African Burrowing Python
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The CITES Nomenclature Committee does not adopt Kluge’s proposal because it seems to cause more misun- Table I. derstanding than understanding. Zoogeographically Common names of Calabaria reinhardtii. speaking, it is rather strange to have a genus distributed English Calabar python, Calabar ground python, only in California and West Africa (HOOGMOED, West African ground python, burrowing 2003). python, West African burrowing python, Finally, an interesting phylogenetic study based on two-headed python the sequence of portions of two mitochondrial genes (12S and 16S ribosomal RNA) has demonstrated that Spanish Pitón de Calabar, Pitón ciega Calabaria could be more closely related to the uro- French Calabare de Reinhardt, Calabaria de peltid genus Rhinophis than to either boa or python Reinhardt genera (HEISE et al., 1995). This suggests that the Dutch Aardpython family Boidae needs a thorough overall revision includ- German Erdpython ing molecular analysis. It is evident that the possible relationship between the African burrowing python Italian Calabaria, pitone di Calabar and the subfamily Erycinae remains to be demonstrat- ed, and most scientists therefore prefer to maintain the there is some variation, and the more northern areas of old system. the range are generally drier than the coastal areas. Most imported African burrowing pythons come from Distribution, habitat, and climate Togo and Benin. It is therefore useful to know that in The African burrowing python is present in western northern Benin the main wet season is between June tropical Africa, where it is widespread across the and October, whereas in the south there are two wet Liberia-Congo rainforest belt. It is found in Sierra seasons: early April to mid-July, and mid-September to Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, late October. In the north, the temperature can reach Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, 46°C (115°F); in the south, it stays between 18 and 35°C Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Congo, and the (64–95°F). Throughout the country, the hottest months Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire). are March to June. Similarly, in Togo, the wet season is It inhabits the leaf-covered ground of tropical rain- from May to October, with a dry interlude in the south forests and overgrown cultivated areas with dense between mid-July and mid-September. The hottest African Burrowing Python undergrowth. In a recent study in southeastern Nigeria, period in Togo is from mid-February to mid-April. ANGELICI et al. (2000) found Calabaria mainly in Calabaria reinhardtii (Schlegel, 1851) is com- such that it surprisingly resembles the tail. The eyes are thick forest, swamp forest, and also in clearings and cul- Little-known biology monly called the African burrowing python. small with vertical pupils, and have the same brown tivated areas, especially during the wet season — it bur- Many aspects of the biology of Calabaria reinhardtii Other names are frequently used as well (see colour as the surrounding scales. The small mouth, not rows into decaying leaves and soil, and also inhabits the are still little known. This subterranean species is shy Table 1), most of them also incorporating the suited to large prey, is inconspicuous. There are no burrows of small mammals, seeming to prefer more and elusive, and mostly nocturnal. It burrows under the word “python.” However, the relationship of heat-sensitive pits. The scales are glossy and smooth, superficial rather than deep underground galleries. The moist soil, humus, and leaves, where it likes to hide. this species to others of the subfamily Pythoninae is cur- and a projecting rostral area aids in burrowing. The tail same study demonstrated that the African burrowing These factors make it difficult to study the behaviour of rently disputed among herpetologists, as will be discussed is blunt and very short. The dorsum and flanks are python often takes shelter in termite nests, especially the African burrowing python. Nonetheless recent later in this article. blackish-brown, brown, or reddish-brown, with lighter, near forested areas and during the dry season. It is also research has probed into many aspects of this snake’s In Nigeria, the Efik people, predominant ethnic group reddish or yellowish flecks and irregular blotches; the found climbing among small bushes and fallen branches. mysterious biology. in the southeastern region of the country, call this snake head and tail are generally darker. The belly is grey or The climate in the range of Calabaria is characterized In southeastern Nigeria, ANGELICI et al. (2000) iwod iba. In pidgin English it is called “snake with two brown, and may have some brown blotches. The by alternating wet and dry seasons, with a correspond- used radiotracking to study the African burrowing heads,” or sometimes “rainbow snake” (LUISELLI, pers. African burrowing python can reach a maximum of ing but less notable variation of temperature. python, and