Python snakes questions and answers

Author: Anders Nielsen | Ctrl-D saves this page

What are the natural enemies of python snakes?

Until pythons reaches a certain size they have many natural enemies. Those species preying on python snakes include jackals, hawks, foxes, racoons, mongoose, monitor lizards and eagles. When the pythons grow larger, only big predators such as tigers, alligators, lions, leopards, and jaguars are their enemies.

However, diseases and parasites also take a huge toll on the population of pythons. In Florida, only alligators, parasites and diseases are capable of killing pythons, besides man of course.

How fast can pythons move?

Pythons are in fact rather slow animals if moving is about travelling from one place to another. However, it is not very often they have to move very far in a hurry; that means that python do not track prey down. Also, when they have eaten a prey and digested it they often do not have to eat anything again for weeks or months, and don’t have to go hunting for food.

However, as pythons are carnivorous, they need some food from time to time, and must be able to move fast when they are hungry. And they certainly are. The video below how fast a python is when attacking a potential prey. In this case it is an alligator in Florida under attack. Notice how the python first bites the alligator to get a hold on it only to move its body around it to begin squeezing it.

What are the most common pythons in India?

The Indian Python is also known as the Indian Rock Python. It is not only found in India but in Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. They can grow very large – 20 feet (6-7 meters) and are among the largest snakes in the world. Their close relative, the Burmese python, is known to reach the same lengths but a slightly more heavy-bodied.