African Rock Python: A New Threat to South Florida's Native Wildlife

A new threat has scientists worried, as a new species python has been found living in the Florida Everglades. The "African Rock Python" is considered to be meaner and more aggressive than its cousin, which is known as the Burmese Python. Florida officials scramble to save the natural habitat from the Burmese Python and the Boa Constrictors, but now they must face a new threat to the native wild life. According Reid (2009), only time will tell how many of these giant snakes actually exist in South Florida and its surrounding areas. However, scientists are arguing that there may be some hybrid offspring from the two species of python, which can add to the exotic snake nightmare facing the wildlife that calls the swamp their home.

A New Threat

This African Rock Python is "similar" to the Burmese Python, yet it is known as the "largest snake in the nation of Africa" and can reach "20 feet long" in the wild. In addition, the non native snakes are considered to be extremely dangerous for animals or humans, due to their ability to blend into their surroundings and strike without being seen by the unsuspecting victim. According to Dell'Amore (2009), the African Rock Python has been known to attack humans, as well as anything it can manage to swallow from mice to large animals. Currently, Reed (2009) says scientist believe that these snakes have managed to infiltrate the marsh lands and have begun breeding, which can allow the threat to spread into the neighboring counties.

Nightmare Continues

Additionally, these giant snakes are a threat to the native wildlife, which call the Florida Everglades its home. So far, "six" African Rock Pythons of different ages have been spotted or captured since 2002, which lead scientists to suspect that these exotic snakes have adjusted to the climate and habitat. According to Morgan (2009), this exotic breed of python is vicious and will lunge at their unsuspecting prey, even their "hatchlings" or offspring. According to Dell'Amore (2009), scientists claim evidence shows that these snakes have begun breeding and thriving in its new habitat. In the future, there may be more issues regarding these massive snakes, especially as they begin laying eggs and expanding their population

Possible Offspring

The scientists are expressing concern that the Burmese Python and the African Rock Python may have begun mating in the wild, which will create a new type of nightmare for the Florida Everglades. According to Dell'Amore (2009) states that two breeds of snakes have already mated in captivity, so breeding in the wild may be a distinct possibility. Fortunately, the known offspring were infertile, but this new species are considered to be more "powerful" and "hardier" than their parents are, but not much is known about them yet. According to Reid (2010), this unusual species of offspring has been labeled as a super snake or a hybrid by scientists, who have been studying this new breed or species of python

Conclusion

As Florida officials try to save the states native wildlife, many scientists fear that a new threat has surfaced and will add to the nightmare that is already plaguing the swamp land known as the Everglades. Now, some scientists believe that there may already be hybrid snakes hiding in the natural landscape of the swamp, since this new species of python have been spotted or found in South Florida. However, no evidence has been found to prove that these two species have created offspring or inter-bred, but scientists are on the lookout for possible hybrid pythons. Therefore, the African Rock Python has managed to invade the Everglades, so at this point only time and research will tell how many of these non-native pythons or super snakes exist in the swamp.

References:

Dell'Amore, C. (2009) Python "Nightmare": New Giant Species Invading Florida
Retrieved on January 18, 2010 from World Wide Web
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/09/090911-pythons-florida-giant-snakes.html

Reid, A. (2010) 'Super snake' fears on the rise in Florida
Retrieved on January 18, 2010 from World Wide Web
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/environment/story/1425339.html?storylink=mirelated

Morgan, C. (2009) New, nastier python enters Everglades fray
Retrieved on January 18, 2010 from World Wide Web
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/story/1243680.html?storylink=mirelated