Knowra Pythonidae Pythonidae Pythonidae is a family of nonvenomous constrictor snakes native to Africa, Asia, and Australia. Its members kill prey by constriction and include some of the world's largest snakes.
Snake : A limbless, elongated reptile belonging to the suborder Serpentes. Pythons are one family within the broader group of snakes.
Constriction : The act of coiling around prey and applying pressure until it can no longer breathe or circulate blood effectively. It is the principal method pythons use to subdue prey.
Reticulated python : A large Southeast Asian python distinguished by a dark, netlike pattern. It is the longest snake species and a prominent example of python size.
Boidae : A family of nonvenomous constrictor snakes that includes boas. Boas resemble pythons in constriction but belong to a separate snake family.
Serpentes : The snake suborder, a group of limbless reptiles descended from lizard-like ancestors. Pythonidae is a modern family within this evolutionary lineage.
Squamata : The reptile order that includes lizards, snakes, and worm lizards. Pythonidae belongs to this order of scaled reptiles.
Infrared sensing in snakes : The detection of infrared radiation by specialized sensory structures in some snakes. Some pythons use heat-sensitive labial pits to locate warm-blooded prey.
Burmese python : A large python native to South and Southeast Asia, also established in parts of Florida. Its introduced population in the Everglades illustrates ecological impacts beyond the family's native range.
Colubridae : A large and diverse family of snakes that includes many harmless species and some with rear fangs. Most colubrids differ from pythons in body plan, reproduction, and prey-subduing methods.
Snake evolution : The evolutionary history of snakes, including their origins, diversification, and adaptations. It traces the lineage and traits that shaped the python family.
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