Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I rarely respond when folks get on these forums and get too analytical and scientific about their reptiles...My first response is, typically, "Get a life!". SO...here I am doing the very thing I often criticize. Feel free to glance at this post and keep on going without replying...but any responses would be much appreciated.

A question for the Python curtus experts.... I have been looking over the Blood python posts and have noticed that there are variations in morphology that are sometimes very pronounced.

In particular, many Bloods (whatever subspecies) seem to have a pronounced spinal ridge...it almost makes them look like they've been neglected and are showing the spinal column because there is not enough flesh to cover it better, and yet I think that, most of the time, it's really more of a genetic trait than a result of poor treatment. I think you would agree that a more "rounded" animal is more attractive (?)....

My questions: In your opinion, is this an accurate observation of blood python morphological variation, or are there possibly other issues that could be involved? (Or am I imagining it all?!)
AND- Do you agree that a more rounded blood is preferable to an animal with a more pronounced spinal ridge, or is this simply a matter of personal preference?
Thanks much-
Jim
Please pardon the non-Blood post! This is my daughter with our Indigo, "Lewis".

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There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rom 8:1

Hey Jim...in my experience, Borneo short-tails (P. breitensteini) tend to have a bit more prominent dorsal "ridge" than bloods (P. brongersmai), and Sumatran short-tails (P. curtus) seem to have the most prominant backbones out of all 3 species.

Keep in mind, too, that many bloods/STP's in captivity are just flat out too heavy. Folks tend to get it in their minds that because these are heavy bodied animals, it means they should be fat for some reason. Well, ok, bloods/STPs are fat, but they need to be "healthy fat" - i.e. a robust, thriving animal, but not "gross fat" - for example when you start to see skin between scales, or that overall partially-deflated tire appearance. Maybe we've all gotten so used to seeing "fat" bloods that we forget what healthy specimens are supposed to look like.

On the flipside, an underweight blood/STP with an extremely pronounced backbone is obviously not a good thing either - I guess a healthy specimen really is the happy medium between the two.

AWESOME Indigo, by the way - that is a FABULOUS SNAKE & now I'm green with envy (but very glad it's with someone who obviously enjoys it!)...and your daughter is a DOLL! Now you just need a retic - it will be big enough to eat any boys you don't like by the time she's old enough to date.

Kara
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"Remember the days of the old schoolyard?" - Cat Stevens

and my daughter turned 16 in November! She's already been kissed by some real hotties...

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There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rom 8:1

Our big Malaysian silver doing her best velociraptor impersonation through her cage divider slot:

You must be a proud papa!!! Great looking pup, too!

Kara
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"Remember the days of the old schoolyard?" - Cat Stevens

Hey Kara,
That is an awesome picture! How is Macho doing? Please let me know his status.
- Angel
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Sometimes on your way to your dream, you get lost and find a better way!

Im in a fit of giggles thats too funny! Kara was right on with her explination. There are some that just have more pronounced backbones no matter what their weight is. If you cant see the backbone that typically would be a charactaristic of an obese animal (depending on the animal!) Cute pics!!
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"It's my snake, I trained it, so I'm going to eat it!" - Mad Max, The Road Warrior

Hey Jim,
Kara is so right on the money on this, that nothing else, really needs to be added. And the Indigo is outstanding, and the lucky little girl must just be in heaven with that beauty -- LOL! That is one gorgeous critter (the snake), and the cutie holding it too. The picture of the daughter (16) too, is sweet. Is she into the herps? More than likely not, but admires them from a-far.
-Angel
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Sometimes on your way to your dream, you get lost and find a better way!

she's still pretty comfortable with snakes. I also have a 13 year old daughter who has absolutely no fear of any animal. I'm concerned she'll pick up a Copperhead one day. Here's a photo of her with some future snake food.
and I promise all my future posts will include pics of snakes!

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There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rom 8:1

I love those things. Probably best post them on the indigo forum lol.

It's not your imagination, the "curtus complex" (meaning curtus, breitensteini and brongersmai--the focus of this forum and our lives)has as a unique character vertebrae with spectacularly tall neural arches. The neural arch is that square-ended fin that rises up from the body of the vertebrae; it's taller in the curtus complex than in any other of the pythons.

The curtus complex have big back muscles that lay along each side of those neural ridges. The strength a blood can generate from the particular arrangement of big erector spinae muscles with broad strong origins and insertions on big tall neural arches is the main reason why a big blood python is essentially impossible to restrain, if it wants to be.

But, unless a blood is incredibly fat, those tall neural arches serve to give healthy happy bloods and short-tails distinctly ridged backs.