Black Headed Python

Black Headed Python - ASPIDITES MELANOCEPHALUS

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This python grows to a length of 3 m (9 ft), although average specimens are slightly smaller. The head is narrow and is covered in shiny black scales that also extend down the neck and throat for several inches. The body is covered with smooth, glossy scales in shades of black and dark grey, brown, gold and cream arranged in a striped or brindled pattern. This striking pattern gives the snake its name.

The underside of the snake is smooth and light-coloured, flecked with darker spots. There are 50-65 mid body rows and 315-355 ventral scales. The tail will have 60-75 mainly single subcaudals and a single anal. The posterior subcaudals tend to be divided, often irregularly.

This snake has a thick, muscular body in a flattened profile and the tail tapers to a thin point. The head is narrow with small eyes that have round pupils. The labial or lip scales of this snake lack the heat-seeking pits found in most other pythons.

The Black Headed Python has two large symmetrical shield-shaped scales on the top of the snakes head, a feature shared with its closest relative, the Woma (Aspidites ramsayi).

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