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Python molurus (LINNAEUS, 1758)

IUCN Red List - Python molurus - Least Concern, LC
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Higher TaxaPythonidae, Henophidia, Pythonoidea, Serpentes (snakes) 
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Indian Python
G: Tigerpython 
SynonymColuber Molurus LINNAEUS 1758: 225
Boa Ordinata SCHNEIDER 1801: 260
Boa Cinerea SCHNEIDER 1801: 270
Boa Castanea SCHNEIDER 1801: 272
Boa Albicans SCHNEIDER 1801: 274
Boa Orbiculata SCHNEIDER 1801: 276
Coluber Boaeformis SHAW 1802: 511
Python bora DAUDIN 1803: 236 (nom. subst. pro Boa orbiculata)
Python tigris DAUDIN 1803: 241 (nom. subst. pro Boa castanea)
Python bivittatus KUHL 1820: 94
Python Jamesonii GRAY 1842
Python molurus — GRAY 1842
Python molurus — DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1844: 417
P.[ython] trivittatus JERDON 1854: 526 (in error for Python bivittatus KUHL)
Python molurus — BOULENGER 1893: 87
Python molurus var. ocellatus WERNER 1899: 24
Python molurus var. intermedia WERNER 1899: 24
Python molurus var sondaica WERNER 1899: 24
Python molurus — WALL 1921: 48
Python molurus pimbura DERANIYAGALA 1945
Python molurus — MCDIARMID, CAMPBELL & TOURÉ 1999: 177
Python molurus molurus — BARONE 2004 
DistributionPakistan, India (Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra (Mulshi – R.Kulkarni (pers. comm.), around Ghoshalkhamb – near Lonavla, Valvan – S.Choudhary (pers. comm.)) [A. Captain, pers. comm.], Punjab [Dino Aulakh, pers. comm.]), Myanmar, Vietnam, Sri Lanka

USA (introduced and established in Florida according to MESHAKA et al. 2004).

Type locality: “Indiis” Map legend:
TDWG region - Region according to the TDWG standard, not a precise distribution map.

NOTE: TDWG regions are generated automatically from the text in the distribution field and this does not always work properly. We are working on it.
 
TypesHolotype: NRM (NHRM) 5 (no. Lin.) 
CommentSynonymy partly after KLUGE 1993. Kaiser et al. 2013 rejected the generic names Broghammerus Hoser 2004, Shireenhoserus Hoser 2004 and synonymized them with Python.

Subspecies: Python bivittatus bivittatus KUHL 1820 has been elevated to full species status by JACOBS et al. 2009.

Type species: Python molurus is the type species of the genus Python DAUDIN 1803, based on pI. 24 ("Pedda Poda B") and pI. 39 ("Bora") in Russell, 1796: 53.

Etymology: Named after the Greek “molouros” = some kind of snake, the identity of which is now uncertain (fide WALL 1921).

Size: One of the largest snake species; one specimen reached 9.15 m (BELLOSA 2003). A specimen of this species is the largest living snake recognized also by the Guiness Book of Records. In 1998 it had reached 822 cm and 182 kg (BELLOSA 2004). However, in their 2007 book, BELLOSA and co-authors are more critical and state that there is no authentic measurement of more than 7 m for this species.

Reproduction: GROOT et al. (2003) and KUHN & SCHMIDT (2003) presented evidence that this species may be parthenogenetic.

Distribution: Not on Borneo according to MALKMUS et al. (2002).

Genetics: This is one of 6 reptile species whose genome is currently being sequenced by the Genome10K project. 
References
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