We are thrilled to announce that our Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) has laid a clutch of 23 eggs. The eggs were discovered early this morning by one of our reptile keepers. This is the second clutch our female has laid.
Info about Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus)
When a female snake is ready to mate, the male begins to court her by bumping his lower jaw on the back of her head and crawling over her. When she is willing, she raises her tail. At that point, he wraps his tail around hers so the bottoms of their tails meet at the cloaca -- the exit point for waste and reproductive fluid. The male inserts his two sex organs, the hemipenes, which then extend and release sperm. This process is commonly known as ‘Locking’, which usually takes under an hour, but it can last as long as a whole day.
Burmese breed early spring. Females usually lay their eggs in March or April; their clutches range from 12-36 eggs. Females encircle their eggs, remaining with then from the time they are laid until they hatch; during this time, they will not leave the eggs and will not eat. While incubating, the female’s muscles twitch; these tremors apparently enable the female to raise the ambient temperature around the eggs several degrees. Hatch dates vary from 60-80days. Once the hatchlings use their egg tooth to cut their way out of their eggs, there is no further maternal care. The newly hatched will often remain inside their egg until they are ready to complete their first shedding of skin, after which they hunt for their first meal! The hatchlings are 45–60 cm (18–24 in) in length and grow very quickly.
Adult Burmese pythons can reach sizes of approximately 5-6m, weigh up to 91kg and live up to 20years or more.