Morphological and Morphometric Analysis of Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus) Crossbreeds within the Snake Enthusiast Community
DOI:
10.29303/jbt.v26i3.12317Published:
2026-08-07Downloads
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the morphological and morphometric characteristics of hybridized reticulated pythons (Malayopython reticulatus) in the Tabu Indonesia Community, Cimanggis–Depok. The research used a quantitative descriptive method through direct observation of morphological characters and morphometric measurements of hybrid pythons. The observed characters included color patterns, head shape, scale arrangement, body length, tail length, and the number of certain scales. The results showed variations in the morphological and morphometric characteristics of hybrid reticulated pythons, particularly in dorsal patterns, color intensity, body size, and the number of ventral and subcaudal scales. These variations were influenced by genetic combinations of the parent stock and environmental factors during captivity. This study concluded that hybridized reticulated pythons in the Tabu Indonesia Community, Cimanggis–Depok possess relatively high phenotypic diversity. The results are expected to provide scientific information regarding the morphological and morphometric characteristics of hybrid reticulated pythons in Indonesia.
Keywords:
Captive breeding Malayopython reticulatus Morphology Morphometrics Hybridization Reticulated pythonReferences
Benedict, J. S., Chong, C. N., Musa, M. A., Noor, M. A. M., Amat, A. C., & Razak, I. S. A. (2022). Morphology and Functional Histology of the Lower Respiratory System of Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus). Malaysian Journal of Microscopy.
Brown, G. P., Madsen, T., Dubey, S., & Shine, R. (2017). The causes and ecological correlates of head scale asymmetry and fragmentation in a tropical snake. Scientific Reports, 7, 11363. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-11768-y
Cox, M. J. (1991). The snakes of Thailand and their husbandry. Krieger Publishing Company.
Das, I. (2015). A field guide to the reptiles of South-East Asia. Bloomsbury Publishing.
De Lang, R. (2017). The snakes of Java, Bali and surrounding islands (2nd ed.). Edition Chimaira.
Gower, D. J. (2003). Scale microornamentation of uropeltid snakes. Journal of Morphology, 258(2), 249–268. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.10147
Hanifa, B. F., Nugraha, A. P., Nanda, I. F., & Daryono, B. S. (2016). Phylogenetic analysis of Malayopython reticulatus from Southern Sulawesi based on morphological and molecular character. Proceeding of the International Conference on Biological Science.
Harvey, M. B., Fuenmayor, G. R., Portilla, J. R. C., & Rueda-Almonacid, J. V. (2008). Systematics of the enigmatic dipsadine snake Tropidodipsas perijanensis (Serpentes: Colubridae) and review of morphological characters of Dipsadini. Herpetological Monographs, 22, 106–132. https://doi.org/10.1655/08-025.1
Iskandar, D. T. (2000). Reptil dan amfibi Jawa dan Bali. Puslitbang Biologi LIPI.
Jackson, K. (2003). The evolution of venom-delivery systems in snakes. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 137(3), 337–354. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1096-3642.2003.00052.x
Jadin, R. C., Murphy, J. C., Smith, E. N., & Campbell, J. A. (2020). Systematic revision of the brown vine snake (Oxybelis aeneus species complex) based on morphology and molecular evidence. Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 20(4), 723–746. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-020-00461-0
Lindell, L. E., Forsman, A., & Merilä, J. (1993). Variation in number of ventral scales in snakes: Effects on body size, growth and survival. Journal of Zoology, 230(1), 101–118. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1993.tb02675.x
Murray-Dickson, G., Ghazali, M., Ogden, R., Brown, R., & Auliya, M. (2017). Phylogeography of the reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus ssp.): Conservation implications for the world’s most traded snake species. PLOS ONE, 12(8), e0182049.
Natusch, D. J. D., Lyons, J. A., Riyanto, A., & Shine, R. (2019). Detailed biological data are informative, but robust trends are needed for informing sustainability of wildlife harvesting: A case study of reptile offtake in Southeast Asia. Biological Conservation, 233, 83–92.
Oliveira, L., & Zaher, H. (2022). An overview of the morphology of oral glands in snakes. In D. J. Gower & H. Zaher (Eds.), The origin and early evolution of snakes (pp. 410–436). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108938891.024
O'Shea, M. (2021). The book of snakes: A life-size guide to six hundred species from around the world. Princeton University Press.
Prabakaran, N., & Ramesh, C. (2021). The post-tsunami status of Reticulated Pythons, Malayopython reticulatus, in the Nicobar Archipelago, India. Reptiles & Amphibians, 28(1), 126–130.
Purbantoro, S. D., et al. (2019). Heart Rate of Reticulated Pythons (Malayopython reticulatus) Based on Its Body Length in Bali. Jurnal Veteriner, 20(4), 541–547.
Raharjo, S., Hartati, S., Indarjulianto, S., Widayanti, R., & Nururrozi, A. (2018). Filogenetik Ular Sanca Batik (Malayopython reticulatus) Lokal Jawa Berdasar Sekuen Gen Sitokrom B. Jurnal Veteriner, 19(2), 284–290.
Septiadi, L., Fathoni, M., Hanifa, B. F., & Hamidy, A. (2019). Morphological Variation of Malayopython reticulatus from Several Population in Indonesia. Journal of Tropical Life Science, 9(3), 259–266.
Shine, R. (2002). Ecological causes for the evolution of sexual dimorphism: A review of the evidence. The Quarterly Review of Biology, 77(4), 419–461. https://doi.org/10.1086/343456
Thorpe, R. S. (1975). Quantitative handling of characters useful in snake systematics with particular reference to intraspecific variation in the ringed snake Natrix natrix (L.). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 7(1), 27–43. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.1975.tb00732.x
Uetz, P., Freed, P., Aguilar, R., & Hošek, J. (Eds.). (2022). The Reptile Database. https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Nicky Utami Adhaeni, Iqbal Mujadid, Nestiyanto Hadi, Noer Sarifah Ainy, Erwandi Supriyadi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Jurnal Biologi Tropis is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The copyright of the received article shall be assigned to the author as the owner of the paper. The intended copyright includes the right to publish the article in various forms (including reprints). The journal maintains the publishing rights to the published articles.
Authors are permitted to disseminate published articles by sharing the link/DOI of the article at the journal. Authors are allowed to use their articles for any legal purposes deemed necessary without written permission from the journal with an acknowledgment of initial publication to this journal.
