Notes on the natural history of the carpet python (Morelia spilota) at the northern tip of Australia

As part of a broader study, we gathered data on the natural history of carpet pythons (Morelia spilota) from the Lockerbie Scrub in Cape York. Between 2013 and 2016, we detected 37 carpet pythons during nocturnal road surveys across 28.8 km of woodland and rainforest. All specimens were in woodland, unlike rainforest-dwelling carpet pythons in the Atherton Tablelands. Our sample was dominated by small individuals. The only prey recorded were two rodents, and sizes at maturation and maximum body sizes (larger in males than females, especially for body mass) were similar to those of New Guinea populations of this species.

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Publication Details

Journal
Australian Journal of Zoology
Published
2026-10-08
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1071/zo26034
Primary Topic
Amphibian and Reptile Biology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Notes on the natural history of the carpet python (Morelia spilota) at the northern tip of Australia

Richard Shine, Jessica Ann Lyons, Daniel J. D. Natusch
Australian Journal of Zoology
Amphibian and Reptile Biology
article

Notes on the natural history of the carpet python (Morelia spilota) at the northern tip of Australia

Richard Shine, Jessica Ann Lyons, Daniel J. D. Natusch
article en

Abstract

As part of a broader study, we gathered data on the natural history of carpet pythons (Morelia spilota) from the Lockerbie Scrub in Cape York. Between 2013 and 2016, we detected 37 carpet pythons during nocturnal road surveys across 28.8 km of woodland and rainforest. All specimens were in woodland, unlike rainforest-dwelling carpet pythons in the Atherton Tablelands. Our sample was dominated by small individuals. The only prey recorded were two rodents, and sizes at maturation and maximum body sizes (larger in males than females, especially for body mass) were similar to those of New Guinea populations of this species.

Australian Journal of ZoologyVol. 74(5)
Macquarie University (AU)
Openalex Percentile: Top 15%
Amphibian and Reptile Biology
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