A freshly minted sanctuary supervisor at Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s (AWC) Piccaninny Plains Wildlife Sanctuary occurred upon a reasonably uncommon sighting, a black-headed python (Aspidites melanocephalus) constricting and consuming one other black-headed python. Sanctuary Supervisor Nick Inventory, who has been on the job all of three months was out within the discipline checking the standing of a second arson occasion that occurred throughout the 165,000 hectare property when he occurred upon the cannibalism occasion.
In response to an Australian Wildlife Conservancy press launch detailing the encounter, Inventory was strolling subsequent to the Archer River when he noticed the black-headed python constricting a prey merchandise. As he stealthily obtained nearer to the snake, he realized that it was constricting one other black-headed python.
The black-headed python consumed the snake in about quarter-hour. Picture by Nick Inventory/AWC
“It was a shock at first, however I really feel actually lucky to witness such an occasion,” Inventory mentioned. “I’ve beforehand witnessed black-headed pythons consuming an Japanese brown snake and a yellow noticed monitor, nonetheless, this was the primary time I witnessed a black-headed python consuming one other black-headed python.”
“Happily for me however not-so-fortunately for the python being consumed, it took round quarter-hour from after I first witnessed the preliminary constriction to the python ending its meal and returning to its burrow which was solely about 10 ft away. This gave me loads of time to get a digital camera and doc the occasion.”
Whereas the black-headed python has been noticed consuming its personal in captivity, a cannibalism occasion comparable to that witnessed by Inventory apparently is a uncommon occasion.
“Though cannibalism has been witnessed on this species in captivity and has been reported within the wild, getting pictures or footage of such an occasion within the wild is kind of uncommon and fortunate,” mentioned Dr. Helena Stokes, AWC Wildlife Ecologist.
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“Black-headed pythons favor to eat reptiles over mammals and are identified to eat bigger reptiles together with goannas, and even venomous snakes, so I’m not shocked that they might eat one other python if the chance arose,” Dr. Stokes mentioned. “By consuming different people, they’re additionally lowering competitors for sources within the space.”
The black-headed python is native to Australia and are discovered within the northern third of Australia, from east to west, together with the Northern Territories, northern lattitudes of Queensland and the northern third of Western Australia. An attractive snake, the black head is so title as a result of their head seems to be as if it has been dipped in black ink, whereas the remainder of the physique is usually freed from any black colorations. They develop to between 5 and 10 ft in size and may stay 20 to 30 years. They’re additionally extensively captive bred.
