THE REPTILES OF AUSTRALIA - PYTHONS

AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PHOTOS AND INFORMATION
Covering Australian Snakes and Lizards, Crocodiles and Turtles

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COASTAL CARPET PYTHON
(or Coastal Carpet Snake, includes Brisbane Carpet Snakes)

Morelia spilota variegata
(or Morelia spilota mcdowelli)
(Subspecies status uncertain)

"There have been various proposals to further split variegata into additional subspecies but these have not been tested in any way" - Australian Society of Herpetologists November 2023

Usually grows to around 8' (2.5m) but occasionally up to around 14' (4 metres) in some areas.
Very large pythons should be treated with extreme care!

Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata)

Distribution of the Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) is Yellow in the map above and is approximate only!

Note that the distribution map is a very rough guide only, in some areas there are intergrades between the subspecies, and snakes from those areas may be hard to categorize as they may have characteristics of more than one subspecies.

Also note that the Centralian Carpet Snake (Morelia bredli), was downgraded to a subspecies for a while but has now regained its full species status and is not shown on this map, - Click here for distribution map of Morelia bredli

ALTERNATE DISTRIBUTION MAP

This map shows the alternate map if you want to use the subspecies as listed by the Australian Society of Herpetologists November 2023, which currently only recognises 2 subspecies

Young Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) photographed at Kenilworth, Queensland

Young Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) photographed at Kenilworth, Queensland

Adult Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) basking near a Flying-fox colony at The Mary Cairncross Reserve in Queensland

Adult Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) basking near a Flying-fox colony at The Mary Cairncross Reserve in Queensland

Adult Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) basking near a Flying-fox colony at The Mary Cairncross Reserve in Queensland

This young Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) photographed at Tingalpa, Brisbane, Queensland, has lost its hatchling colouration.
It was found in the middle of the road.

Adult Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) photographed at Fig-Tree Walk, near Kenilworth, Queensland
(Notice that it has a sky blue coloured tongue)

Adult Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) photographed at Fig-Tree Walk, near Kenilworth, Queensland

This adult Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) basking near the Rainforest Discovery Centre at The Mary Cairncross Reserve in Queensland, is looking dull because it will be shedding its skin soon.

This Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) at The Mary Cairncross Reserve in Queensland, has cloudy eyes because it will be shedding its skin soon.
Notice the layout of the scales on its head

Adult Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) basking at Karawatha Forest Park in Queensland

Adult Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) basking at Karawatha Forest Park in Queensland

Adult Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata)basking at Karawatha Forest Park in Queensland

Captive sub-adult Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata)

Captive young adult Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) constricting a mouse

This is a young "Coffs Carpet Python", it was captive bred from local "Coffs Carpet Pythons" the mother of this intergrade is pictured below

In the Coffs Harbour region the Carpet Snakes may have some Diamond Python (Morelia spilota spilota) characteristics, and are classed an intergrade, however intergrades from further south (e.g. Port Macquarie) are more likely to have more Diamond Python Diamond Python (Morelia spilota spilota) characteristics, and are more typical of Carpet/Diamond intergrades

Jaguar Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) (Morph) at the Reptile Zoo California.
The Jaguar Carpet Python was selectively bred from Coastal carpet pythons. Although carpet pythons color and pattern varies considerably in the wild, Jaguar Carpet Pythons do not occur naturally in the wild.
Jaguars have also been crossed with other carpet python subspecies.

Baby Jaguar Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) (Morph) showing the hatchling coloration which will change as the python grows

Baby Jaguar Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) (Morph)

Jaguar Carpet Pythons also often carry a defective gene which causes unnatural movement when the snake is stressed.

Diamond Pythons intergrade with Coastal Carpet Pythons (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) The 2 subspecies evolved separately but then at a much later time the populations started interbreeding at the Southern region of the Coastal carpet python Rang. and the northern region of the Diamond python Range.

An alternative theory is that in the past it was popular for farmers to purchase Diamond Pythons from Sydney area to release in their barns to control rodents

This sign on the boardwalk at Sea Acres Rainforest Centre, Port Macquarie, NSW, shows a photo of a Carpet/Diamond Intergrade

Typical Carpet/Diamond intergrades occur somewhere around Port Macquarie, however various forms of Carpet/Diamond intergrades occur in many regions along the coast of Northern NSW

A young Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) - Note that hatchlings may look pale and may be orange or reddish with variable patterning

LINKS OF INTEREST

Morelia spilota LACEPEDE, 1804)
The Reptile Database

"There have been various proposals to further split variegata into additional subspecies but these have not been tested in any way" - Australian Society of Herpetologists November 2023

Carpet Python Complex
Morelia spilota, Morelia bredli, Morelia imbricata

INFORMATION ABOUT AUSTRALIAN PYTHONS
Australianherpetology.com

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AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PHOTOS AND INFORMATION Covering Australian Snakes and Lizards, Crocodiles and Turtles

PLEASE SHARE THIS PAGE

(NOT VENOMOUS)

COASTAL CARPET PYTHON (or Coastal Carpet Snake, includes Brisbane Carpet Snakes) Morelia spilota variegata (or Morelia spilota mcdowelli) (Subspecies status uncertain)

Captive young adult Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) constricting a mouse

Typical Carpet/Diamond intergrades occur somewhere around Port Macquarie, however various forms of Carpet/Diamond intergrades occur in many regions along the coast of Northern NSW

A young Coastal Carpet Python (Morelia spilota mcdowelli) also known as (Morelia spilota variegata) - Note that hatchlings may look pale and may be orange or reddish with variable patterning

OTHER LINKS Find a Random Species of Australian Reptile Visit the Australian Herpetology Website

AUSTRALIAN PYTHON SPECIES LISTS BY STATE OR TERRITORY

AUSTRALIAN REPTILE SPECIES LISTS BY STATE OR TERRITORY

MORE REPTILE SPECIES LISTS

About John Fowler | About John Hollister | Report Faulty Link | Report an Error

Contact John Fowler Author of the Australian Herpetology Website

Contact John Hollister Author of John Hollister Reptile Collection - Herping the Trans-Pecos & Sweetwater, Texas Rattlesnake Roundup

©2024 John Fowler, Rachel Barnes and John Hollister. All rights reserved. Reproduction or re-use of information or materials from this web site is strictly prohibited and against international law. (NOTE:- No permission is needed to link to this web page)

Note Content (includes photos) by other contributors cannot be used without their permission.

Updated April 8, 2024

This site is supported by Temu, Depositphotos, Pi, CryptoTab Browser, and Coinbase

ANY CONTRIBUTION APPRECIATED

AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PHOTOS AND INFORMATION
Covering Australian Snakes and Lizards, Crocodiles and Turtles

COASTAL CARPET PYTHON
(or Coastal Carpet Snake, includes Brisbane Carpet Snakes)

Morelia spilota variegata
(or Morelia spilota mcdowelli)
(Subspecies status uncertain)

OTHER LINKS

F i n d a R a n d o m S p e c i e s o f A u s t r a l i a n R e p t i l e

Visit the Australian Herpetology Website

©2024 John Fowler, Rachel Barnes and John Hollister. All rights reserved.
Reproduction or re-use of information or materials from this web site is strictly prohibited and against international law.
(NOTE:- No permission is needed to link to this web page)