Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Are these both considered "short-tailed" pythons? If so what is the size difference? I'm looking for a Borneo but have seen a lot of Sumatran's around.

Hey,
What is it specifically you'd like to know about the short-tail group? They are related, although, a study conducted by several albeit, well known herpotologist, have since divided the group up and have given the three once considered subspecies, full-species (status) classification. The Sumatran name or moniker, is one that can be confusing if the word is not used in conjunction with either Blood or Short-tail. The two being different animals all together. The Sumatran bloods are found in the Northern most part east of the Barrisan mountain range on the Island of Sumatra. Populations can also be found centrally, but again, east of the range of mountains in Sumatra.

The Sumatran short-tails or Black Bloods, are the more diminuative of the three bloods described by the erroneous moniker in this case of "blood". The Sumatran Short-tails, are found south and to the west of the Barrisan mountains both southernly and coastally. Their coloration is more brown to black depending on the populations regionally, with the southern most animals having the darker or black bodies and heads. The more northern variety of the black bloods or Sumatran short-tails, tend to have the orange to red heads, with lighter body coloration.

As for the Borneo Short-tails, there are none found on the island of Sumatra, and so there for are given the moniker of Borneo short-tail with impunity. To the west of the island of Borneo over the Kalimantan mountain range there is another small group of short-tails once thought to be a subspecies of the "Curtus" group or Borneo short-tail, called the Sarawak short-tail. We still hold out hope that they will be vindicated and given full subspecies classification, but for now, they are just a geographical variant of the Borneo short-tail. Go figure!

- Angel

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Discovered and defeated of your prey, You skulked behind the fence, and sneaked away. --Dryden.

Wow! That's some great info, thanks! Now about the size difference. Are Sumatrans or 'Black Bloods' as I guess they are called (didn't know that, thanks!) longer than 'normal' red bloods, or do they stay short like Borneo's? Red bloods get what, 7-8 feet? Borneo's max out at about 5-6 for a large female, and black bloods max out at __________?

Now Angel don't go scaring the newbies with your vast intelligence, lol just kidding bro great explination as always.

The Sumatran "black blood" P. C. C. they are actually the smallest of the three and usually top out at about 5 feet. Hey Angel have you heard anything about those dwarf redheads I heard you talking about? And how are your blacks doin?
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"It's my snake, I trained it, so I'm going to eat it!" - Mad Max, The Road Warrior

Hey Jordan,
As far as I know, the Barker's are working with a small group of the Dwarf race of redhead Sumatran short-tails. I don't know whether they are going to be producing these in numbers for the market. However, I think that Kara's redheads look very much like these, but the Dwarf race are a lot smaller according to Dave Barker, and don't get much bigger than 3-4ft. Kara has some wonderful redheads that are just as nice I think. Albeit, this is all the information that I have on this story thus far.
Here is a picture of one sent to me courtesy of Dave Barker.

- Angel
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Discovered and defeated of your prey, You skulked behind the fence, and sneaked away. --Dryden.

Hey Jordan,
Red Head Dwarf race of the Sumatran Short-tails, thought to be a disjunct population, unlike any other Sumatran short-tail within the contiguous population of Black bloods. Courtesy of Dave Barker.

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Discovered and defeated of your prey, You skulked behind the fence, and sneaked away. --Dryden.

Angel,

Ahhh now I see, thanks for the pic. It's interesting to see all the small mutations you can find from specific locals. From the pic I would agree that Kara's o-heads are very similar as are those of the Bob Clark stock.
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"It's my snake, I trained it, so I'm going to eat it!" - Mad Max, The Road Warrior

Hey,
Sumatran Red Bloods, can get quite large for a Red Blood with females getting into the area of 6-8ft and weighing as much as 40lbs. Males are a little smaller, but can also weigh a nice hefty 25-35 Lbs. Sumatran Short-tails (Black-Bloods) on the other hand, don't get quite as long or heavy, but can still grow to a length of 4-5 ft for females with males getting to around 4ft. Again, weights can vary with each animal based on the types of food we feed our charges and cage conditions, and perhaps too, genetic make up.

- Angel
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Discovered and defeated of your prey, You skulked behind the fence, and sneaked away. --Dryden.