Home › Reptilia › Pythonidae › Carpet Python (Morelia spilota)
SPECIES PROFILE
Carpet Python (Morelia spilota)
Morelia
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Reptilia
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Widespread across Australia, except arid interior
DIET
Carnivorous
HABITAT
Forests, woodlands, and urban areas
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Reptilia
ORDER
Squamata
FAMILY
Pythonidae
GENUS
Morelia
📋 Description
SIZE
Up to 4 meters long, typically 2-3 meters; 15 kg
COLORATION
Variable brown, yellow, black patterns with diamonds or blotches
ADAPTATIONS
Constrictor, strong coils and sharp teeth for prey
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Forests, woodlands, and urban areas
DIET
Carnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Widespread across Australia, except arid interior
REPRODUCTION
Lays 10-50 eggs, female coils around, incubates 60 days
DIET DETAILS
Eats mammals, birds, lizards, occasionally bats
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Habitat destruction, road mortality
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Tree Stalkers: Carpet pythons climb Lamington’s trees with prehensile tails, constricting possums with 10 psi force, consuming 5 kg monthly. Their heat-sensing pits ensure precise strikes, supporting millions in urban roofs despite road mortality.
2
Pattern Variants: Subspecies display unique diamond patterns, blending into Royal National Park’s canopy or Perth’s gardens, ambushing 20 birds yearly. This camouflage, paired with nocturnal habits, makes them stealthy predators, thriving in diverse habitats across Australia.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Lamington National Park in Queensland has O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat with trees and trails for python sightings
Royal National Park in New South Wales features Garie Beach area forest canopy for python sightings
Perth Hills in Western Australia near Mundaring offers woodlands and gardens for python sightings
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Join guided night walks to spot pythons coiled in trees or on rocks.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
September-March. Spring and summer increase python activity in forests for hunting.
