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| Common Name: | Royal python | Family: | Boidae |
| Latin Name: | Python regius | Diet: | Carnivore |
| Type: | Reptile | Habitat: | Woodlands, Grasslands |
| Native To: | Africa | Social Unit: | Individual |
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least concern |
Royal pythons at Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh Zoo currently has two royal pythons. Kanu, the darker of the pair, arrived in 1995, and Bo, who is a more striking golden colour, arrived in 2003.
Where it can be found at Edinburgh Zoo
This animal is not currently on view to the public.
Royal pythons in the wild
Royal pythons (Python regius) come from sub-Saharan Africa. They prefer open grassland and slightly wooded areas, often hiding in disused or abandoned animal burrows.
Their diet consists of small mammals such as rats and mice. The royal python’s small size, coupled with a (generally) good temperament, make it a good species for handling and the classroom. Royal pythons normally live to between 20-40 years old, with the captive record being 48 years old.
This species is sometimes known as the “ball” python, owing to a defensive strategy whereby a threatened snake will roll itself into a tight ball, thus preventing the jaws of a predator gaining purchase upon it.
Python banner photograph: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwarby/ / CC BY 2.0
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