Ball Pythons, are a relatively small and docile specie of snake.

They are called 'Ball Pythons' because, when frightened, they coil around their head and into a ball.

Ball Pythons prefer to live in areas of mixed grassland and trees (savannah), and are active at night (nocturnal). They hunt at night with the help of their labial heat pits and their Jacobson's Organ.

During the day, they spend their time hiding in underground rodent burrows or termite mounds.

In captivity they can live up to about 50 years, but 20-30 years is probably more likely.

Unfortunately due to the pressures of habitat fragmentation and destruction, as well as commercial collecting for the pet trade, skin trade, and the killing for food, Ball Pythons in the wild do not live as long.

"It (Python) is considered a threatened species and permits are required for its legal export, living or dead." (J. Mehrtens, ca.1987)