Tanimbar Python (Morelia nauta)
Morelia nauta is native to the Tanimbar archipelago. This cluster of islands is located southwest of Irian Jaya and is comprised of the large, main island of Yamdena and countless smaller islands.
Tanimbar pythons are a recently described small species. Growing only to about six feet in length these pythons have a medium to gracile build. This is a highly arboreal species, and like all other Morelia has a strong prehensile tail. Even adults will spend the vast majority of their time coiled from a favorite perch.
There is great variety in this species in terms of physical appearance. There are four distinct color phases of Morelia nauta. All specimens are either patterned-axanthics, patterned-xanthics, patternless-axanthics or patternless-xanthics. After several breeding it now appears that both the patternless trait as well as the axanthic condition are both inherited as simple recessive genes. By far the most common form is the patternless-axanthic type with all others being much less common. The rarest form is the patterned-xanthic, with only a handful of known specimens in captivity. We are proud to have the only F2 patterned-xanthic animal known.
Tanimbar pythons are a hardy species and are simple to maintain in captivity. Morelia nauta can be kept in much the same manner as the similarly sized morelia viridis. Due in large part to their small size and arboreal tendencies, Tanimbar pythons can be maintained in more naturalistic enclosures.
Tanimbar pythons have proven to be difficult to breed consistently in captivity. High infertility rates in the resulting clutches have been frustrating for most breeders. It is hoped that further experimentation with breeding techniques will improve these results. Morelia nauta is currently only maintained in a small handful of collections in the US and the total captive population is around 30 individuals. Though difficult, captive breeding is on the rise and we were very proud to have achieved the second ever breeding of this species in 2000, as well as producing the first ever xanthic Tanimbar born in captivity. We had a second successful breeding in 2004 that yielded some of the only F2 nauta in the world. At this time we are working with the largest group of Tanimbar pythons in the US. We are hopeful of continued success with our colony and that this new species is on the way to becoming established in herpetoculture.