Green python

[dann]

Just thought I would post a picture of the snake I am studying in Cape York.

If any of you troops come across one - please try and get a GPS coordinate for it and take a photo.
If you have neither GPS or camera, then mark on a map the closest landmark/point to where you saw it.

You will see these in Iron Range and maybe Lockerbie.

Please get in touch if you do see one.

Cheers,
Dan

[Coza]

Thats a good looking snake Dann. Sounds like your pretty keen to find 1! Are they rare or jusr hard to find? What sort of snake is it?

[Nedly]

Hey Dann,
You may be just the person to answer my question.

I was reading a publication the other day, in the publication there is a photo of a green snake on one page and on the opposite page (page 41) there is the description:-
"A spectacular image of a Cape York Chondro Python."

On page 42 of the publication there is reference made to:-
"the Green Condra Python"

My question is:-
Is this a typo error?
or
Are these different snakes?
or
Is this a eliberate mistake in the magazine to see if everyone is reading it?

Oops, did I say magazine, I meant publication :)

[Coza]

Sorry Dann just had a look at the thread title Green Python Just answered my own question.

[dann]

Hi,

Coza, the snake is rare. It is only found in CYP.

Nedly, the scientific name of the green python used to be Chondropython viridis, however after further classification it was renamed as Morelia viridis. Because this snake is very popular, many people refer to it still as a 'Chondro' as this is how it was originally known.

Same as 'Esky/Chili-bin - same thing just different names.

Regards,
Dan

[Nedly]

Thanks Dann,
Any snake I see, regardless of size, colour, shape, I will photograph and record GPS location and forward to you.
I will definately be looking for one of the green jobbies.

[dann]

Much appreciated - thanks mate.

[batesy]

Hey Dann,
You may be just the person to answer my question.

I was reading a publication the other day, in the publication there is a photo of a green snake on one page and on the opposite page (page 41) there is the description:-
"A spectacular image of a Cape York Chondro Python."

On page 42 of the publication there is reference made to:-
"the Green Condra Python"

My question is:-
Is this a typo error?
or
Are these different snakes?
or
Is this a eliberate mistake in the magazine to see if everyone is reading it?

Oops, did I say magazine, I meant publication :)


Good to see you actually read the mag!

[Nedly]

Good to see you actually read the mag!

'Course I read the mag, bl##dy good read too.
Does your response answer the question though?

[Swanning_it]

Hi Dann, I assume this green looking snake is not yours? No where near CYP - Gold Coast in fact (sorry guys I'm really just testing the photo uploads). I suppose if the cape does start at Tweed I might be right!

http://s204.photobucket.com/albums/bb286/swanning_it/?action=view&current=Various.jpg

also have this one which gave us a bit of a surprise when we went to have a BBQ!

http://s204.photobucket.com/albums/bb286/swanning_it/?action=view&current=Easter05004.jpg

I'm assuming these two are common garden varieties of a green tree snake and diamond python. Am I right?

Ian

[dann]

Yeah mate,

The first is a common tree snake and the second a carpet python.

[Nedly]

G'day Dann,
Sorry mate, kept an eye out for the green ones but no luck.
Got up close to one snake, little fella about 60cm long, didn't have time to take a photo though, I was walking a crossing when this thing swam towards me, was to busy running away to bother with the camera, which was in the car at the time anyway.
All the other snakes we saw were beside the track and took off into the scrub to quick for photo's, those that weren't dead that is.

Les

[dann]

Haha,

No worries mate. Most people wouldn't touch em' with a forty foot pole.

[xina]

I can't get 'em guys. Got the red crosses, but nothing happens when I click on. What should I be doing?
xina.

[MTpockets]

I wish I had not have clicked on them snakes, I hate the blighters !!:eek:

[geoffjy]

Hi,

Coza, the snake is rare. It is only found in CYP.

Nedly, the scientific name of the green python used to be Chondropython viridis, however after further classification it was renamed as Morelia viridis. Because this snake is very popular, many people refer to it still as a 'Chondro' as this is how it was originally known.

Same as 'Esky/Chili-bin - same thing just different names.

Regards,
Dan


Hi Dan,

I have seen several of these little fellers in the Lockerbie Scrub over the last few years. They are also found in New Guinea as well.

[Stacky]

Just thought I would post a picture of the snake I am studying in Cape York.

If any of you troops come across one - please try and get a GPS coordinate for it and take a photo.
If you have neither GPS or camera, then mark on a map the closest landmark/point to where you saw it.

You will see these in Iron Range and maybe Lockerbie.

Please get in touch if you do see one.

Cheers,
Dan

Hi Dann,
Attached is a picture of a Green Python I came across in the
Iron Range the other day.
I am not sure if it is the snake you are looking for as i can't
seem to open the picture in your thread.
I know exactly where i found this one deep in the rainforest
and last year a mate of mine came across the same type of
snake. Only a baby and bright yellow. In his picture it is curled
up the same and it is less than the size of the palm of his hand.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/Wildlife/P7260285.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/Wildlife/P7260290.jpg

[Stacky]

Sorry about the size of pics, i tried to edit it but when it didn't work after the third time i gave up.

[xina]

I'd say that's it Stacky. As far as I know, we've only got one Green Python, and that's the one.
Cheers,
xina.

[dave]

Thats the one stacky! good work,
thay change colour as thay get older from yellow or red when hatched to green as thay mature

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e374/dave720gtr/GreenPython.gif

[plucker]

Saw one in Punsand Bay toilets a few years ago now.

[dann]

Hi Guys,

Thats a great find Stacky! Iron Range is the area of Australia where this species is most common, however you still do well to find them.

Since posting this thread I have completed field work in Lockerbie Scrub and the green python does not occur there. Most likely you saw the 'Common tree snake', which is also bright green like the python.

Cheers,
Dan

[plucker]

Hi Guys,

Thats a great find Stacky! Iron Range is the area of Australia where this species is most common, however you still do well to find them.

Since posting this thread I have completed field work in Lockerbie Scrub and the green python does not occur there. Most likely you saw the 'Common tree snake', which is also bright green like the python.

Cheers,
Dan

Having seen a couple of common green tree snakes over the years I can assure you that it was not one of those.
We did have a brown tree snake come down to the tree in front of the camp every night which I showed to many tourists.
The Green Python is hard to mistake. I am sure if you look harder you will find one in Lockerbie.

[yetti]

Hey Dann,
how you doing, hear your somewhere around coen doing your research, hope your winning. unfortunately i didn't catch up with you before you left the NPA to see how it all went....sounds like you never found the python, but plenty of other critters. anyway, i can tell you that the python that i told you about near blue valley was your pony, maybe they are diminishing in numbers, i hope not. i'm still out n about a bit so if i see anything while up to mischief i will let you know.

happy hunting fella,

[dave]

dann you should go look around Mataranka N/T hot water springs .
theres a olive Python there jeff swears it was well over 20 feet long

dose anyone no what the bigest native snake recorded in australia is?
it would be scrub python .
oh found this answer my question!

The Amethystine (Scrub) Python (Morelia kinghorni, formerly M. amethistina), from north Queensland. The largest specimen reliably measured had a total length of 5.65 m. Specimens longer than this have been reported frequently, but these records cannot be authenticated.

[Stacky]

Hi Guys,

Thats a great find Stacky! Iron Range is the area of Australia where this species is most common, however you still do well to find them.

Since posting this thread I have completed field work in Lockerbie Scrub and the green python does not occur there. Most likely you saw the 'Common tree snake', which is also bright green like the python.

Cheers,
Dan

Dann,
If you ever get over to Iron Range to do anymore study, i'll come out for a run and help out if i can. Just look me up in Lockhart.

I heard rumors that this snake pays top dollar on the black market. I'm not sure if this is true but if it is as rare as you say then i wouldn't be surprised. I am keeping very tight lipped about the location of where i spotted this snake that i posted earlier.

