Banana Split

Meet the Banana Pinstripe ball python.

- Cliff Sawit

We continue our parade of patterned pythons here in Animal Scene with the unmistakable Banana Pinstripe ball python. This vividly colored morph is a combination of two morphs: the banana and the pinstripe.

“Most times, morph names are given by the way they look,” explains Pitlair, Animal Scene’s resident reptile expert, “and these are two classics, where the name actually gives a good representation of how it looks.

“The ‘banana’ gets its name because this morph Is very yellow, and makes you think of the banana fruit,” he continues. “And ‘pinstripe’, because of its random fine line patterns.”

BALL PYTHON 101

The ball python, also known by its scientific name Python regius, is the most commonly kept snake in the world, popular with snake handlers of all experience and skill levels. This is because ball pythons come in a dizzying array of colors and patterns that vary significantly from the wild type, otherwise known as the ‘Normal’.

Ball pythons are relatively compact snakes, with adult females measuring 3-5 feet, while adult males average 2-3 feet. They are available from many reputable and licensed breeders and pet stores, and are relatively easy to care for. The ball python is native to central and western Africa, and thrive in warm, tropical environments, but they have made their way to every continent except Antarctica, and are even called the Royal Python in Europe.

WHAT IS A MORPH?