The amethystine python (Simalia amethistina, formerly known as Morelia amethistina), also known as the scrub python or sanca permata in Indonesian, is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Popular among reptile enthusiasts, and noted for its coloration and size, it is one of the largest snakes in the world, as measured either by length or weight, and is the largest native snake in Papua New Guinea. Until 2000, the larger S. kinghorni was generally considered a subspecies of S. amethistina, and this change of classification has still not been universally reflected in literature. Because of this issue, S. amethistina has often been described as the largest snake in Australia, but this is not accurate since under the current classification, this species does not occur in Australia.[4]

Amethystine python
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Pythonidae
Genus: Simalia
Species:
S. amethistina
Binomial name
Simalia amethistina
(Schneider, 1801)
Range shown as dark orange and bright orange regions
Synonyms
  • [Boa] Amethistina
    Schneider, 1801
  • Python amethystinus
    Daudin, 1803
  • [Constrictor] amethystina
    Wagler, 1830
  • Boa amethystina
    — Wagler, 1830
  • Python amethystinus
    Schlegel, 1837
  • [Boa Python] amethystinus
    — Schlegel, 1837
  • Liasis amethystinus
    Gray, 1842
  • Liasis amethystinus
    A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844
  • Liasis (Simalia) amethystinus
    — Gray, 1849
  • Aspidopython Jakati
    A. Meyer, 1874
  • Liasis amethystinus
    W. Peters & Doria, 1878
  • Liasis duceboracensis
    Günther, 1879
  • Hypaspistes dipsadides
    Ogilby, 1891
  • Python amethystinus
    Boulenger, 1893
  • Liasis clarki
    Barbour, 1914
  • Liasis a[methistinus]. amethistinus
    Stull, 1933
  • Liasis amethistinus
    Brongersma, 1953
  • Liasis amethystinus amethystinus
    Kinghorn, 1956
  • Liasis amethistinus
    — Stimson, 1969
  • Python amethistinus
    — McDowell, 1975
  • Morelia amethistina
    H.G. Cogger, Cameron &
    H.M. Cogger, 1983
  • Australiasis amethistinus
    Wells & Wellington, 1984
  • Morelia amethistina
    Underwood & Stimson, 1990
  • M[orelia]. amethistina
    Kluge, 1993
  • Morelia amethystina
    D. Barker & T. Barker, 1994
  • Morelia amethistina amethistina
    O'Shea, 1996[2]
  • Simalia amethistina
    Reynolds et al., 2014[3]

Taxonomy

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Formerly, five subspecies of Morelia amethistina, including the nominate race, M. a. amethystina, were generally recognized. The Moluccan Islands (including Halmahera, Ternate and Tidore) are home to the former M. a. tracyae. The Tanimbar Islands are home to a smaller subspecies, the former M. a. nauta. On the island of Seram, the former M. a. clastolepis can be found. On mainland of Papua New Guinea (including the Indonesian western half, once called Irian Jaya—now West Papua), and many of its nearby offshore islands, the former M. a. amethystina is quite common. In Australia, the former M. a. kinghorni is represented.[5] American biologist Michael Harvey and colleagues investigated the amethystine python complex and recognised five separate species – Simalia amethistina, Simalia clastolepis, Simalia kinghorni, Simalia nauta, and Simalia tracyae – based on cladistic analysis of cytochrome b sequences and morphology.[6] In 2014 cladistic analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial genes of pythons and boas, R. Graham Reynolds and colleagues supported the distinctness of M. tracyae, M. amethistina, and M. clastolepis, but were less confident of M. kinghorni and M. nauta.[7]

According to McDiarmid et al. (1999), all cases in which the specific name was spelled with a y follow Daudin's (1803) Python amethystinus and are therefore unjustified emendations.[2] The specific name, amethistina, is an allusion to the milky iridescent sheen on its scales, which gives it an amethyst-like colour.

