Although the snake is not endangered, it does face threats from habitat reduction and hunting.Įunectes notaeus (common names: yellow anaconda, Paraguayan anaconda) is a nonvenomous boa species found in South America. The snake is widely feared even though it only very rarely kills humans. Unlike most snakes, the female will protect her nest and sometimes even her hatchlings. The African rock python kills its prey by constriction and often eats animals up to the size of antelope, occasionally even crocodiles.
The snake is found in a variety of habitats, from forests to near deserts, although usually near sources of water. It has dual lungs and vestigial hind limbs, which show it is less advanced in evolution than other snakes.
The animal has a pattern of colored blotches on its body. The southern subspecies is generally smaller than its northern relative. Weights are reportedly in the range of 44 to 55 kg (97 to 121 lb), per one study adults are expected to weigh only up to 32.2 kg (71 lb). Reports of specimens over 6 m (19 ft 8 in) are considered reliable, although larger specimens have never been confirmed.
Africa's largest snake species and one of the world's largest, the typical African rock python adult measures 3 to 3.53 m (9 ft 10 in to 11 ft 7 in) in total length (including tail), with only unusually large specimens likely to exceed 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in). It has two subspecies: one found in Central and Western Africa, the other in Southern Africa. The African rock python is one of seven species in the genus Python. Python sebae, commonly known as the African rock python, is a large, nonvenomous snake of Sub-Saharan Africa.