The picture of it would make a good postcard for the Iron Range NP though.

[dann]

Hi All,

I presume that is you Bat? How are things? I scoured every inch of Lockerbie over the wet, including Blue Valley. I think if they were still there we would have located them. I will be up often so will probably see you soon.

Plucker, where exactly in Lockerbie did you see these greens? Without sounding too pessimistic, I would need to see a photo of the snake beside a prominant Lockerbie landmark to be convinced. If you do find one then do show, as you will go into the record books!

Dave, there is a rare snake found near Arnhemland named the Oenepelli python. This snake is known to grown to 6m, however local peoples tell of it getting much larger. Olives can get large too, however 20ft????

Stacky, the demand for these snakes is decreasing rapidly as they become more common. All of the forests around your area will no doubt have greens. I won't be coming to Iron Range, however next year I hope to get down towards Nundah and the old mission. Would be great if you were free as I see you get down that way.

Cheers,
Dan

[dave]

mabe thats what it was dann. 6 meters is 20 feet?..Oenepelli python.
he was telling me it was near black in colour .and 6 inchers round
and was huge !
I showed him this pic and he sears it was biger than this!
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e374/dave720gtr/sucuri20na20BR20364.jpg


This python pic below "was eating a baby lamb when these back packers found it. hooked up on the wire fence so thay cut it free .
the land holder seen there car and went over to see what thay were doing ?
oh we were just cuting free a big snake court on the fence?
"were? what big snake ? showing him the pics thay took of it , he wasnt very happy about them cutting it free .says he lost to many lambs lately and this sakes the culprit i suspect.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e374/dave720gtr/snake.jpg
i couldnt see it eating more than 1 a year

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e374/dave720gtr/SNAKE-1.jpg

and this one snake dragging a beast up the cliff . W/A or n/t
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e374/dave720gtr/Snake5.jpg

[highlift80]

I got sent the pictures of that Python in the fence and the story a few years back those pics were taken at Silent Valley game park in South Africa the Snake is a Rock Python apparently Africas largest snake it is dead in the pictures it was electrified in the fence they cut it open and found a full grown Impala ewe in it's stomach. Heres the link to the website www.bushveld.co.za click on the python pics. At over 4 meters long it's certainly something you wouldn't want slithering up behind you.

[plucker]

Have heard of lots of big snakes around Ingham. They would be the Amethystine python. There was a photo in the local paper a few years ago showing one eating a wallaby that had been hit by a car - yes roadkill. Aparently they will eat roadkill if they are desperate enough and usually in the dry!! The photo series showed the complete digestion.

I have seen a snake immersed and coiled up in a limestone rock full of water in central Queensland, which looked like a carpet snake but I didn't count its scales so who knows. At the time it was completely under water and I would guess by the size of its head and the other bits to be about 6 footish. I suspect it was trying to get rid of mites or something, or looking for an easy feed. Unless I had seen it I would never believe it. Head was under water too. This was after a rainstorm breaking the drought.

The green I saw was in September 2003, so I hope that they are still around there. Only wild one I have seen.

[Stacky]

Hey Dann,
Is that green Python i captured found all over Australia or is it exclusive to the Cape?
My mother inlaw says they had one like it in their bird Avary at Caloundra on the sunny coast. They do get lots of snakes as they are on the border of a nature reserve, but is the green python likely to be one of them?

[xina]

Hi Stacky,
According to my Reptile book, their preferred habitat is:
"Rainforests, monsoon forests and bamboo thickets of northeastern Cape York Peninsula and Torres Straight Islands, south to Iron Range, Qld. Extralimital in New Guinea."
I'd guess if it really is the right one, it's escaped from somewhere.
Cheers,
xina.

[Stacky]

Thanks Xina,
i'll rest my case.

[dann]

Hi Guys,

She will have found a green tree snake, same as you get at Lockhart except much thinner and faster moving than the python. As Xina eluded, the green python is restricted to Iron Range and some areas further south.

