Snakes are fascinating slithering creatures, that can be intimidating, but you might be surprised to learn that some are total beginner pets.Quite small, nonvenomous, and interesting. This non venomous creature is an adorable cutie from Australia, without any fangs, that loves hiding and hunting at night.
Meet the Children’s Python
Children’s python (Antaresia childreni) is a non-venomous, nocturnal snake from northern Australia’s arid zones. Slim and reddish-brown with darker smears, it grows to a maximum size of 3-4 feet, and is one of the smallest pythons.Hatchlings are born with brighter colours but start fading till maturity. They hunt small mammals, birds, lizards by constriction, climbing trees or rocks. They are mainly ground dwellers but adapt to the surroundings when kept in enclosed spaces.
Children’s Python (photo via Wikimedia Commons)
Why is it called the ‘Children’s’ python?
There is a fun backstory behind its name. Back in 1842, a guy named John Edward Gray, a British zoologist, discovered this little Australian snake and named it Liasis childreni to honour his mentor and boss, John George Children.John worked as the curator at the British Museum’s zoology section in the 1840s, helping classify cool specimens like this one.The name stuck over time, even though it’s not about children at all! Later, scientists renamed the genus Antaresia after the bright star Antares, but “Children’s” stayed as the common nickname.
How long does it live?
Captive ones live 15-30 years with good care, with a maximum record of 25.7 years. They have a lesser lifespan in the wild due to predators and inconsistency of food.
Where is it found?
According to the IUCN Red List, children’s pythons live across northern Australia, from far northwest Western Australia, through the top third of the Northern Territory, to northern Queensland, plus Torres Strait islands. The Stimson’s type spreads even wider inland, from Queensland to Perth. They’re found in forests, open grasslands, deserts, shrubby areas, and wetlands.