Reptile & Amphibian Forums

For anyone to discuss or reply to...or any thoughts at all.
A question concerning Apadora and Morelia boeleni. To my view, (and with no taxonomy experience to back it up, lol) I think they are both the same "type", and that Boelen's should be removed from Morelia and placed with Apadora. Although I don't have any Boelens, I have seen a few in real life at shows, and the heads look pretty much the same as my Apadoras. Looking at their geographical distribution, it seems mainly that altitude is the governing factor. Boelens highter up, Apadoras further down to the coast. Both require similiar humidity and are difficult to breed (yes, I know that's not a criteria, but taken with everything else....) For a pair of animals that routinely hit over 12', very little is known about either. I looked at the maps in Mark O'Sheas book on the snakes of Papua NG, and the maps are REAL interesting as far as who lives where.

There's a real wide color variation on Apadoras, from goldish green to deep green, "almost" black, not to mention the color changing ability of Apadora, which may help a darker animal do better that lives further up in regards to the quick warm-up factor that Boelens would need because of drastic temp variants in the mountains.

So...am I out of line here...or just taking certain observations and running the wrong way with them....or possibly correct? All responses will be welcome. And what IS the breeding season on Apadora, anyway?
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

I wouldn't take it as gospel, but
http://www.rainbowboas.com/biology/python_taxonomy.htm seems to echo what I have heard from the more taxonomically gifted. If anything, M. Boeleni belong off on their own, and are "closer" to the former amethistina complex than to A. papuana. I always thought that A. papuana were given their own genus precisely after firmer evidence backed up phenotypic distinctions that placed them off on their own.

Again, I have zero training in this field, but I hadn't intuited the same observation you did.

Then again, adding to the anecdotal side of the ledger: both of the buggers are full of worms!

boelens are more closely aligned with the scrub pythons (look at the scales)

apadora are very much deserving of their own genus.

everything form the3 structure to the scales of these pythons are different. if anything apadora feels and looks more like a liasis or leiopython
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1.4 west papuan carpet pythons
2.3 brazillian rainbow boas
0.7 ball pythons
0.2 jungel carpet pythons

at the head shots here. The Boelens has a very wide stout head and the Papuans are quite narrow with different scales on the head. They both intrigue me though. I have no guesses whatsoever on how I will get mine to go. Good luck in your efforts to produce either species.

Hope you like.

Frank,

What an amazing animal! Haven't ever seen one so large (always had a softspot for the bigger snakes). Just bought my favorite python of all time (BHP), but might have been tempted to switch having seen yours! BTW, how is their tempor? I've kept Burms/Retics/Womas, and now the Blackhead.

Very nice animal, thanks for sharing.

Curt

That is awesome. love that snake!