[geoffjy]

Hi Guy, not sure if any of you will be interested but there is a book being released in November titled 'Life in the Cape York Rainforest' and 'Spectacular snakes of Australia', even has a pic of a green python on its front cover. Sounds like it will be a great read and cant wait to get my hands on some copies.

Here is the description on the 'Life in the Cape York Rainforest' book-

The remote, beautiful and poorly known rainforests of Cape York Peninsula tell a special story about Australia’s historic and present-day connections to New Guinea. Life in the Cape York Rainforest highlights these connections by examining the fascinating biology of some of the most spectacular animals shared between the two regions.

The author recounts his own ground-breaking research on ‘cross-dressing’ Eclectus parrots, musical palm cockatoos and multi-coloured pythons, together with the exotic lifestyles of other animals, while painting the bigger picture of the past when Australia and New Guinea were joined by extensive land bridges. Australia’s disconnection from New Guinea is probably only temporary, and even today many bird species continue to fly the short distance between the two landmasses.

Whether just browsing the beautiful photos and informative captions, or reading it in its entirety, readers will gain a greater understanding of the unique attributes of our Cape York rainforests.

Features


Stunning photographs
Unrivalled and authoritative coverage of an area of great biological interest
Accessible writing style
First book solely about Cape York rainforests
Based on recent ground-breaking research by the author, a leading expert on the region
Readership
Biologists and environmentalists with an interest in the Top End and New Guinea, tourists to Cape York, conservationists and policy makers and amateur naturalists, especially ornithologists and herpetologists.

Author Information
Associate Professor Rob Heinsohn is a conservation biologist with a special interest in the behaviour and social systems of Australian animals. For the last 10 years he has been studying the behaviour and ecology of large parrots and snakes on Cape York Peninsula.

Michael Cermak is a professional zoologist and wildlife photographer with 25 years’ experience photographing rainforest wildlife.


The book will cost around $39

[ant]

Sounds interesting. Who is the publisher?

[geoffjy]

Sounds interesting. Who is the publisher?

Hi Ant,

The publisher is CSIRO Publishing.

[plucker]

Asked the father in law who lived in Weipa for a lot of his life about 20 years ago if he had seen any of these in his travels.
He mentioned that he had only seen them just North of Cairns about 40 odd years ago. He never saw one around Weipa or any of their regular camping spots.
I am unsure if he is talking about the right one, so does anyone know if they were once found around Cairns?

[geoffjy]

Contrary to what Dann thinks, i know that the Green Python does exist up this way and know 2 other people that has seen them too and in the same area as me.

[yetti]

i seen one too

[xina]

If you guys read what I posted correctly, you will see that they are definitely right up in the north, and are known to be as far south as Iron Range.
Cheers,
xina.

[xina]

Just checked out the CSIRO website, and both the books Geoff mentioned have the Green Python on the cover. They're both paperbacks, and the same price,$39.95. Rainforest one has 104 pages, and the Snake one has 128. They look as though they are two more must-haves.
Cheers,
xina.
PS. They will be out in NOVEMBER according to the website.

[plucker]

If you guys read what I posted correctly, you will see that they are definitely right up in the north, and are known to be as far south as Iron Range.
Cheers,
xina.

I hear what you are saying Xina, but I thought that maybe they could have once lived around the Cairns rainforests as well, before habitat destruction took place.

[xina]

Hi PLucker,
Dann seemed to think I said they were "restricted to Iron Range, and some areas further south." which is not what I said at all. I do agree with you about the fact that at one time they may have been a lot further south than their known range today. Look at how much of this country used to be Rainforest, and look at what little we have today.
Cheers,
xina.

[geoffjy]

i seen one too

Make that 3 people.

[geoffjy]

Hi PLucker,
Dann seemed to think I said they were "restricted to Iron Range, and some areas further south." which is not what I said at all. I do agree with you about the fact that at one time they may have been a lot further south than their known range today. Look at how much of this country used to be Rainforest, and look at what little we have today.
Cheers,
xina.


I agree too with what you are saying. There are many examples of this in nature. One of the main reasons they are not found further south anymore is that we have wiped out their habitat.

