African Rock Python
Scientific Name
Class
Order
Range
Habitat
Estimated Wild Population
More Information
Physical Description
African rock pythons, Africa’s largest snakes, can measure up to 25 feet long (10–15 feet is more typical) and are covered in brown, olive, and yellow blotches. These snakes have a triangle-shaped head marked with a brown spear-head shape outlined in yellow. Although they spend most of their time on the ground, they can also climb trees and swim. They are fairly solitary, only seeking other pythons to breed. Females lay 20–50 eggs at a time in nests made inside abandoned animal burrows, termite mounds, and caves.
Interesting Fact 1
African rock pythons hunt a variety of large animals, such as monkeys, fruit bats, monitor lizards, crocodiles, chickens, dogs, and goats.
Interesting Fact 2
Although these snakes are non-venomous, they can be defensive when threatened, biting with large, curved teeth and constricting with great force.
Interesting Fact 3
There are two common subspecies: the northern African rock python found from south of the Sahara to northern Angola, and the southern African rock python found from Kenya to the Cape of Good Hope.
Commitment to Care
Lincoln Park Zoo prioritizes individual well-being over everything else. Guided by scientific research, staff and volunteers work to provide the best welfare outcomes for each individual in the zoo’s care.
Support Your Zoo
Animals Depend On People Too
When you ADOPT an animal, you support world-class animal care by helping to provide specially formulated diets, new habitat elements, and regular veterinary checkups.
Wish List
The Wish List is full of one-of-a-kind items for the zoo’s animals, including nutritious snacks and enrichment items to keep them active and healthy.
Take Action With Us
Wildlife face many daunting challenges—some global, like planet-wide climate change, and some that affect individuals, like an animal ingesting plastic—but now is not the time to despair. None of these problems are too big for us to come together and solve.