Posted by:
Kelly_Haller
at Thu Apr 19 22:06:33 2007 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Kelly_Haller ]
P.m. bivittatus has the most northern range of any python species. It is not considered to be a truly equatorial species as most other large python taxa, as 95% of its range is above 10 degrees north latitude. To survive as it does as far north as 30 degrees north latitude, it needs to be a highly seasonal breeder. This means that its reproductive cycle is highly synchronized with seasonal temperature changes, and to a lesser degree photoperiod. This strong seasonal reproductive connection is probably responsible for its ease of reproduction in captivity.
I have read that northern hemisphere species show reversal of their breeding season when in southern hemisphere collections due to the 6 month offset in the cool season between the two hemispheres. However, I have not read this with specific reference to burmese pythons, but would have no doubt that it probably occurs.
Kelly
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