Pythons are non-ᴠᴇɴᴏᴍᴏᴜs snakes that can be found in Asia, Africa, and Aᴜsᴛʀᴀʟɪᴀ. They are regarded as Old World snakes because they are not native to North or South America. The Reptile Database lists 41 different species of python in the family Pythonidae. Although both pythons and boas are large constrictors, they are from separate families.

Pythons prefer to live in warm, humid regions. Although many species thrive in rainforests, pythons also inhabit meadows, woodlands, swamps, rocky outcrops, dunes, and shrubs. Depending on the species, pythons find shelter in tree branches, hollows in rocks, abandoned mammal burrows, and under boulders. Since people have created habitats for them, pythons are accustomed to hiding out in farmland and urban waste.

Pythons are non-ᴠᴇɴᴏᴍᴏᴜs ambush predators. Some species can swim, and they may float in shallow water as they wait for prey to approach the water body.

Depending on their size, pythons consume varied foods. Rodents, lizards, and small birds make up the majority of the diet of small pythons like the anthill python. Greater pythons consume large mammals like pigs, wallabies, antelope, and monkeys. Pythons ᴋɪʟʟ their prey by constriction after grabbing it in their long fangs.

Let’s watch massive python constrict and swallow a gazelle in the video below: