a range of sizes and colors, and they’re a part of small group of primitive snakes that still roam the earth.
Physical Characteristics
The Pythonidae family, better known as just “pythons,” have some of the largest snakes in the world. They may not be as big as anacondas, but some pythons, like the reticulated python, can grow to be 30 feet long. Other species are smaller, like the anthill python, which only gets to be about 24 inches long.
Pythons not only come in a wide range of sizes, but they come in a variety of colors, too. If you thought it was hard to identify other snakes in the wild, pythons are even harder to identify.
Is that a python? A coral snake? A water moccasin?
Colorations and sizes of different python species vary greatly and are usually dependent on the snake’s habitat or need for camouflage. Some species are solid in color, like brown or green, while others have really elaborate patterns. Different python species may come in different sizes and colors, but they do have some common physical characteristics.