Species Aspidites melanocephalus (Krefft, 1864)
Black-headed Python
- Aspidiotes melanocephalus Krefft, G. 1864. Description of Aspidiotes melanocephalus, a new snake from Port Denison, N.E. Australia. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1864: 20-22 [20].
Type data:
Holotype BMNH 1946.1.8.2, Bowen (as Port Denison), QLD. - Aspidites melanocephalus adelynensis Hoser, R. 2000. A revision of the Australasian pythons. Ophidia Review 1: 7-27 [9].
Type data:
Holotype WAM 51208, Wyndham, WA [15°28S 128°07'E]. - Aspidites melanocephalus davieii Hoser, R. 2000. A revision of the Australasian pythons. Ophidia Review 1: 7-27 [9].
Type data:
Holotype WAM 46170, Tom Price, WA [22°39'S 117°40'E].
Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy
- Schleip, W.D. & O'Shea, M. 2010. Annotated checklist of the recent and extinct pythons (Serpentes, Pythonidae), with notes on nomenclature, taxonomy, and distribution. ZooKeys 66(29-79)
Generic Combinations
- Aspidites melanocephalus (Krefft, 1864).
Distribution
States
Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia
Extra Distribution Information
Australian Endemic.
IBRA
NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Desert Uplands (DEU), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Northern Kimberley (NK), Ord Victoria Plain (OVP), Pine Creek (PCK), Pilbara (PIL), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)
Ecological Descriptors
Closed forest, nocturnal, open forest, oviparous, predator, tall shrubland, terrestrial, woodland.
Extra Ecological Information
Lacertiphagous, ophiophagous, constrictor.
General References
Smith, L.A. 1981. A revision of the python genera Aspidites and Python (Serpentes: Boidae) in Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 9: 211-226 (taxonomy)
Stull, O.G. 1935. A checklist of the family Boidae. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History 40: 387-408 (taxonomy)
Common Name References
CAVS 2006. Census of Australian Vertebrate Species. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Black-headed Python)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07-Feb-2024 | 22-Aug-2013 | MODIFIED | ||
| 08-Mar-2011 | 08-Mar-2011 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |