African rock python - afurikanishikihebi

...Next is the Amethyst Python P. amethistinus of New Guinea and northern Australia, which can reach a maximum of 8.6m, but usually it is 3-6m long and its body is not very thick. The next largest is the African Python P. sebae , which is distributed throughout Africa except the desert, and is 4-7.5m long, and the Indian Python P. molurus of India, Southeast Asia, and southern China, which is 3-6m long. Both species have beautiful markings and a thick body. The others are less than 4m long, and the Angola Python P. anchietae of southwestern Africa is only 1.5m long, and the ball python (royal python) P. regius of West Africa is also a small species, 1-1.8m long. When surprised, it curls up, but when bullied by humans, it becomes small enough to fit in the palm of the hand with its head inward. ...

*Some of the terminology that refers to "African python" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…次いでニューギニア，オーストラリア北部のアメジストニシキヘビP.amethistinusが最大8.6mに達するが，ふつうは全長3～6mで胴はあまり太くない。次に大きいのは砂漠を除くアフリカ全域に分布するアフリカニシキヘビP.sebaeで，全長4～7.5m，インド，東南アジア，中国南部のインドニシキヘビP.molurusが3～6mで，両種とも斑紋が美しく胴が太い。ほかは全長4m以下で，アフリカ南西部のアンゴラニシキヘビP.anchietaeは全長1.5mに過ぎず，西アフリカのボールニシキヘビ(ローヤルパイソン)P.regiusも1～1.8mの小型種で，おどろくとまるくなるが，人間にいじめられたりすると頭を中にして手のひらに乗るほど小さくなる。…

※「アフリカニシキヘビ」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報