Description

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Specimens of S. amethistina have reportedly been measured at more than 5.5 m (18.0 ft) in total length (including tail), but this is exceptional, as 4 m (13 ft) specimens are already considered extremely large. Although the amethystine python is smaller than the Australian scrub python, some sources claim that S. amethistina is able to reach lengths of 6 m (20 ft), with a weight up to 27 kg (60 lb)[8] and perhaps even 30 kg (66 lb).[9]

The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 39–53 rows at midbody. There are deep, heat-sensing pits on six or seven of the posterior lower labials.[10]

Distribution and habitat

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The Amethystine python is found in Indonesia (Maluku Islands, Timur Laut Islands, Banda, Kai Islands, Aru Islands, Misool, Salawati, most of Western New Guinea, many islands in Geelvink Bay, such as Biak, Numfor, Yapen, and Supiori), and Papua New Guinea (including Umboi Island, Bismarck Archipelago, Trobriand Islands, the d'Entrecasteaux Islands to Rossel Island, Louisiade Archipelago). The type locality is unknown.[2]

S. amethistina occurs in both bushland and suburbia. In Indonesia, it is found mostly in rainforests. Warm, humid habitats with good water sources are preferred. In New Guinea, it mostly lives in scrublands.

Feeding

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The diet of the amethystine python generally consists of birds, bats, rats, possums, and other small mammals.[11] Larger Papuan specimens catch and eat wallabies, and cuscus, waiting by creek and river banks for prey seeking drinking water.

References

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  1. ^ Tallowin, O.; Allison, A.; Parker, F.; O'Shea, M. (2017). "Morelia amethistina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T177501A1489667. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T177501A1489667.en. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b c McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. ^ Species Simalia amethistina at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
  4. ^ Fearn, S.; Schwarzkopf, L.; Shine, R. "Giant snakes in tropical forests: a field study of Australian scrub pythons" (PDF). CSIRO Publishing / Wildlife Research. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  5. ^ "Morelia amethistina". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 18 September 2007.
  6. ^ Harvey, Michael B.; Barker, David G.; Ammerman, Loren K.; Chippindale, Paul T. (2000). "Systematics of Pythons of the Morelia amethistina Complex (Serpentes: Boidae) with the Description of three new Species". Herpetological Monographs. 14: 139–185. doi:10.2307/1467047. JSTOR 1467047.
  7. ^ Reynolds, R. Graham; Niemiller, Matthew L.; Revell, Liam J. (2014). "Toward a tree-of-life for the boas and pythons: multilocus species-level phylogeny with unprecedented taxon sampling". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 71: 201–213. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2013.11.011. PMID 24315866.
  8. ^ Natusch, Daniel; Lyons, Jessica; Shine, Richard (2022). "Spatial ecology, activity patterns, and habitat use by giant pythons (Simalia amethistina) in tropical Australia". Scientific Reports. 12 (1): 5274. Bibcode:2022NatSR..12.5274N. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-09369-5. PMC 8960824. PMID 35347214.
  9. ^ Natusch, Daniel; Lyons, Jessica; Mears, Lea-Ann; Shine, Richard (2021). "Biting off more than you can chew: attempted predation on a human by a giant snake (Simalia amethistina)" (PDF). Austral Ecology. 46 (1). Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University: 159–162. Bibcode:2021AusEc..46..159N. doi:10.1111/aec.12956. S2CID 225105592.
  10. ^ Boulenger GA (1893). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families ... Boidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I–XXVIII. (Python amethystinus, pp. 83–84).
  11. ^ "Amethystine Python". Reptile Range. Retrieved 10 August 2022.

Further reading

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  • Schneider JG (1801). Historiae Amphibiorum naturalis et literariae Fasciculus Secundus continens Crocodilos, Scincos, Chamaesauras, Boas, Pseudoboas, Elapes, Angues, Amphisbaenas et Caecilias. Jena: F. Frommann. vi + 364 pp. + Plates I–II. ("[Boa] Amethistina", new species, p. 254). (in Latin).
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