Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all
What is the difference between Variegata and harrisoni?
I`m thinking about distribution, size etc.
Any input will be appreciated.

Thanks a lot
Jonas

Hi,

Morelia spilota variegata is the Northwestern Carpet, AKA the Darwin Carpet, from Northwestern Australia; M. s. harrisoni is the Irian Jaya Carpet, AKA the Papuan Carpet, and is found on the island of Papua New Guinea/Irian Jaya. The two subspecies are very similar in appearance, and were indeed believed to be the same subspecies until Raymond Hoser produced a paper proposing the two be split in 2000; this split was accepted. Hoser used mainly DNA analysis to back this up. In terms of appearance, one of the most often quoted diagnostic features of harrisoni is its clear and contrasting head pattern in adulthood, often in the form of a trident shape; variegata apparently has indistinct head markings in adulthood. Both subspecies attain lengths of 150-200cm, i.e. they are small carpet pythons. Due to the virtual ban on export of snakes and all other wildlife from Australia, but the continued export of wildlife from areas like Papua, the vasrt majority of specimens kept in captivity are M.s.harrisoni; variegata is very rare in captivity in comparison. Hope this helps.
-----
Karl Hamilton

1.1 Sonoran Desert Dwarf Boa
0.1 Dumeril's Boa
1.0 Green Anaconda
1.0 Yellow Anaconda
1.1 Coastal Carpet python
0.0.1 Argentine Horned frog
0.0.1 African Bullfrog
1.3 Ferrets
0.1 Harris' Hawk
0.1 WC Partner

Thanks a lot. That helped.
So the only carpet python on new guinea is Morelia spilota harrisoni?

Jonas