Image: Wikimedia Commons

python

Family of snakes

Species / taxontaxonQ184018

Also known as Moreliini · Pythonini · Pythoninae · Chondropythonina · Peropodes · the python family

Scientific name: Pythonidae
2
Sources
1.Stated in A phylogeny and revised classification of Squamata, including 4161 species of lizards and snakes
2.Stated in Annotated checklist of the recent and extinct pythons (Serpentes, Pythonidae), with notes on nomenclature, taxonomy, and distribution
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Rank: family
2
Sources
1.Stated in A phylogeny and revised classification of Squamata, including 4161 species of lizards and snakes
2.Stated in Annotated checklist of the recent and extinct pythons (Serpentes, Pythonidae), with notes on nomenclature, taxonomy, and distribution
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Parent taxon: Alethinophidia
1
Sources
1.Stated in A phylogeny and revised classification of Squamata, including 4161 species of lizards and snakes
View statement on Wikidata ↗
, Pythonoidea
1
Sources
1.Stated in Annotated checklist of the recent and extinct pythons (Serpentes, Pythonidae), with notes on nomenclature, taxonomy, and distribution
View statement on Wikidata ↗

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

The Pythonidae, commonly known as pythons, are a family of non-venomous snakes found in Africa, Asia, and Australia. Among its members are some of the largest snakes in the world. Ten genera and 39 species are currently recognized. Being naturally non-venomous, pythons must constrict their prey to induce cardiac arrest prior to consumption. Pythons will typically strike at and bite their prey of choice to gain hold of it; they then must use physical strength to constrict their prey, by coiling their muscular bodies around the animal, effectively suffocating it before swallowing whole. This is in stark contrast to venomous snakes such as the rattlesnake, for example, which delivers a swift, venomous bite but releases, waiting as the prey succumbs to envenomation before being consumed. Collectively, the pythons are well-documented and studied as constrictors, much like other non-venomous snakes, including the boas and even kingsnakes of the New World.

Overview

All data

43 statements · 40% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

CITES Appendix: Appendix II of CITES excluding: Python molurus molurus
Different from: Python
Taxon common name: pytonslanger
Depicted by: An Athlete Wrestling with a Python

On other databases

36 identifiers linking python across the web's reference databases

Data quality

statements

40%

externally sourced

Source last edited September 12, 2026. AIDB refreshes this page daily.

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AIDB. (2026). python (Q184018). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/python-Q184018