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Central African rock python (up to 16.5 feet)

Central African rock pythons are Africa's largest snake, reaching lengths of 16.5 feet.

(Image credit: Michele D'Amico/Getty Images)

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The Central African rock python (Python sebae) is a species of large snake in the family Pythonidae and one of the 10 living species in the genus Python, which is native throughout almost the whole of sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal east to Ethiopia and Somalia and south to Namibia and South Africa and have become invasive in the florida everglades. Here they are found throughout a wide variety of habitats including including forest, wetlands, savanna, grassland, semidesert, and rocky areas. It is particularly associated with areas of permanent water, and is found on the edges of swamps, lakes, and rivers. They are a generally solitary non venomous species of constrictor which is known to feed upon fish, rodents, birds, monkeys, antelopes, bats, lizards, crocodiles, dogs, goats, sheep, pigs, jackals, hyenas, & big cats. On average Central African rock pythons reach around 9.8 to 16.4ft (3 to 5m) in length and 97 to 121 pounds (44 to 55kg) in weight, however individuals reaching up to 24.6ft (7.5m) and 214lbs (97kg) are not unheard of. African rock pythons have a relatively small, triangular head that is covered in irregular scales that are typically blackish to brownish-gray in color. The body is yellowish, gray-brown, or gray-green, with dark blotches that form a staircase-like pattern on the back. Belly scales are a white color with black specks producing a salt-and-peppery pattern. Mating occurs in the spring after which time the mother climbs inside an old animal burrow, termite mound, or cave and lay 20 to 100 hard-shelled, elongated eggs. The female shows a surprising level of maternal care not typical for snakes, coiling around the eggs, protecting them from predators, and possibly helping to incubate them, until they hatch around 90 days later. She then spends up to 2 weeks protecting and caring for the hatchlings. Under ideal conditions a central African rock python will reach sexual maturity at 3 to 5 years and live up to 30.