[Stacky]

and the Black Market.

[xina]

That too Stacky. When we were at Temple Bay we were always on the lookout for one guy who used to come up every year for "Stock" to sell overseas. Used to try and get whatever he could. Palm Cockatoos, Eclectus Parrots, etc., plus reptiles. Never could catch him unfortunately, but came across his tracks occasionally. Would have loved to have put him out of business.
Cheers,
xina.

[dann]

Hi Guys,

The green python is a recent migrant from New Guinea. Best estimates suggest this species colonised Au around 15 thousand years ago. Due to the dry belt running through Princess Charlotte Bay, green python have never been present in the rainforests around Cairns - regardless of what anyone may tell you.

With reference to the Lockerbie sightings. The Lockerbie rainforests are of relatively new growth associations that were not present at the last glacial maxima - therefore, no rainforest to support green python. If you have seen this species at Lockerbie then you are extremely lucky as you are of a select few.

Geoffjy, where up your way have you seen these snakes? You can be as specific as you like- I know the area.

Dan

[yetti]

gday dann,

hows things fella. hope your finding the critters your looking for, for all our sakes!

just wanted to say cheers for your info. is always good to get some qualified info on ANYTHING really, in particular on my local critters.

like you say, a few of us have been very lucky. My wife and i are planning on doing heaps in the scrub this wet...and will get everything on film. It is my "wet season 2008 project"

if i find anything you will be the first to know.

Keep up the informative content you always post.

cheers mate,
bat

[dann]

Hi Bat,

Thats great! We need more people like you - getting out there and giving it a good going over where the rest of us merely skim the surface. Keep me posted as I'm really interested to see what you find!

Cheers,
Dan

[yetti]

dann,

you never said nothing about what your finding mate!

i'll do me best, but i'm no expert. just call it as i see it.

your proper scientific input is grouse,,, keep teaching me stuff, and i'll be stoked.

thanks in advance,

cheers,
bat

[dann]

Hi Bat,

Sorry about the short replies. Time presses, however I'll try and knock out a long winded one.

As mentioned, I have left the Bamaga area and am now working further south. Of most interest to me is this guy (see image), which seem to be relatively common if you look in the right places.

Cape York's rainforests can be broken into several categories, however the Iron/McIlwraith Ranges contain the old growth refugia with stands most resembling New Guinea flora (Rob's new book will explain all of this when it comes out). Other rainforests such as Temple Bay, Captain Billy's, Jardine and Lockerbie are all (relatively) new growth forests. Because of this, they do not (seem to) contain many of the less mobile New Guinea animal species such as green python, canopy goanna, butterflies etc etc. Others may have had these species in past (such as cassowaries around Lockerbie) but these forests have become too small to retain genetically viable populations. Something to look out for in your area Bat, is the long tailed skink. It is larger than most and has a thick, long tail. It only lives in the Lockerbie rainforests and nowhere else in Au.

Because these areas are so remote, new species will continue to be uncovered. I have come across two species of frog that are only known from a 10km radius and are endemic to CYP. I am sure there will be more finds like these out there, we just need people looking.
I will be up again in November and staying until March continuing studies. Unfortunately I won't see any of you as I am on the east coast - a tad off the beaten track.

If your keen to see some high density wildlife Bat, head to the lakes out east of your way - some of the biggest crocs you'll see there. Or take the missus down to Shit creek - I found you could always pick up lots of croc shine there.

Keep me posted on the scaley critters you come across. Let me know if you see any of the semi-large black goanna's that hang around the mangroves.

All the best,
Dan

[geoffjy]

G'DAy Dann,

Would you be able to post a pic up of this long tailed skink as i have see a few really long tailed ones and not sure it this is the guy you are talking about.

These semi-large black goanna's, they woldnt be around the 60cm mark at all would they?

[Stacky]

It makes me wonder how many of these animals and critters i walk past when in the bush and not even recognise or understand if it is rare or not.
I only tend to take pics of eye catchy things, not a skink or another goanna (so i thought). Maybe i'll have to photograph every unusual plant and every moving object i see and get your verification Dann.

