Python natalensis Smith, 1840

Ceríaco, L. M. P., De Sá, S., Bandeira, S., Valério, H., Stanley, E. L., Kuhn, A. L., Marques, M. P., Vindum, J. V., Blackburn, D. C. & Bauer, A. M., 2016, Herpetological Survey of Iona National Park and Namibe Regional Natural Park, with a Synoptic List of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Namibe Province, Southwestern Angola, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 63 (2), pp. 15-61 : 40

SOUTHERN AFRICAN ROCK PYTHON – Fig. 18

Python natalensis Smith, 1840

MATERIAL.— Beginning of the forested areas, at the start of the climb to Leba Pass (by road), near Bruco village, 5 December 2013, 15º07ʹ15.82ʺS, 13º11ʹ11.56ʺE. Individual observed but not collected.

COMMENTS.— A local at a site near Bruco village was selling a single live individual of Python natalensis, presumably collected nearby. In the province, this species is known from Maconjo (Bocage 1895; Broadley 1984) and from Giraul River (Bocage 1896; Broadley 1984). Python natalensis was for many years considered as a subspecies of Python sebae (Gmelin, 1789) (Broadley 1984), but was elevated to specific status by Broadley (1999) based on morphological differences as well the evidence of the overlapping distributions (Broadley and Cotterill 2004). Although the current taxonomic arrangement appears appropriate, molecular analyses are needed to conclusively resolve the relationship between P. natalensis and P. sebae (Alexander 2007). Spawls and Branch (1995) and Bellosa et al. (2007) provided maps with the distribution ranges for both species, with P. natalensis occurring in central and southern Angola, as far north as the Kwanza River, overlaping in Luanda Province with P. sebae, which occurs in northern regions of Angola, including Cabinda. According to the local selling this individual, this species is sometimes collected for food or sold to tourists as pets.

Figures

FIGURE 18. Adult Southern Rock Python, Python natalensis (Gmelin, 1788), being sold by a local near Bruco village. Photo by Luis Ceríaco.