Aussie Pythons and Snakes

ad · #1 07-Jun-04, 10:12 PM

I have just been talking to Dave Mackintosh from Pilbara Pythons.
Dave and Adrien Hogg have for quite some time considered aspidites to have 1 or more heat sensing pits.
Dave confirmed a banana shaped heat sensor is located underneath the rostral scale in aspidites.
Reasearch is continuing.
This is a major breakthrough for this species thought to be the only australian pythons not to have heat sensor pits.

NoOne · #2 07-Jun-04, 10:16 PM

Serious!

It can't be easily visable?

#3 07-Jun-04, 10:18 PM

whats the common name for aspidites?

hugsta · #4 07-Jun-04, 10:21 PM

aspidites ramsayi- woma python
aspitides melanacephalos (not sure if speeling is correct) - blackheaded python

sxereturn · #5 07-Jun-04, 10:23 PM

So what hey are saying is that it is an internal sensor?

#6 07-Jun-04, 10:23 PM

Ah. true!!

ad · #7 07-Jun-04, 10:32 PM

NoOne · #8 07-Jun-04, 10:37 PM

I've noticed that before, didn't think anything of it.

instar · #9 07-Jun-04, 11:48 PM

Thats intresting stuff indeed. maybe its covered with rostrum scale because it dosent get as much use as other species. I.e. There diurnal arnt they? If so they'd be more sight/movement orientated, not seeking food in darkness when its cooler?? just a thought.
On the other hand i might be way off, might be because their natural diet (atleast bhp's) are other snakes (not as much radient body heat as mammalian prey???

westaussie · #10 07-Jun-04, 11:56 PM

Aspidites are mostly nocturnal, inny.

#11 07-Jun-04, 11:57 PM

BHP's still would accept rats and other rodents wouldn't they. i mean can u iimagine if u actually had to feel it snakes. that would b soooooooo bad.

Fuscus · #12 08-Jun-04, 12:03 AM

Interesting - they were considered a "primative" python because they lacked a heat sensor.
Libby - BHPs in the wild tend to feed on reptiles in the wild but mammal prey is acceptable.

instar · #13 08-Jun-04, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westaussie

Aspidites are mostly nocturnal, inny.

LOL, what do you know, atleast i was right about being way off. lol I really had the impression they were diurnal, maybe im thinking of another species. thanks for that tidbit.

ad · #14 08-Jun-04, 08:37 AM

Amazing discovery indeed, I will be very interested to see what America and Europe think of the news!

ad · #15 08-Jun-04, 10:00 AM

Update. My pic of the woma was wrong - my bad interpretation,

here is a pic of a bhp showing it clearly.

http://www.aussiepythons.com/modules...view_photo.php