cOASTAL CARPET PYTHON
Significance to Humans:
Bites may cause substantial lacerations or punctures.
General description:
Large, heavy bodied snake with a highly variable, mottled & blotched pattern and colour. Mostly white to cream on the underside. Head is distinct from the neck. Deeply pitted scales (infralabials) along bottom jaw and to a lesser extent the upper jaw (supralabials) with small "granular scattered scales on top of the head. Midbody scales in 40 - 60 rows.
Average Length:
Around 2.1 metres but large specimens exceed 3 meters. Largest reliable record at 4.2 metres in length.
Habitat in SE Qld:
Occupies all habitats from rainforest, wet sclerophyll forests and dry woodland through to suburban backyards and the periphery of highly disturbed farmland.
General habits:
Most commonly encountered snake within the region. Active day and night. Large specimens can take small suburban pets such as dogs, cats and guinea pigs with smaller specimens taking caged birds.
Diet:
Mostly warm blooded mammals such as rodents, possums, bats etc; also some reptiles, birds & frogs.
Local distribution:
Recorded from all suburbs of the Greater Sunshine Coast region including the inner city with highest densities occurring in leafy suburbs such as Buderim, Nambour, Peregian Springs and Sippy Downs.
Around the home:
Will utilise all above ground environments such as roof and wall cavities, exposed beams of verandahs and pergolas, sheds and garages. Often resides in the heavy foliage of trees and shrubs. At ground level will utilize dense vegetation, miscellaneous large ground litter such as stored building materials and accumulated garden debris.
NON-VENOMOUS
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