![boa vs python difference image boa vs python difference image](https://petkeen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/viper-boa-perched-on-branch_lessysebastian_Shutterstock.jpg)
Southern African pythons do not have venom glands, but they can give a very nasty bite if threatened as a defence mechanism.
![boa vs python difference image boa vs python difference image](https://iv1.lisimg.com/image/2202305/463full-boa-vs.-python-screenshot.jpg)
It may also hiss from time to time, especially as a warning sign. When it flicks its tongue, it picks up pheromones that was left by its prey or other snakes and the Jacobson’s organ (also called vomeronasal organ), which is found in the mouth, will help the snake to smell and identify the location from which the odour/chemicals came from. Southern African python, like most snakes, flicks it forked tongue to detect chemicals/odours in its surroundings and to identify possible prey around it. They can be found in water and often dives into deep pools where they can remain for long periods with only the head sticking out. Southern African pythons are fairly widespread, and prefer habitats such as rocky outcrops, moist savanna regions and lowland forest. They have heats-sensitive pits on or between the lip scales, which help to detect infra-red radiation – in other words they allow the snake to see warm-blooded prey in the dark or even when blinded/hidden. It has a triangular head with an arrow-shaped mark on the crown, and a dark lines on each side of the head extending from just in front of the eyes (sometimes from the tip of the ‘nose’) to the broadest part of the head. Juvenile snakes are more brightly marked. The body scales are very small and smooth. The underside is white to dirty white with dark blotches. They are dark brown in colour with grey-brown blotches and dark speckling all over the body. Further north in Africa, they can grow up to 6 m in length, but it is very rare to find such large pythons these days. The males can weigh up to 44 kg and reach up to 4.25 m in length whereas the females can weigh up to 55 kg and reach 5.0 m in length. Python natalensis, which is commonly known as the southern African python, is a very solid and heavily built snake.
![boa vs python difference image boa vs python difference image](https://discoveranimal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2020-03-30-at-5.58.55-PM-1200x720.png)
#BOA VS PYTHON DIFFERENCE IMAGE SKIN#
The striking patterns and colours of it skin attract many people hence it used to make bags, shoes, belts and many other human accessories. A lot of legends and myths are told about this snake in most African cultures. Growing up to ± 5 m, the southern African python is the largest snake in southern Africa. The genus name, python, is a Greek word referring to the large serpent ‘Delphi’, slain by Apollo in Greek mythology natalensis refers to the South African province, KwaZulu-Natal.Ĭommon names Southern African python, rock python, African rock python (Eng.) Suider-Afrikaanse luislang (Afr.) inhlwathi (isiZulu) intlwathi (isiXhosa) nhlarhu (Xitsonga).