The Sumatran short-tailed python (Python curtus ) is a species of the family Pythonidae, a nonvenomous snake native to Sumatra.
The Sumatran short-tailed python is a heavily built nonvenomous snake native to Sumatra. Its tail is extremely short relative to the overall length. The color pattern consists of a beige, tan, or grayish-brown ground color overlaid with blotches that are brick- to blood-red in color.
Sumatran short-tailed pythons can be found in Sumatra, Riau Archipelago, Lingga Islands, Bangka Islands, Mentawai Islands and Kalimantan. They inhabit rainforests, plantations, marshes, swamps, and the vicinity of river banks and streams.
Sumatran short-tailed pythons are shy nocturnal creatures. They lead a solitary life and interact with each other only during the mating season.
Sumatran short-tailed pythons are carnivores. They prey on various mammals and birds.
Sumatran short-tailed pythons are oviparous or egg-laying snakes. Females usually lay up to 12 large eggs (however, much larger clutches have been reported). They remain coiled around the eggs during the incubation period, and if surrounding temperatures drop below 90 °F (32 °C) they may shiver to produce heat to warm their clutch. The hatchlings emerge after 2.5 to 3 months and are about 30 cm (12 in) in length.
The main threats to Sumatran short-tailed pythons include collection for the pet trade and habitat loss due to the expansion of agriculture. These snakes have also been extensively harvested for leather; an estimated 100,000 individuals are taken for this purpose each year.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Sumatran short-tailed python total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.
