Ball Python- Python regius

Size- Ball pythons are the smallest of the African pythons and grow to 3-4 feet in length and weigh 800-1800 grams. The females are considerably larger than the males.

Life span- 20-30 years.

Diet- Small mammals.

Geographic range- They are native to the countries of West Africa.

Habitat- They inhabit grasslands, savannahs and sparsely wooded plains.

Reproduction- Females will lay 6-8 eggs in leaf litter and coil around them. They are able to generate heat by shivering their bodies and coiling and uncoiling around the eggs. They will continue to incubate for two months until the babies hatch. Upon hatching, they are miniature versions of the adults are self-sufficient. The incubation process is physically taxing upon the female. She will lose half of her body weight and will require 2-3 years to gain enough energy to breed again.

Special adaptations- Ball pythons have heat pits above their mouth which allows them to detect heat given off by their prey. They can determine how big and how far away the prey is.

Behavior- These pythons are referred to as 'ball' pythons due to their peculiar habit of coiling into a tight ball with their head and neck tucked into the middle of the coils. They exhibit this behavior when they feel threatened.