Woma or Sand Python

of Western Australia
   Aspidites ramsayi

 Harmless 

ENDANGERED SPECIES

This photograph was taken at Perth Zoo and I think they are the northern species. 

This is believed to be an endangered species although I wasn't able to get a listing on it.

If the Woma of  south Western Australia's is a separate subspecies then it is the most endangered python in Western Australia or it could already be extinct. 

The south-western Woma could occur from Yuna south to Boddington and east to Karalee and near Menzies.  The Shark Bay (Peron Peninsula) and Nullarbor populations are more typical of the northern and eastern populations which are not considered to be endangered.

The Woma snake has a lot of significance to the Northern Territory Aboriginals.

This photograph was taken at the "Predators of the Desert" show at Ayres Rock in the Northern Territory.

 

 

The northern Woma python occurs in subhumid to arid interior of Australia from north-west coast of Western Australia through all states except Vic to southern Qld. 

 This snake prefers sandy hummock grass areas, woodlands, shrublands or heathlands. 

It shelters in abandoned monitor or mammal burrows.

Photographed at Perth's Zoo

 

It is mainly a nocturnal python. 

These snakes will roll onto their side to gain maximum heat.

Its tail length is 2.0m

It has a clutch 22 eggs. 

 

This python and the Black Headed python do not have heat seeking pits on their top jaws  like other pythons.  This can lead people to be afraid of it thinking that they are venomous but they are not.

 

Photographed at Perth's Zoo

 

This photograph was taken at Armadale Reptile Centre in Perth.

 

 What do they eat? 

It may use its tail as a lure to attract potential meals towards it.  It also may use its body down in a burrow to squash and suffocate its prey.  

It eats lizards, snakes, birds and small mammals.

 
Snakes have tails that are shorter than their body length except for the Keelback snake.  Snake tails are permanent and don't drop or regrow like some lizards.

 

 

Text;
"Australian Reptiles A Photographic Reference to the Terrestrial Reptiles of Australia" by Stephen K Wilson, David G Knowles.
CD Rom "Australian Reptiles and Frogs" by Herald Ehnann and Micheal Tyler
 http://www.calm.wa.gov.au/plants_animals/pdf_files/sp_woma_python.pdf
 http://www.pythonpete.com/info/womainfo.htm

 

 

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