Species: Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus)
Name of Locality : Ternate Island Dwarf Reticulated Python
Description: Ternate Island reticulated pythons are found on the island of Ternate in Indonesia. Mature adult snakes from this locality usually grow to between 8 and 14 feet, a range generally accepted within the Retic community as being medium sized, or dwarf. Ternate Island reticulated pythons look very different than the animals found in the South Sulawesi Island chain, displaying a rich dark color palette with intricate shading often found in the dorsal pattern.
Disagreement or Controversy: Some people do not consider Ternates to be dwarf pythons because they are see the word dwarf, which is a marketing term, as only being applicable to the retics found near the South Sulawesi island chain. Recent discoveries have shown that there are other places where small and medium size reticulated pythons can be found, and that should be reflected in the locality data on MorphMarket .
3 Likes
Nice write up. Small points of clarification: If you want to be even more specific and include the subspecies, they are currently classified as Malayopython reticulatus reticulatus. And, to be even more specific, the “Dwarfs” and “Super Dwarfs” come from the Selayar Island Chain, as the South Sulawesi island chain could also be applied to islands like Buton and Muna in Southeast Sulawesi. Even if MM doesn’t change it to be considered a dwarf locality, hopefully it’s further clarified to be island specific (Ternate, Halmahera, etc.) instead of the current catch-all Maluku classification that it sits in now.
3 Likes
I openly admit that I am not well versed on the different population localities of these animals but if there were any valid/reliable article or website highlighting this location that would be fantastic to add in
3 Likes
There is a terrible lack of reliable information for Reticulated Python localities, sans in the Selayar Island Chain. Regardless, here is a website for Reticulated Python localities, by extension Ternate Island: Ternate Island | localityretics. Rodney Boalich knows the most out of anyone on the locality. Here is a video done by him: ternates explained - YouTube There is very good information in that video, which is the closest we can get to a valid/reliable article/website on the subject.
2 Likes