Pythons come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. The specific colors and patterns vary greatly depending on the species. When people think of pythons, they often imagine the African rock python, which has tan or brown blotches on a grayish or brownish background color. However, there are actually over 40 different python species found in Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas, and they exhibit colors ranging from solid blacks, browns and greys to vibrant yellows, reds and greens. So what are the most common python colorations? Let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular pet python species to find out.
Ball Python
The ball python, also known as the royal python, is one of the most popular pythons kept as pets. Native to West and Central Africa, these small to medium-sized snakes can reach lengths of 3-5 feet as adults. Ball pythons are so named because when frightened, they curl up into a tight ball to protect their heads. Their color patterns consist of brown or black spotted blotches on a lighter brown, tan or gold background. The spots are edged in black and vary in shape and size. Some morphs or genetic mutations have been bred in captivity, resulting in ball pythons with colors like albino, lemon pastel, cinnamon, mojave, lesser and pinstripe. But in the wild, they tend toward brown and black spots and splotches on a light brown base color.
Burmese Python
The Burmese python is one of the largest snakes in the world, capable of reaching lengths over 20 feet. Native to Southeast Asia, these massive constrictors are brown in color with tan, olive or reddish-brown patterns. Their background color can range from dark to pale brown. The saddles or diamonds running down their backs can be shades of tan, ochre, olive, brown or burnt orange. Some also have striking markings on their faces, such as eye stripes, pronounced nasal pits and distinctive labial pits. Most wild caught Burmese pythons are cryptically patterned in browns, tans and olives for camouflage in their jungle habitats.
Green Tree Python
As their name suggests, green tree pythons are brightly colored emerald green snakes decorated with yellow, white or turquoise markings down their backs. Native to Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea, they are considered one of the most beautiful snakes in the world. Their neon green color stands out vividly against jungle foliage. The emerald background color may have hints of blue, yellow or white, complemented by the yellow, white or pale blue stripes. Their heads are often reddish or yellowish as well. The striking green and contrasting light patterns provide camouflage in the rainforest canopy.
Amazon Tree Boa
Found throughout the Amazon rainforest in South America, the Amazon tree boa is a vibrantly colored snake. Their coloration consists of a bright orange, red or yellow background marked with diagonal black or brown stripes or spots running down the length of the body. Some are so bright orange they appear almost coral in color. The stripes and spots help them blend into the texture of tree bark and dappled sunlight in the canopy. Their heads may be orange, brown or black and their bellies whitish or yellowish. This is in dramatic contrast to their darker newborn babies which are born gray, brown or black.
Carpet Python
There are actually several subspecies of carpet python, all native to Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea. In general, carpet pythons are patterned with blotches, stripes, spots or saddles of brown, black, olive or cream on a lighter background. Coastal carpet pythons may be brownish, yellowish or blackish with darker brown blotches on the back and stripes on the sides. Inland carpet pythons are tans, browns or greys with darker olive, brown or black markings. Jungle carpet pythons can have black or brown stripes or saddles on a background of yellow, brick red or brownish-grey. Irian Jaya carpet pythons are mainly brown and tan with brown, black and yellow markings.
Reticulated Python
Native to Southeast Asia, the reticulated python is one of the longest snakes in the world. Their background color can range from various shades of tan, brown, olive, grey or yellow. These massive snakes are named for the intricate boxes or rectangles formed by their marking pattern of intertwining brown, cream and black lines. This net-like pattern provides camouflage in their jungle habitats. Some have green markings as well for added jungle camouflage. Overall they exhibit an intricate mosaic of contrasting colors including browns, tans, olives, grays, blacks and splashes of green or cream that resemble a reticulated net.
Corn Snake
Corn snakes are probably the most popular pet pythons due to their docile nature, moderate size and stunning array of colors and patterns produced by captive breeding programs. Native to the southeastern US and named for their historical association with rodents around corn granaries, wild corn snakes are usually orange or brownish with large dark red-brown blotches outlined in black down the back and smaller lateral blotches. But breeders have selected for a huge variety of colors and patterns including red, gray, pink, lavender, snow, ghost, creamsicle, amber, specter, okeetee, sunkissed, butter, fire, and axanthic morphs.
Other Common Python Colors
Here are some other common python species and their typical color patterns:
– Blood python – Reds, browns, blacks with white labial scales
– Borneo python – Brown, black and tan with dark triangle dorsal markings
– Children’s python – Rich browns with dark brown saddles
– Spotted python – Cream or brown with large brown blotches outlined in black
– Amethystine python – Shades of brown, purple, grey with iridescence
– Ball python – Brown and black spots on tan or gold background
– Woma python – Shades of tan, brown, black with bands on a pinkish base
– Boelen’s python – Dark browns, blacks, yellows with speckling
Factors Influencing Python Coloration
Several factors account for the wide variety of colors and patterns seen among different python species:
– Camouflage – Cryptic colors and patterns help pythons remain unseen in their native habitats.
– Species differences – Each species displays its own distinctive palette.
– Geographic variation – Populations may differ across the species’ range.
– Habitat – arboreal species are often green while terrestrial species are earth-toned.
– Diet – Red colored prey may impart hue.
– Light levels – Darker in rainforest, lighter in open areas.
– Temperature – Darker colors may aid in heat absorption.
– Breeding selection – Morphs produce wide color variety.
– Individual variation – No two are exactly alike.
Purpose of Python Coloration
So why have pythons evolved such a dazzling diversity of colors and patterns? Here are some of the main advantages and purposes:
– Camouflage – Allows ambush predators to remain hidden from prey.
– Signaling – Bright colors may warn of toxicity or enhance displays.
– Thermoregulation – Darker pigment may help absorb or reflect heat.
– Species recognition – Distinct markings differentiate similar species.
– Mate selection – Females likely choose more vibrant males.
– Intimidation – Vivid patterns may startle predators.
– Mimicry – Some copy coloration of venomous coral snakes.
– Individual recognition – Unique to aid identification by other snakes.
Conclusion
Pythons exhibit an incredible array of colors and patterns adaptive to their native habitat and species. Cryptic camouflage predominates but accent colors also serve important purposes. Selective captive breeding has also expanded the color palette. While some species show little variation, each individual python has its own distinctive markings. Python coloration and patterning provides camouflage, communication, thermoregulation and visual distinctiveness serving the survival needs of these fascinating snakes.
| Species | Background Color | Markings |
|---|---|---|
| Ball Python | Brown, tan or gold | Brown or black spots |
| Burmese Python | Brown | Tan, olive or reddish-brown saddles |
| Green Tree Python | Green | Yellow, white or pale blue stripes |
| Amazon Tree Boa | Orange, red or yellow | Black or brown diagonal stripes or spots |
| Carpet Python | Brown, yellow, brick red or grey | Olive, brown or black blotches, stripes or saddles |
| Reticulated Python | Tan, brown, olive, grey or yellow | Intricate boxes or rectangles in brown, cream and black |
| Corn Snake | Orange or brown | Red-brown blotches outlined in black |
