Liasis fuscus Water Python
Also known as:
Brown Water Python
Some authors consider this to be a subspecies of Liasis mackloti.
Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve, Northern Territory, AustraliaNovember 11, 2009
Water Python (Liasis fuscus)
Fogg Dam has perhaps the world’s highest density of water pythons, which makes it a must-visit destination for Top End herpers. According to the proprietors of the nearby Eden bed-and-breakfast where we were staying, the population dropped off dramatically a couple of years ago when flooding wiped out much of the habitat of the pythons’ main prey item, the Dusky Rat (Rattus colletti). I had heard stories that in earlier years one could see a python every ten feet along the dam, but on this night we saw only this one.

I’ve written up an account of this three-week trip to Australia here.

Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve, Northern Territory, AustraliaNovember 12, 2009
Water Python (Liasis fuscus) Water Python (Liasis fuscus)
The next night we saw one more, which spent a little bit more time in front of my camera before heading back into the water. These snakes are featured in aboriginal legends as “Rainbow Serpents”, a name that reflects the iridescence visible in these photos.
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