Python molurus bivittatus
One of the largest snakes in the world, the Burmese Python is found in the jungles of southeast Asia. They are a diurnal snake, which means that they are most active during the day. Burmese pythons are carnivorous and, like many snakes, hunt their prey by using chemical sensors in their tongues. As they grow, these snakes leave the trees to live on the ground, feeding primarily on small mammals and birds. They can stay submerged in water for as long as 30 minutes and are excellent swimmers. Once it has caught its prey (sharp teeth!), the python uses its powerful body to surround and constrict, suffocating the animal to death. Burmese pythons can grow up to 25 feet in length or more and weigh up to 200 lbs. Sadly, these beautiful snakes are a threatened species, their numbers depleted due to habitat loss, poaching, and the pet trade.
This is Kahn, our Albino Burmese Python. Albino snakes don’t generally survive in the wild because they have trouble controlling their body temperature and are more visible to predators. Kahn is 11 feet long and weighs a whopping 50 lbs. We don't know his exact age, but Burmese Pythons can live for more than 25 years.
For more information on Burmese Pythons, check out nationalgeographic.com, which was a valuable source for this post.
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