Ball Python

Snake with royal connections!
This python’s name refers to the fact that it was
worn by African rulers, including Cleopatra, as
jewellery! The thick-bodied snake is found in a
wide variety of habitats, from prairies to open
forests, as well as on farmland. While it is capable
of climbing, it spends most of its time on the
ground or in burrows.
In West Africa, this species is killed locally for its meat and its skin, or through fear. It is also a victim of bush fires, but the biggest threat is being captured for international trade: this non-aggressive species is a very popular pet! However, the species is abundant and widespread and is therefore not considered to be endangered.

Latin name: Python regius
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Pythonidae
Size: up to 1,2m – 1,8m long
Weight: 5 kg
Lifespan: 10 years in the wild, 20 years in captivity
Reproduction: oviparous
Number of eggs: 1-11
Incubation: 2 months
Habitat: prairies, open forests, farmland
Diet: carnivorous
Distribution: West and Central Africa, from Senegal to Sudan and Uganda
Conservation status: not threatened