found the snakes below ground in more comm.). In Cameroon, this strange snake is well known, 80–100 centimetres. Generally, the dry season is from November through than 80% of locations, during both dry and wet seasons. and some people believe it causes young women to April, and the rainy season from May through October. The mean daily movement rate appears to be higher in become pregnant. Taxonomy Temperatures rise from October to February, and males than in females, without evident seasonal change. The genus name Calabaria derives from Calabar, a town Calabaria is a monotypic genus whose taxonomic posi- remain at their highest from March to May. Naturally These first examined biological aspects suggest an with an active port near where the Calabar River enters tion is currently unresolved. KLUGE (1993) proposed a the Cross River estuary in southeastern Nigeria, and cur- taxonomic review of Calabaria reinhardtii. He believes Table II. Relationships between reproductive activities and seasons of the year. rently the capital of Cross River State. Historically, Old it is more closely related to members of the subfamily Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Calabar was an important trading state and one of the Erycinae, the sand boas, and should be assigned to the country’s earliest contacts with Europeans, growing dur- genus Charina — thus becoming Charina reinhardtii, Wet season ing the 19th century as a hub of the palm oil trade. the African burrowing “boa.” But other herpetologists Dry season think that many of the characteristics this snake shares Description with the Erycinae could be simply adaptations to a simi- Mate The African burrowing python is an unusual snake with lar subterranean lifestyle, and therefore the genus name Eggs Laid a cylindrical body, head, and tail, all of fairly uniform Calabaria should be retained. In fact, Kluge’s system has Hatch diameter. The head is small and not set off from the body, been followed only by McDIARMID et al. (1999). REPTILIA 66 REPTILIA 67 ground. Then it lifts its tail and swings it slightly to Feeding item, the snake is stimulated to eat others when they are mimic the head. Many white scales are often present on As already mentioned, the African burrowing python gently pressed against its body; the python tries to con- the tail, which could help attract attention to the false feeds on small mammals, especially rodents. Wild- strict or press them at once, and then eats all of them. If head. The other defence technique is called “balling,” in caught Calabaria, especially when already adult, may the python is healthy and adapts well to captivity, it which the python coils itself into a tight ball when not readily accept food in the beginning. The keeper quickly becomes a prodigious eater. Females often threatened, often keeping its head in the centre and its must be patient, and try repeatedly. The best choice of seem to be more voracious than males. tail exposed (this behaviour is also seen in other snakes food is rat pinkies and mouse fuzzies, before their eyes such as Python regius). In any case, the African bur- open and they become too jumpy. Prey can be offered Breeding rowing python is quite docile, and never tries to bite or either alive or pre-killed; sometimes the latter method Recent data indicates that wild Calabaria generally hiss when handled or disturbed. works best at first. have a biennial breeding frequency (LUISELLI et al., Not a typical constrictor, this species kills prey by 2002), although there are observations that demon- Terrarium pressing it against the floor or sides of the cage; it is not strate an annual breeding cycle, especially in captivity. The African burrowing python is not a common ter- able to compress prey within its coils as well as other Captive-born Calabaria reinhardtii are rare, and almost rarium subject, and unfortunately the specimens avail- constrictors can. This unusual behaviour has also been always cases where females were already gravid when able on the market are almost always wild-caught. noted by LOMAN (2003) in a wild-caught Calabaria wild-caught. Calabaria reinhardtii. Photo: P. Martínez Carrión Captive-bred specimens are still very rare. Imported found 10–20 kilometres north of Kribi (Cameroon) in The main limiting factors in captive reproduction interseasonal ecological homogeneity that could be snakes should therefore be carefully checked for the November 1974. It was collected and kept in captivity have been the incubation of eggs and the body weight of interpreted as an evolutionary response to the relative usual external and internal parasites. for some years. During feeding, it tried to squeeze the females. Females seem to require a longer acclima- year-round stability of habitat conditions. Although this snake is considered relatively easy to small mice (sometimes several at once) against the ter- tion period than males do, probably because of the In another study on the ecology of Calabaria, keep, it is important that the Calabaria terrarium repro- rarium wall before coiling around them.