Distribution, status and conservation of pythons in Western Australia

Abstract

Museum accessions, published records and siglitings by conservation agency staff, herpetologists and desert Aborigines were used to review the distribution of nine python taxa occurring in Western Australia, and to assess their current status. Tropical, sub-tropical and arid zone species appear to have secure populations, with the exception of Morelia carinata, which is known from just three individuals. Aspidites ramsayi and Morelia spilota imbricata have both declined markedly in the temperate south-west of Western Australia over the last 30 years. Habitat destruction and fragmentation were probably the major contributing factors in the Wheatbelt region; however, predation by feral animals and vegetation change due to fire may be significant in other parts of their range. Morelia olivacea barroni occupies restricted habitats in the Pilbara and its populations need to be closely monitored

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