African Rock Python

Like all snakes, pythons are cold-blooded; they are the same temperature as the environment. They continue to grow all their lives, getting bigger and bigger each year. African Rock Python average 18 to 20 feet long, but can grow up to 28 feet long. Their scaly skin glistens but is dry is to the touch. African Rock Pythons are tan with brown spots that have black outlines. A tan V-shape marks the face. The python smells using its tongue and has no fangs. It uses heat-sensing organs in its upper and lower jaws to detect warm-blooded prey (like mammals).

Like all snakes, they swallow the prey whole, headfirst. The python's top and bottom jaws are attached to each other with stretchy ligaments, which let the snake swallow animals wider than itself. They don't chew their food, it is digested by very strong acids in the snake's stomach.