The champion

Hello everyone!

This is Sam from the Herpetology Department.  Today I would like to dive into the python world with you to talk about one that truly is a champion among pythons! They are called Boelen’s pythons, or Simalia boeleni. 

Discovered in 1953, this amazing species naturally resides in the highland mountains that run through central New Guinea. This quiet area is very remote and isolated from much of the human population, causing this species to still be quite a mystery today! Because of the lack of data on population, reproduction in the wild, etc., they have not been officially marked as an endangered species. However, this snake is highly revered by local tribes and is often protected from poaching on the eastern end of their natural range.

This unique species is generally terrestrial and is most active during the day. They have been seen eating a variety of foods, including but not limited to cuscus (a type of marsupial), rodents, bats, lizards, and frogs. They grow an average length of 8 feet, but some individuals have been seen as long as 14 feet! That is a lot of snake! We know that in human care, these snakes can live an average of 20 years. The females typically lay a clutch of eggs between four to 15 in number. She will coil over the eggs, protecting them until they hatch. Hatchlings are noted to be an average of 2 feet in length right out of the egg! Some locals call Boelen’s pythons by names like “Blue Moran” or “Papa Graun.” It is easy to see why once you see one for the first time. These beautiful creatures go through an ontogenic color shift, which basically means their color changes as they mature. They are reddish orange/red colored when they hatch out of their eggs and change to black at maturity. Their bellies are typically a white or pale yellow, with streaks of the same color marking up the sides of their muscular body length. The backs of these snakes are a dark purplish-bluish black color with iridescent scales that look like an oil sheen!

All in all, these snakes are stunning to behold and leave a lasting impression on anyone who sees one.

Here at Zoo Atlanta, we have a female Boelen’s we are lucky enough to show to the community! On your next visit, be sure to stop in Scaly Slimy Spectacular and see if you can spot her! Remember, she is a shy snake, so she won’t make the hunt very easy!

Sam G.
Senior Keeper, Herpetology