1. PYTHONS by Ahearn Bussdieker

2. Animal Classification Pythons are reptiles, vertebrates, and they are cold-blooded. Pythons are lung breathers and have sharp teeth. Pythons kill their prey by wrapping themselves around it and squeezing until the prey dies. Pythons are constrictors.

3. HABITAT Pythons live in New Guinea and Northern Australia. They also live in Asia and Southern Africa and other tropical areas of the world.

4. TERRITORY Pythons live in trees, underground dens and on the ground.

5. Body Structure Pythons have scales covered with an outer layer of skin. Different Python species can easily be identified by the colors and patterns of their scales to help them blend in with their surroundings. A Python will shed its skin many times as it grows. Pythons are one of the largest most powerful snakes in the world. Pythons can range in size from the Pigmy Python of about 2 feet long to the Reticulated Python which can be about 32 feet and weigh over 250 pounds.

7. LIFE CYCLE Female pythons lay about 100 eggs. After two or three months the eggs hatch. Then the baby pythons are on their own. They are able to eat small prey to stay alive. They must be in large cages as a pet in warm temperatures. If the temperature get too cold the Python will freeze to death. Pythons can live 20 to 30 years.

8. FAST FACTS Green tree pythons have been known to strike out at birds as they fly past. Pythons are most likely to be attacked when they become sluggish after eating. Female pythons are usually longer than male pythons. A 60 million year old snake fossil in South America measured about 50 feet long. Some pythons species can hold their breath for up to 30 minutes at a time. Experts estimate that there are somewhere between 30,000 and 100,000 invasive pythons living in southern Florida. Pythons have over 100 teeth, they are not venomous.

9. In conclusion: Pythons are fascinating animals to learn about. Pythons are some of the largest snakes in the world. Pythons were in ancient Greek times. The original Pythons was mad out of mud and killed by the Greek God Apollo. Humans are the main predators of adult pythons. Humans have 24 ribs but a python can have over 400. Pythons are very muscular and have the same organs as a human.

10. The Burmese python was found to live in the Florida Everglades. They had to be removed because they were a danger to endangered species living there such as the Diamondback and the Eastern Indigo Snake. Most of them died as a result of the cold nights, where they froze. Burmese Python