Commonly Observed Native Animals in the NT
Carpet python (Morelia spilota variegata)
Family: Pythonidae
Other names: NT carpet
Conservation Status
- Australia: Least Concern overall but vulnerable to endangered in some states.
- NT: Possibly “at risk”
Description
The Carpet python is one of the largest, most well-known snakes in Australia, mostly due to its popularity as a pet. There are 6 sub-species of Carpet python in Australia, with various colours and patterns. The NT form, Morelia spilota variegata, differs from others sub-species in Australia because it is a beige or brown colour with blackish or grey blotches and bright gold, yellow, and rust colour forms in regional areas. This sub-species is on average about 2.5 metres. This species is non-venomous and is an important predator which kills its prey via constriction.
Distribution
This species has a large distribution covering most of Australia, except the arid centre and some western regions. It also lives overseas in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Within the Northern Territory this sub-species of Carpet python is restricted to the north.
Ecology
The Carpet python is semi-arboreal and mostly nocturnal; however they often bask in the sun during the day. Their diet consists of small mammals, bats, birds and lizards; the sub-species in the NT often take brush-tail possums.
Females lay between 10-50 eggs, once they have hatched the mother no longer cares for them.
Potential Threats
While the Carpet python is secure in the NT, other sub-species are listed as vulnerable or endangered in other states. Much of the cause for this is habitat destruction.
In the NT, the biggest threat posed to the Carpet python comes from cane toads. If Carpet pythons are exposed to the cane toad toxin, they will die very quickly. It is possible that in the future, the population of Carpet pythons in the NT will be at risk of significant decline due to cane toads.
