Thanks Anthony,

The difference might seem only slight to some...however in certain light, it could be quite an important distinction.

In a wild setting...
Burmese Pythons would have an ability to slightly raise the intra-coil temperatures to protect their eggs...should the ambient temperatures drop slightly below optimum incubation temperature ranges. This might allow their clutch of eggs a slightly better chance of survival in an area where the temperatures are not quite perfect. If the ambient temperatures drop further than their capability to heat the egg mass....The eggs will die.

I suspect this to be the case in the vast majority of the clutches laid by introduced Burmese Pythons. Nevertheless, the ability to raise the intra-coil temps allow a percentage of the eggs to hatch.

The same could NOT be said of Ball Pythons. Because they do not have the ability to physically raise the intra-coil temperatures, they would not be to offer their eggs the same margin of protection from sub-optimal ambient temperatures.
And because of this...they would be far less likely to be able to maintain a foothold as an introduced species....Even in South Florida. The majority of their (already relatively small) clutches of eggs would be lost due to temperature fluctuation.

In my mind, the distinction between the true maternal incubation and merely brooding behavior is an important one.
Take care,

Harlin Wall - WALL TO WALL REPTILES!
970-245-7611
970-255-9255

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