Carpet Python (Morelia Spilota spp.)

The Carpet Python (*Morelia Spilota spp.*) is a large snake species (length can exceed 3m) of the family Pythonidae found in Australia, New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea), Bismarck Archipelago, and the northern Solomon Islands. They have a triangular head with a conspicuous row of thermoreceptive labial pits lining the lower jaw. Carpet pythons are extremely variable in colour and pattern. Most specimens are olive green, with pale, dark-edged blotches, stripes or cross-bands.  The juveniles are similarly patterned, but often in shades of brown rather than olive green.

The species is semiarboreal (spending part of their time in trees), and largely nocturnal. They are often seen climbing trees and shrubs, and crossing open areas such as roads, rock faces, and forest floors. Basking behaviour is commonly observed.

The species is non-venomous, and adult carpet pythons tend to have a relaxed temperament and are unlikely to strike unless provoked.

Carpet pythons are extremely diverse in appearance and geographical races or subspecies are recognised:
- *Morelia spilota spilota* - **Diamond Python** - eastern New South Wales and north-eastern Victoria;
- *M. bredli* - **Centralian python** (*no longer considered a carpet python*) - central Australia;
- *M. s. mcdowelli* - **Coastal carpet python** - north-eastern New South Wales and eastern Queensland;
- *M. s. cheynei* - **Jungle carpet python** - Wet Tropics area of north-eastern Queensland;
- *M. s. metcalfei* - **Murray-Darling (Inland) carpet python** - Murray/Darling drainage;
- *M. s. imbricata* - **Southern carpet python** - southern Western Australia;
- *M. s. variegata* - **Darwin carpet python** - northern Northern Territory and Western Australia.