A large and colorful snake that is found in Australia, New Guinea, and some nearby islands. It gets its name from the intricate patterns on its skin, which can look like the patterns on a carpet. These patterns usually include a mix of brown, yellow, and black, and they help the snake blend into its surroundings, making it hard for both prey and predators to spot. Carpet pythons can grow quite long, with some reaching up to 4 m (13 ft). Despite their size, they are not venomous, so they rely on their strong muscles to catch and kill their prey.

Carpet pythons are very adaptable and can live in many different environments, from rainforests and woodlands to suburban areas, where they sometimes find their way into people’s backyards. They are excellent climbers, and you might find them in trees, on rocks, or even in roofs and sheds if they are in a more urban area. At night, they become more active, hunting for food. Their diet includes a wide variety of animals like birds, small mammals, and even other reptiles. They catch their prey by striking quickly, grabbing it with their sharp teeth, and then wrapping their body around it to squeeze tightly until the prey can no longer breathe.

In Australia, carpet pythons are considered beneficial because they help control the population of rodents and other pests. However, they sometimes end up in conflict with humans, especially when they enter homes or eat domestic animals like chickens. When this happens, people often call wildlife rescuers to safely remove and relocate the snakes.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Australia

2017

Indonesia

2017

Papua

Papua New Guinea

2017