The reticulated python is a huge, beautifully patterned constrictor of Southeast Asia. It is the longest snake on Earth and an important predator of rats and other mammals, often living close to people.
Interesting facts
- Its name comes from the net-like (‘reticulated’) pattern on its skin.
- It kills by constriction, squeezing until its prey’s blood flow stops.
- Heat-sensing pits along its lips help it find warm-blooded prey in the dark.
- It is an excellent swimmer and has reached remote islands by sea.
- Reticulated pythons live in cities such as Singapore and Bangkok, eating rats in drains.
- Hundreds of thousands of their skins are traded each year for leather.
Behaviour
Reticulated pythons are ambush hunters, waiting for hours or days for prey to pass. After a large meal, they may not eat for weeks or months. They are mostly nocturnal and often found near water.
Breeding and young
Females lay clutches of about 15–80 eggs and coil around them, shivering to keep them warm, until they hatch after about three months.
Threats and conservation
The species is widespread, but it is heavily harvested for the skin trade, meat and traditional medicine, and killed out of fear.
Where to see it
- Kinabatangan River night cruises, Sabah, Borneo
- Khao Sok National Park, Thailand
- Parks and nature reserves in Singapore
- Reptile houses at major zoos
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
