Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

Happy New Year to everyone!

Not so long ago (a couple of months back) I asked you, guys, to help me to confirm if I have Antaresia maculosa or some other Antaresia specie. I could not post the close up of the head then, but now I can . I know it’s not perfectly clear photos, but if anyone can offer me a well educated guess, I’ll appreciate. I bough this pair of pythons at Havre De Grace reptile show, Maryland in 2000 under the name of Antaresia maculosa. However, out of several books and all the websites I could find the images of Antaresia maculosa look slightly different with much of contrast in coloration. My pythons have always been of somewhat washed out color.

I’d really appreciate if you can please click on the link below (Freeservers doesn’t like image linking), and offer your opinions if these are maculosa or other Antaresia.

www.seyadfarook.freeservers.com/pythons.html
www.seyadfarook.freeservers.com/pythons.html

Thank you so much in advance for all your help.

ohanna,
Cape York spotted pythons are often featured in photos. They have lighter ground color. However, many spotted pythons are dark like yours.

From what I can see of the head scalation, yours appear to be maculosa. The problem is that there has been a great deal of interbreeding of the antaresia complex in the hobby.

At present I have one female who was sold to me as childreni. My suspicion is that she is a childreni/maculosa intergrade. She differs in many subtle and not so subtle ways from others I know to be childreni. I don't plan to breed her. I've had her since she was small, and she is a delightful pet. I wouldn't dream of getting rid of her just because she isn't "pure".

Dave and Tracy Barker do a wonderful job of defining each of the antaresia species in their book, PYTHONS OF THE WORLD VOL.1,AUSTRALIA. If you are so inclined, give it a read.

Your snakes are very pretty, and I'm sure their coloration makes for some serious irridescence in the sunlight. If you breed them and are not sure of their genetics, be sure to inform potential buyers.
Just my opinion. . .

althea

.

your words are much appreciated. (Trying to define antaresia in the hobby is kinda' like trying to nail jello to a tree.)

regards,
althea

np

Althena,

I have got Barker & Barker and there no clear differences outlined between A. childreni, A. maculosus and A. stimsoni.

It does talk about a pale lateral line along the first third of the body in childreni....This does not hold up as there are unmarked childreni in the wild.

It does not seperate between A. maculosus and A. stimsoni.

As for "Cape York Spotteds"....They are known over here as Blonde Macs.....because that light /high contrast form is not restricted to Cape York but is found throughout its range.

Generally here in Australia...locality is the best guide to which is which....without it you have to go on your gut feeling to which is which. However some whilst hard to define, most are obvious to the "trained eye" to coin an over used phrase.

Regards,
Scott Eipper

Ohannah,

Its nothing like any Mac I have ever seen.

As for keys.....every field guide/ etc have had trouble keying the species out without colour....I would love to see a definitive key (Scalation for example) on the genus. In North West QLD you have all 3 species within a few hundred Kms....in other areas you have overlap such as the pilbara with A. stimsoni and A. perthensis.

I don't like doubting peoples id but if that is a pure Mac its nothing like any here in Australia....personaly i think its childreni from the top end.

Regards,

Scott Eipper