Reticulated Pythons

• Reticulated pythons are the world's longest pythons, measuring up to 33 feet long and weighing up to 250 lbs. They are kept as pets, although, according to reptile veterinarian Margaret A. Wissman, "retics are known for their nasty temperament." In fact, they are the only snakes known to occasionally eat people. In Florida, many reticulated python owners have released their snakes into the wild when they got too big to handle. Now many native Everglades species are threatened.
  
  

Ball Pythons

• Ball pythons are easier to keep as pets than retics. They only grow to be 4 feet long and can live 40 years in captivity. Their name comes from their behavior of rolling up into a ball when scared. Because they live underground in the wild, they prefer a small cage. Ball pythons can be confusing to identify because herpetologists have bred them into a phenomenal number of color mutations. Many of the mutations have names, and even recipes. For example, cross a pastel and a spider to get a bumblebee.
  
  

Burmese Pythons

• Another of the extra-large pythons, Burmese pythons can reach more than 100 lbs. in captivity. In the wild, they usually weigh less. Their distinctive pattern of brown squares is prized by snake owners. Like retics, Burmese pythons have also become a nuisance in the Everglades, where they have even been observed attempting to eat alligators.
  
  

African Rock Python

• Another giant, the African rock python grows up to 32 feet long. Its impressive size makes it popular in zoo collections. It lives in many parts of Africa and enjoys humidity. African rock pythons occasionally eat young lions and leopards.
  
  

Pythons of Australia

• Reptiles abound in Australia. The enormous amethystine python roams Northern Australia and New Guinea. Small pythons thrive here as well, including the children's python--so called because it only grows to about 2 feet long. The mid-sized black-headed python and Ramsay's python also make their home Down Under.
  
  

Pythons Versus Boas

• People often confuse pythons and boas, but there are a few key differences. Pythons are mostly from Asia, Africa and Australia, while boas come from the Americas. Pythons have one extra bone in their heads, and more teeth than boas. Boas bear live young. Pythons lay eggs.