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USGS · 70048450

Record length, mass, and clutch size in the nonindigenous Burmese Python, Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae), in Florida

Kenneth L. Krysko·Kristen M. Hart·Brian J. Smith·Thomas H. Selby·Michael S. Cherkiss·Nicholas T. Coutu·Rebecca M. Reichart·Leroy P. Nuñez·Frank J. Mazzotti·Ray W. Snow
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Abstract

The Burmese Python, Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae), is indigenous to northern India,east to southern China, and south to Vietnam and a few islands in Indonesia (Barker and Barker 2008, Reed and Rodda 2009). This species has been introduced since at least 1979 in southern Florida, USA, where it likely began reproducing and became established during the 1980s (Meshaka et al. 2000, Snowet al. 2007b,Kraus 2009, Krysko et al. 2011, Willson et al. 2011). Python bivittatus has been documented in Florida consuming a variety of mammals and birds, and the American Alligator(Alligator mississippiensis) (Snowet al. 2007a, 2007b; Harvey et al. 2008; Rochford et al. 2010b; Holbrook and Chesnes 2011), many of which are protected species. Herein, we provide details on two of the largest known wild P. bivittatus in Florida to date, including current records on length,mass,clutch size, and diet.

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Reptiles & AmphibiansArticle
90° N90° S · 180° W ← longitude → 180° E
Source-reported bounding extent: 24.52° to 31.001° latitude; -87.63° to -80.03° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Kenneth L. Krysko, Kristen M. Hart, Brian J. Smith, Thomas H. Selby, Michael S. Cherkiss, Nicholas T. Coutu, Rebecca M. Reichart, Leroy P. Nuñez, Frank J. Mazzotti, Ray W. Snow. 2012. Record length, mass, and clutch size in the nonindigenous Burmese Python, Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae), in Florida. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70048450

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Native to southeastern Asia, the Burmese Python (Python bivittatus Kuhl 1820) is an invasive species established in southern Florida (Snow et al. 2007; Krysko et al. 2016; Krysko et al. 2019). Pythons are documented as having negative effects on the Greater Everglades Ecosystem and they have proven to be a complex problem for managers trying to control populations (Guzy et al. 2023). This species can move long distances (Pittman et al. 2014; Hart et al. 2015), use diverse habitats (Hart et al. 2015; Walters et al. 2016; Bartoszek et al. 2021a), consume a wide range of vertebrate prey items (Romagosa et al. 2022; Guzy et al. 2023 and citations therein), and has few documented predators (Bartoszek et al. 2021b; Mccollister et al. 2021; Currylow et al. 2023). Another factor that likely has contributed to the success of Burmese Pythons as an invasive species is their reproductive output (Reed et al. 2012). Though data are limited, clutch sizes of pythons in Florida range from 22–84 (mean = 49; see Currylow et al. 2022a and citations therein). Herein we report, to the best of our knowledge, the largest number of eggs in a single wild python nest recorded to date in Florida.

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