SoFlo's slithering super snake
What creature thrives in South Florida, can live more than 30 years, averages 20 feet in length (recorded to 30 feet), can weigh more than 200 pounds, eats nearly anything that flies, swims, crawls, or ruminates, and is meaner than a Marine Corps DI on Field Day inspection?
No, not your mother-in-law or Old Yeller at the end of the movie. It is the African Rock Python (Python sebae), also known as the Northern African Python.
And mind you, this is not your everyday Burmese Python (Python molarus bivittatus), often sold as pets. Oh, no -- the Burmese are made popular by their attractive coloration, pattern, and apparently easy-going nature.
The much more docile Burmese Python has already established itself and is being combated as an invasive specie in South Florida. The African Rock Python -- sort of like the pit bull of the python world -- has recently been found in the Everglades ecosystem as well, and is now feared by wildlife biologists to be establishing itself.
Super snake emergence
This January, during a three-day, state-coordinated hunt, at least five African Rock Python -- including one 14-foot-long female -- were netted in a targeted area of Miami-Dade County.
According to Florida environmental experts and officials at the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), there is a real concern that the African Rock Python could breed with the Burmese Python, which already has an established foothold in the Everglades. They contend that breeding could lead to a new "super snake."
"They are bigger and meaner than the Burmese python ... It is not good news," said Deborah Drum, deputy director for the SFWMD's restoration sciences department. Even more disturbing is that an African Rock Python will eat just about anything, from small mammals to alligators. There are recorded instances of the snake attacking children in its native habitat. For South Floridians, this trait is just a bit more disconcerting than having to contend with the occasional sand flea or love bug swarm.
The rock loves SoFlo
In Florida, although the African Rock Python has been introduced elsewhere by some drooling, block-headed yahoos in a few areas, it is currently known to
be established only in a localized area of Miami-Dade County.
This species has been found in and around undeveloped seasonally flooded wetlands, high-density Melaleuca trees, agricultural areas, small man-made canals and lakes, and -- of course -- South Florida's ubiquitous housing developments.
And lest we forget, African Rock Pythons are powerful constrictors, although they are not venomous -- that's good. However, their bites combine large and expandable mouths, powerful jaws, and rows of very sharp teeth that can cause severe lacerations and infection -- not so good.
Did we mention highly aggressive?
Livin' large
The largest male African Rock Python found in Florida was nabbed in the Everglades this year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. It was found in Bird Drive Basin in West Miami-Dade County and was 14 feet long, 140 pounds. Tiny, you say? Miniscule? Here's something to think about: The females actually grow larger than the males. And this was only the largest actually caught.
There's no telling what behemoths are lurking about out there, enjoying life, lollygagging in the Florida sun, engorging themselves on alligators, discarded refrigerators, or the odd Buick Electra.
Should you run across one of these beasties, do Florida native wildlife a favor by contacting your local animal control and your regional office of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
And march your children and pets straight indoors.
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