Amethystine Python

The Amethystine Python, which is also known as the Scrub Python, is Australia’s largest snake. Specimens have been measured at more than 8.5 m in length but this is quite exceptional and a 5 meter snake is regarded as very big.

The name of this species comes from the milky iridescent sheen on its scales,which gives it an amethyst-like colour. Unlike many of the very big boas from overseas, this snake has a slim body.

Just the same it can eat large prey and will kill and eat wallabies and bush pigs. More often it takes  birds, fruit-bats, possums and similar sized mammals. It is usually active at night and younger animals are mainly tree dwelling.

The large adults are more terrestrial but they are still quite capable of getting up into the trees, male Amethystine Pythons are aggressive with one another during the mating season and at such times they will engage in combat.