South African Rock Python

Afrikaans name: Suider-Afrika Luislang

South African Rock Python

Photo © Lars Lachmann - Fotolia.com

Python sebae natalensis

The South African Rock Python is a sub-species of the African Rock Python. Rock Pythons are the largest snakes in Africa and may grow to a length of 6 metres, but the subspecies found in South Africa tend to grow to around 4 metres or so.

These large snakes can be found in a wide variety of habitats from forest through to grass land to semi-desert. They do prefer areas with permanent water and are particularly common in marshy areas.

Although the South African Rock Python is not venomenous they can inflict a nasty bite.

They catch a wide variety of prey including rats, monkeys, antelope and Nile Crocodiles. They grip their prey in their fangs and then wrap their powerful body around the prey constricting them until they die.

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References and further reading

A Field Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa - Author: V.F.M. Fitzsimmons - Year Published: 1970 - Page: 75

A Guide to the Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: Graham Alexander and Johan Marais - Year Published: 2007 - Page: 61

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 121

Bill Branch's Field Guide to the Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: Bill Branch - Year Published: 1988 - Page: 51

Kruger National Park Map - 2010 - Author: Joy Frandsen - Year Published: 2010 - Page: 10

Kruger National Park Questions and Answers - Author: P.F. Fourie - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 354

Questions and Answers - Snakes and Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: John Comrie-Greig - Year Published: 1992 - Page: 9

Questions and Answers - Snakes and Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: John Comrie-Greig - Year Published: 1992 - Page: 26

Questions and Answers - Snakes and Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: John Comrie-Greig - Year Published: 1992 - Page: 31

Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of Southern Africa - 2nd edi - Author: Editor - Alan Duggan - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 406

Reptiles & Amphibians of Southern Africa - Author: Warren Schmidt - Year Published: 2006 - Page: 16

Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: Rod Patterson and Anothony Bannister - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 67

Sasol First Field Guide to Snakes & other Reptiles of Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Tracey Hawthorne - Year Published: 2016 - Page: 17

Snakes of Africa - Author: R.M. Isemonger - Year Published: 1983 - Page: 134

The Reptiles of the Kruger National Park - Author: U. de V. Pienaar, WD Haacke and NHG Jacobsen - Year Published: 1983 - Page: 136

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 252