Ball Pythons (Python regius)

The Ball Python is a nonvenomous constrictor snake native to sub-Saharan Africa's savannas, grasslands, and lightly forested areas. It rolls into a tight ball when it feels threatened, hence its name.

The snake is typically 3.5 to 6 feet long with a large head compared to its slender neck. We can recognize it by its shiny and smooth skin, white belly, and mottled brown and dark brown pattern.

It is most active at dawn and dusk, hunting using heat-sensing pits on its lips to detect warm-blooded prey. The Ball Python is a solitary creature, only seeking out company during the breeding season.

Its mild temperament has made it the most famous snake pet and the second most popular exotic pet3. Sadly, this fame could lead to the excessive capture of wild snakes, causing significant damage to the species’ wild population.