Wheatbelt Stimson Python (Antaresia stimsoni)
Found throughout most of Australia
Stimson's pythons are remarkably adaptable and occupy a varied array of habitats. They are commonly found in rocky out crops, sclerophyll woodlands and also inhabit termite mounds even those found in some of the harshest deserts
Although considered by most to be generally terrestrial, they do climb and are often found high up on ledges of caves where they prey on small bats
The Stimson’s python is a relatively small python in comparison with other Australian python species and shares the same genus as the world’s smallest python, the Pygmy python found in Western Australia
Although a lot larger than the pygmy python, it is hard to accurately determine an average size of this python because among these geographically spread morphs, there are obvious size differences. Generally speaking though, an adult Stimson's python size ranges between 1 ½ feet to 3 feet
The Stimson’s natural distribution range would probably be the largest distribution range of any Australian python. Within this huge distribution range there are several recognized morphs. These morphs were probably the result of environmental differences e.g. habitat, prey and climate differences, over thousands of years
One of the more distinguishing features on the Stimson python is a line or stripe of base color that runs laterally down each side of its neck and often up to a third of its total body length
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