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''Morelia amethistina'' is a non-venomous species of snake, known as the amethystine, scrub python or Sanca permata locally, found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Popular among reptile enthusiasts, and noted for its coloration and size, it is one of the six largest snakes in the world, as measured either by length or weight, and is the largest native snake in Australia and Papua New Guinea. There are currently four subspecies of the nominate race, ''Morelia amethystina amethystina'', which are generally recognized. The Mollucan islands, including Halmahera, Ternate and Tidore are home to ''Morelia a. tracyei''. The Tanimbar Islands are home to a smaller race, ''Morelia a. nauta''. On the island of Seram, ''Morelia a. clastolepis'' can be found, and mainland PNG (including the Indonesian western half, once called Irian Jaya—now West Papua)and many of its near offshore islands ''Morelia a. amethystina'' is quite common. In Australia, ''Morelia a. kinghorni'' is represented. ==Description== Specimens have reportedly been measured at more than in total length, but this is exceptional, as specimens are already considered large. As is typical for very large constricting snakes, almost no verified specimens of this species have exceeded . However, in 1990, while conducting a herpetological survey, Tom Mendelson collected a wild female specimen on Biak Island, far Eastern Indonesia, which measured 22 feet 7 inches. Another huge female, in a report considered reliable, was measured by S. Dean in 1954 as . A typical adult specimen will measure around .〔(Rainforest Reptiles – Skyrail Nature Diary ). Skyrail. Retrieved on 2012-08-21.〕 Females typically weigh around .〔(Morelia spilota (''Morelia spilota'') ). JungleDragon. Retrieved on 2012-08-21.〕 Some exceptional specimens have been confirmed to weigh over and unconfirmed outsized specimens have been reported to scale , although no specimen of this enormous size has been authenticated.〔〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Snakes- Wet Tropics Management Authority )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=The world's largest snakes )〕 Males are much smaller and slimmer, averaging at in mass at maturity, and occasionally weighing upwards of . The body is relatively slim, unlike those of many other large members of this family. The specific name, ''amethistina'', is an allusion to the milky iridescent sheen on its scales, which gives it an amethyst-like color. The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 39–53 rows at midbody. There are deep pits on 6 or 7 of the posterior lower labials.〔Boulenger, G.A. 1893. ''Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families...Boidæ...'' Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, Printers.) London. xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I.- XXVIII. (''"Python amethystinus"'', pp. 83-84.)〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Morelia amethistina」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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