Python Sebae - Taxonomy and Etymology

Taxonomy and Etymology

The African rock python (Python sebae) is one of seven species in the genus Python, a genus of large constricting snakes found in the moist tropics of Asia and Africa. The African rock python is divided into two subspecies, Python sebae sebae (also often called the African rock python) and Python sebae natalensis (the Southern African rock python). Some consider the more southerly population of this snake to be a separate species, Python natalensis, while others consider this form to be a subspecies.

Python sebae was first described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin, a German naturalist, in 1788. Therefore he is also the author of the nominate subspecies P. s. sebae. The southern subspecies was first identified by Sir Andrew Smith, the father of South African zoology, in 1833.

Python is a Greek word referring to the enormous serpent at Delphi slain by Apollo in Greek Mythology. Sebae is a Latinization of Dutch zoologist, Albertus Seba. Natalensis refers to the Natal region of South Africa. Common name usage varies with both the species and northern subspecies referred to as African rock python or simply rock python. The Southern African rock python is sometimes referred to as the Natal rock python or the African python.