Coastal Carpet Python in tree.
Coastal Carpet Python nicely camouflaged as he curls up to sleep.
Coastal Carpet Python
Investigating the scrabbling, and hissing sounds, of a frightened, fast retreating, possum, accompanied by a chorus of alarmed birds, we sighted this thwarted 2.4 metre Coastal Carpet Python, skilfully negotiating a return path from this recent, missed, opportunity. Active both by day and night, this arboreal (tree climbing) species may be encountered, on the ground, in trees, or inside sheds and/or houses. Their ability to access, what may seem inaccessible areas, is demonstrated in these videos. Its careful balancing along the thin rods is, alone, impressive, however, the method used to climb vertical walls is what has surprised, and impressed, me most. To do so, the end of the tail is wrapped, and locked, around an anchor point at the base of the climb. (In this case, the rod, but it may also be a verandah railing, nearby tree, or other sturdy object) Using its muscular body it pushes up before moving the anchor point closer, relocking it, and pushing further. In this video the python does this whilst balancing along the rod, but we have seen one use our wooden verandah rail for the anchor point whilst pushing vertically up the wall in an effort to reach a possum on top of one of the poles of our house.
Grabbing a quick shower at MON REPOS HOUSE