Reptiles
Ball python
Python regius
The ball python (royal python) is a non-venomous medium-sized snake, famous for curling into a ball and hiding its head when threatened — hence its English name. It is one of the most captive-bred snakes in the world.
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In short
The ball python (Python regius) is a species with IUCN conservation status NT (Near threatened). It lives in savannas, grasslands and scrub of West and Central Africa, often in rodent burrows. Animals in Black offers a fine-art portrait of it on a black background, available as a print on Hahnemühle paper: view the print.
Habitat & conservation
Where does the ball python live?
It lives in savannas, grasslands and scrub of West and Central Africa, often in rodent burrows. It is crepuscular and nocturnal, kills prey by constriction and can fast for long periods.
Is the ball python endangered?
In 2021 the IUCN Red List classified it Near Threatened (NT), with a decreasing population across much of West Africa. The main cause is heavy collection from the wild for the international pet trade (as well as skin and meat), combined with habitat conversion.
Facts about the ball python
- When threatened it curls into a ball, hiding its head.
- Thousands of captive-bred colour ‘morphs’ exist.
- It can live over 30 years; the record exceeds 60.
Data source: IUCN Red List — Python regius (Near Threatened) · IUCN SSC / Reptile Database
RED List
Conservation status codes
- EX Extinct No individuals survive.
- EW Extinct in the wild Survives only in captivity.
- CR Critically endangered Extremely high risk of extinction.
- EN Endangered Very high risk of extinction.
- VU Vulnerable High risk of extinction.
- NT Near threatened Likely to become threatened soon.
- LC Least concern Low risk of extinction.
- DD Data deficient Not enough data to assess.
- NE Not evaluated Not yet assessed by the IUCN.