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Python natalensis SMITH, 1840

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Higher TaxaPythonidae, Henophidia, Pythonoidea, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Southern African Python, Lesser African Python
G: Südlicher Felsenpython 
SynonymPython sebae natalensis SMITH 1840
Python natalensis — DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1844: 409
Heleionomus variegatus GRAY 1842: 43 (fide SCHLEIP & O’SHEA 2010)
Python Sebae var. natalensis — JAN 1864
Python saxuloides MILLER & SMITH 1979 (fide BROADLEY 1984)
Python sebae natalensis — BROADLEY 1984
Python sebae natalensis — AUERBACH 1987: 152
Python sebae natalensis — BAUER et al. 1993
Python sebae — MCDIARMID, CAMPBELL & TOURÉ 1999: 180
Python natalensis — BROADLEY 1999
Python sebae natalensis — BROADLEY & HOWELL 1991: 22
Helionomus natalensis [sic] — HOSER 2004
Python natalensis — BARONE 2005
Python natalensis — SCHLEIP & O’SHEA 2010
Python natalensis — WALLACH et al. 2014: 620
Python natalensis — SPAWLS et al. 2018: 379
Python sabae — BEHANGANA et al. 2020 (in error) 
DistributionBotswana, S Angola, SE/E Zaire (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Zambia, Malawi, Burundi, Tanzania, C Kenya, south to N Namibia and Republic of South Africa (Eastern Cape etc.), Mozambique, Zimbabwe

Type locality: Port Natal = Durban, Natal.  
Reproductionoviparous 
TypesSyntypes: BMNH 1946.1.8.3 and 1946.3.27.2 
DiagnosisDiagnosis: P. natalensis can be distinguished from P. sebae in the pattern on the side of the head: in P. natalensis, the dark patch in front of and posterior to the eye is paler and narrower than in P. sebae, giving the appearance of a dark stripe as opposed to a yellow stripe at the level of the eye. The overall coloration of P. natalensis, though similar to P. sebae, is drabber. The scales on the dorsum of the head are small and medium sized in P. natalensis as opposed to medium and large sized in P. sebae, and there are small differences in some of the other head scale counts. The nasal may be single or divided. There are 2-3 preoculars, 3-4 postoculars, 2-3 supraoculars, and a variable number of suboculars. There are 8-13 perioculars and 6-10 interoculars. There are 10-16 upper labials, none of which is in contact with the eye. There are sensory pits on two of the upper labials, as well as smaller ones on three of the lower labials. There are 17-20 lower labials. The dorsal scales are arranged in 76-99 straight rows. There are 260-291 ventrals and 63-84 divided subcaudals. The cloacal scale may be single or divided (Chippaux & Jackson 2019: 67). 
CommentSynonymy: Smith (1840) refers to a preliminary description in the South African Quarterly Journal from 1833 [(2) 1 (3): 80]. However, the page cited mentions P. natalensis without any further description. It is thus a nomen nudum. Previous authors considered Python natalensis as a synonym of P. sebae, e.g. Miller & H. M. Smith (1979) and Boulenger (1893). 
EtymologyNamed after the type locality. 
References
  • ALEXANDER, G. J. 2012. Python natalensis Smith, 1840 Predation Diet. African Herp News (56): 25 - get paper here
  • Alexander, G. J. 2018. Reproductive biology and maternal care of neonates in southern African python (Python natalensis). J Zool, 305: 141-148. doi:10.1111/jzo.12554 - get paper here
  • Alexander, G. J. and Maritz, B. 2015. Sampling interval affects the estimation of movement parameters in four species of African snakes. Journal of Zoology 297: 309–318, doi:10.1111/jzo.12280 - get paper here
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  • Barnes, Keith 2016. Animals of Kruger National Park. Princeton University Press, ca. 180 pp. - get paper here
  • Barone, S. 2005. Python natalensis - The Natal Python, an underappreciated giant. Reptilia (GB) (40): 57-63 - get paper here
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