Yesterday driving home came across this 12 foot python (African Rock Python?) in the middle of the road. With newly shed skin, it was moving slowly about, no doubt hungry & looking for lunch (which can last several weeks or months before another meal…..)
Beautiful reptiles, but nevertheless,in me at any rate stirring gut fear……
Notice the bright camouflage colours -these snakes swim, climb trees, come through the window into your bed………
Not sure what the nostrils are for: I thought snakes ‘smelt’ with their toungues. Certainly they cannot hear, so why could this one not ‘feel’ the car coming towards it?
Inching along using belly muscles……
Into cover, where it would again be practically invisible….
I think it spotted me……..time to leave!
2 Comments
Wow, these are amazing photos and what a stunning find. Funnily enough we were stroking a snake under controlled conditions at a reptile workshop with the kids.
Steve Irwin would have loved you. Such a shame you didn’t get to share your work, knowledge and pics with him. I know he would have a special message for you when he saw this snake:
She’s beaut, what a little ripper!
It is a rock python (Python sebae), the only indigenous large constrictor of the area.
The nostrils are for breathing. Snakes use their forked tongues for ‘stereo” smell.