New species of Blood Python found.

marvelfreak · 02-22-12, 04:16 PM

I came across this on another forum and just had to share. The link also as pictures of the new species.

Species New to Science: [Herpetology • 2011] Python kyaiktiyo • new Python from Burma (Myanmar): Short-tailed python (Reptilia: Squamata)

Caylan · 02-22-12, 08:54 PM

Looks like a brong crossed with a sarawak! Too bad they are found in Myanmar...

Trent · 02-22-12, 10:34 PM

Nice looking snake!

youngster · 02-22-12, 10:56 PM

Awesome. Love how we still haven't found nearly all the species of animal on Earth

**millertime89** · 02-22-12, 11:36 PM

very cool! I love reading the new studies.

CDN_Blood · 02-23-12, 06:13 AM

I think they'll eventually find that there was a brong or two which were displaced by a tropical storm and then mixed with something else to create these in that location.

Let that be a lesson for us Blood Python keepers out there - don't intergrade or hybridize your Bloods; the results are hideous!

Caylan · 02-23-12, 06:28 AM

Is it just me, is it oddly long and thin bodied for a blood? Its very similar to a burm shape!!!!
Then I looked at the head drawings a bit more... and more... Ummm is anyone else seeing what I'm seeing yet?

CDN_Blood · 02-23-12, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caylan

...
Then I looked at the head drawings a bit more... and more... Ummm is anyone else seeing what I'm seeing yet?

I thought the head scale drawings looks Reticish, but I've been playing mix-n-match with my meds lately to keep things interesting, so I could be a tad confused, but I *am* sure that zebra-patterened elephant I chased out of my yard this morning won't be back

Caylan · 02-23-12, 06:36 AM

So a little more research leads to the finding of them having 180 or more ventral scales. Man I'm itching for more info...!!

jdavy · 02-23-12, 07:15 AM

I *love* bloods, although my first impression of this one is not all that hot. I agree; to me it looks like an integrade gone wrong too.

I'll be interested to see what they find out as they do more research.

On the upside, it *is very* cool that we still find new species. We'll see if this actually turns out to be one or not.

Caylan · 02-23-12, 02:48 PM

Brongs have 167 ventral scales, breits and curtus have 165, this thing has 184, could easily be a burm hybrid long down the line... It was found with 6 eggs, assuming they hatch, I'd be interested in their ventral scale count... Regardless I like it, and would love to have one lol. Caylan.S.

**millertime89** · 02-23-12, 02:51 PM

I'm very interested to see what comes out of those eggs. Caylan can you keep this thread updated on that? I'll probably forget to check back.

Trent · 02-23-12, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caylan

Brongs have 167 ventral scales, breits and curtus have 165, this thing has 184, could easily be a burm hybrid long down the line... It was found with 6 eggs, assuming they hatch, I'd be interested in their ventral scale count... Regardless I like it, and would love to have one lol. Caylan.S.

I am with you on that one.

Caylan · 02-24-12, 12:07 AM

I'm all over this $h** don't you worry. Already tried contacting the Kevin and the Barkers for their info. They will have the inside scoop, here's hoping I can get in on it too.
I do have another theory which moreso derives from evolution, assuming all 4 species came from the same ancestor species, this could be one of the variations that hasn't fully evolved in the way the shorties we know have. Perhaps these snakes are closer related to the burmese python, but are still curtus complex because of what they ultimately evolved to look like. Essentially this would mean that all snakes may have came from a single species and are different variations adapted to their enviroment, so perhaps this is the the split from burm to blood, before they got incredibly short in their isolated areas they are normally found in. I can't explain it well, but think of how an Irian Jaya Carpet Python is soo much smaller then a coastal carpet python. These snakes are obviously related but each better suited their particular locality.
SO essentially this new python could be a missing genetic link between when they were longer snakes way back when... and the bloods we know now. We know burms and retics chose length as their adaptation, why wouldn't a blood in the same area choose the same? So many thoughts on this, I really want to know more.... I want to know it all lol! I just answered in another forum my dream job would be working in a zoo, scratch that, I still want to do field studies on things like this..... electrician here I come....

**millertime89** · 02-24-12, 01:30 AM

We actually discussed phylogenetic differentiation in my Geology class a week or two ago. It basically works like this, on the evolutionary tree, pythons and boas evolved seperately and diverged at some point with the majority of the boas ending up in the new world (the Americas) and the majority of pythons in the old world. A common ancestor (we'll call it Python A, or PA) evolved and eventually individuals split off and became specialized for certain niche environments and roles. Python molurus, bivittatus, curtus, regius, sebae, and natalensis all evolved into a heavier bodied snakes while the rest are more slender (except for timorensis and reticulatus when they reach massive proportions). As the world split apart the species became even more specialized at what they do. However some seem to have maintained some of the characteristics of their cousins. Like you said this python my be something of a missing link between bivittatus/molurus and curtus, just like it seems that timoriensis is the missing link between morelia (specifically amethystinia) and reticulatus and liasus (olive python) seems to be that link to leiopython (white lipped).

This is all just speculation because I'm honestly not sure as all of these evolved separately and I won't be surprised if the genus python is broken up. Its starting to happen as P. timoriensis and P. reticulatus have recently been put into their own genus (Broghammerus) although it is not universally accepted yet. This leaves only the heavier bodied pythons under that genus, molurus, bivittatus, sebae, natalensis, curtus, regius, and achietae. I would be surprised to see the 4 biggest split into their own genus, with achietae being changed to a subspecies of regius (based on what I've seen/read about them) and curtus going about its own way as well, with P. c. curtus, brongersmai, and breitensteini remaining species/subspecies and this new one as a seperate species.

Taxonomy is confusing.