GEOGRAPHY

Pythons in South Florida

Pythons in South Florida

Introduction

The Burmese python (Python molulus bivittatus) is a snake that can be found in Southeast Asia. Has the honor of being the largest constrictor snake of India and is also one of the six largest in the world. This is because it is capable of measuring up to 6 meters (although they have found examples of 7.6 meters). But today this species also can be found in other region far removed from their home area.

In the southern regions of Florida (USA) is becoming a problem in the years after reaching 60. It is believed that were introduced after being released after its owners (typical case of unwanted pets) or escaped from their facilities after a hurricane. Pick up a copy of this kind is not very difficult as they usually sell between $ 20 to $ 80. Their popularity as pets made between 1996 and 2006 some 99,000 pythons were imported to the United States.

The fact is that this species is not amedranta at nothing. If that was not enough, the Burmese python is not alone. In the same area have found other species like the common boa (Boa constrictor), the green anaconda (Eunectes murinus), yellow anaconda (Eunectes notaeus) and the reticulated python (Python reticulatus). Fortunately only the python and boa are getting played (Rake, 2008).

Ironically, the Burmese python is classified by the World Conservation Union as "near threatened" in its area of ??origin. The reason is obvious: the hunt for the pet trade or sell their skin.

Pythons in the US

Since 2012 the U.S. banned the import of large exotic snakes. The greatest threat to the United States and its ecosystems are of Burmese pythons. Across South Florida, particularly in the Everglades National Park, pythons eat rabbits, raccoons, lynxes, foxes, rats, wood storks and ...