[geoffjy]

Hi Dann,

Where abouts on the east coast will you be in Decmeber? I have never seen any Cassowaries in the srcum here, plenty of emu's north of the Jardine though.

I have spotlighted on the lakes you talk about and i agree with you. There are some monsters in there. In the daytime it would almost look nice enough to swim in.

[Stacky]

There are definetely Cassowaries round here. Lots of sightings and i have seen the Poop!

[dann]

Hi Guys,

Stacky, due to living where you do, many species you find will only live there and nowhere else on the Cape. Unless you know what your looking at it is very hard to I.D something rare from something common. Post up any photo's you do get as it's always a fun challenge learning about what you've found. There are lots of cassowaries around you - I've never seen one though.

Geoffjy, the black goanna's I refer to are Varanus indicus. These are dark black with small yellow spots. The other black goanna that you see often in the woodland is Varanus scalaris. These are common in your area and have white rosettes.

Without going into too much detail of my whereabouts, I am in the McIlwraith Range north east of Coen.

The following photos are of the long tailed skink (Eugongylus rufescens) and the goanna Varanus scalaris. All taken in the Lockerbie area.

[geoffjy]

Hi Guys,
Geoffjy, the black goanna's I refer to are Varanus indicus. These are dark black with small yellow spots. The other black goanna that you see often in the woodland is Varanus scalaris. These are common in your area and have white rosettes.

Without going into too much detail of my whereabouts, I am in the McIlwraith Range north east of Coen.

The following photos are of the long tailed skink (Eugongylus rufescens) and the goanna Varanus scalaris. All taken in the Lockerbie area.

Hi Dann, i have seen your skink before as well as your goanna. The goanna was in the Jackey Jackey lying on a mudbank about 1ft from the water. It had the the yellow markings on it and looked to be about the 60cm mark.

[geoffjy]

If you want i could point it out on a map or give you the coordinates.

[dann]

Hi Geoffjy,

That's great. No need for coordinates. I merely want to gauge how common they are and think about getting some genetic samples. Any pictures you get would also be great. Coordinates for the green pythons you have seen would be good though...

Dan

[geoffjy]

Hi Geoffjy,

That's great. No need for coordinates. I merely want to gauge how common they are and think about getting some genetic samples. Any pictures you get would also be great. Coordinates for the green pythons you have seen would be good though...

Dan

No problem Dann. I didnt think to take a pic because i thought that i see them every day. Obviously not this one. I saw him about 3 weeks ago. Its also the first one that i remember seeing up here.

In regards to the green pythons, last time i saw one was in 2002 and before that in 94' i think it was. Both sightings were in about 3km of each other and during the wet season. I used to live out at Lockerbie for a few years as well in the house there and the amount of stuff i used to see was amazing. I constantly used to go out to somerset and the tip camping and fishing on my 4 wheeler.

[geoffjy]

That too Stacky. When we were at Temple Bay we were always on the lookout for one guy who used to come up every year for "Stock" to sell overseas. Used to try and get whatever he could. Palm Cockatoos, Eclectus Parrots, etc., plus reptiles. Never could catch him unfortunately, but came across his tracks occasionally. Would have loved to have put him out of business.
Cheers,
xina.

Came across a small article today in Friday's Cairns Post.

PYTHON HAUL

PERTH: An alleged wildlife smuggler has been caught with a dozen pythons in his car. Experts say the snakes, found in a random search of the man's car, could have fetched up to $1500 each on the black market.

[dave]

good to see thay got him .

i was just thinking back about the snakes and pythons i would see in the scrub
around my place were i grew up nsw,
,
When i was a young lad i came across a strange site
dimond pythons a faimly? two full size and two or three smaller ones. all sunning them selfs on the bonnet of a dump car ! thay quicky retreted into the fuel tank as i aproched them.
i thought thay were soletry criters, strange to see them hanging out together