Antaresia papuensis, the Papuan spotted python, is a species of small python native to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia. It can grow to lengths of up to 108 cm (43 in), with a maximum tail length of 9.5 cm (3.7 in). It forms a light stripe in the latter third of its body where there is insufficient space between patches or spots. It has smaller, widely dispersed spots as opposed to large, black patches like A. m. maculosa. Additionally, it seldom possesses prefrontal scales numbering two or three. Large aligned shields make up its head scales, and it has one substantial frontal scale, more or less hexagonal in shape. It also has a pair of internal scales. Around 10 to 12 supralabials are present as well as 10–14 infralabials. There are noticeable heat pits in four infralabial regions and 3-5 loreal scales of varying sizes are present. Smooth, rhombus shaped, and barely overlapping are the distinguishing characteristics of the dorsal scales.[1][2]

Antaresia papuensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Pythonidae
Genus: Antaresia
Species:
A. papuensis
Binomial name
Antaresia papuensis
Antaresia papuensis Esquerré, Donnellan, Pavón-Vázquez, Fenker & Keogh, 2021[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Antaresia papuensis". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  2. ^ Communications, c=AU; o=The State of Queensland; ou=Department of Environment and Science; ou=Corporate (2014-10-20). "Species profile | Environment, land and water". apps.des.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 2023-03-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)