澄靜齋

Children’s Python
Antarisia childreni

When I worked for GFH 50mins driving from Katherine NT, I did hand-weeding. One day my co-worker, Jae-Yu(김남형) ,yelled, so Jay(Sa, Jae-Ming) and I ran to have a look. Then we realized he found a snake. This snake look like olive-brown, with some reddish-brown stripe. But it hid its head under grass, so I picked it and placed it beside the grass. Then we can see its head. Jay took some pictures with his mobile phone. When I saw its head, I guessed it might be a python without poison. And it’s eyes were quite white, I might start to cast off its skin. Its length was 60~70 cm probably. We had to keep working, so I move it to the bush beside the plantation. Supervisors Jay(Sa, Jae-Ming) and Ben (Kim, Jae-Ming) threw some branches and rocks to kill this snake, maybe they just want to protect their workers. But I thought they didn’t success, because they stood a little far from this snake, and this snake was not big for a target. This snake is my first snake I saw in Australia this year. I was happy whole day for this watching.
After back to town, I went to newsagency to find what kind of snake it is. It’s a Children’s python! I was right. It’s not poisonous. But I interested in its name. Why is it called “ Children’s ”? Can it be children’s pets? Anyway ,it’s my first Australian snake in 2013.

29th Nov 2013

 This snake was found beside drip hoes.  (photo by Sa, Jae-Ming)

 It’s hiding in the grass.   (photo by Sa, Jae-Ming)

I placed it out off grass.   (photo by Sa, Jae-Ming)

Children’s python was going my boots.   (photo by Sa, Jae-Ming)

I picked it up and moved it to bush.    (photo by Sa, Jae-Ming)

It’s typical snake defending poise.   (photo by Sa, Jae-Ming)

If you close to it, it will attack you very quickly.   (photo by Sa, Jae-Ming)

DATA of Children’s Python
Antarisia childreni is one of four species of Antaresia, a genus of the family Pythonidae named after the star Antares. John Edward Gray described this species as Liasis childreni in 1842. The species name is in honour of Gray's mentor, John George Children, not because they are particularly suitable for kids. No subspecies are currently recognized. Some species of the genus Altaresia were formerly assigned to the genus Morelia.

Science Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:   Chordata
Class:     Reptilia
Order:     Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family:    Pythonidae
Genus:    Antaresia
Species:  A. childreni