Asia is a great place to find big snakes. The world’s largest and heaviest don’t live here; that honour belongs to the green anacondas (Eunectes murinus) of South America and the Caribbean island of Trinidad, which have been reported to measure over 10 metres and weigh in excess of 200 kilograms. But there’s a heavyweight snake that’s native to Southern and Southeast Asia that is not only one of the planet’s biggest snakes, but also considered one of the most beautiful – the Burmese python (Python bivittatus).
Once considered a subspecies of the Indian python (Python molurus) but now recognised as a distinct species, the Burmese python occurs in eastern India, southeastern Bangladesh, western Bhutan, southeastern Nepal, and southern China (including Hong Kong), as well as Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and northern continental Malaysia. It has also been found in parts of Indonesia, particularly Java, Sulawesi, Bali, and Sumbawa.
These mostly nocturnal rainforest dwellers are highly water-dependent snakes and can remain submerged for up to half an hour. As juveniles, they live on land or on trees, but they eventually grow so large that they need to stay on the ground, hiding in the underbrush. The snake spends most of its time staying still and waiting for prey to approach, using its sharp rearward-pointing teeth to seize prey and then coiling its body around the animal to kill it through constriction. Its prey – primarily small mammals and birds, but also amphibians and reptiles – is swallowed whole. Elastic ligaments in the jaws allow pythons to swallow animals up to five times as wide as their head!
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة AG 164 من ASIAN Geographic.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة AG 164 من ASIAN Geographic.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
A Spectrum Of Scarlet: The Symbolic Red Of Asian Flags
A common thread that unites many Asian flags is the prominent use of red, a colour rich with symbolism
Curry: A World of Flavour, Tradition, and Culture
From its humble beginnings in India, the concept of "curry" has evolved into a culinary language understood around the world
The Power Of Asian Red Fruits - Discover 10 Nutrient-Rich Gems Of The East
In the vast tapestry of Nature, Asia has gifted the world an array of unique and vibrant fruits, particularly those in shades of red. These scarlet-hued gems, packed with flavour and nutrients, not only add a burst of colour to your plate but also carry valuable health benefits. From antioxidant-rich goji berries to the exotic dragon fruit, let's explore some of the most popular red fruits from Asia and discover why they should be part of your diet.
Bhutan: A World Of Its Own
With its majestic monasteries, red-robed monks, charming rural villages, and vibrant festivals, the Kingdom of Bhutan is a Himalayan paradise that promises an enriching travel experience like no other
Take The Red Pill
From the vermilion torii gates of Japan to the famed rust-hued walls of India's Agra Fort, the burgundy robes of Burmese monks to scarlet chillies drying in the Bangladeshi sun, red is the quintessential colour of Asia.
70 Days for Our Land Animals
Raising awareness about conservation, the environment, and the land-dwelling species of the world
The Red Panda
Meet the elusive guardian of the Eastern Himalayas
Revealed Doctor Yellow
Japan Railways' special lemony Shinkansen is a rare sight to behold
The Mighty Yellow
Over 5,000 kilometres long and flowing through nine provinces and autonomous regions, the Yellow River is China's second largest, after the Yangtze, while its basin is deemed the cradle of Chinese civilisation
Wildlife Big Yellow Beauty
The popular "amelanistic" form of the Burmese python is considered among the most beautiful snakes - if that's your sort of thing
