A family of snakes comprising the boas, anacondas, and pythons. They occupy a variety of habitats through the tropics and subtropics and are arboreal, aquatic or fossorial (burrowing). Some are oviparous, others ovoviviparous. Contrary to popular opinion, they do not crush the bones of their victims: their coils exert enough pressure to stop a prey's breathing, thus suffocating it. There are five subfamilies: Boinae, Bolyerinae, Erycinae, Pythoninae, and Tropidophiinae. (Goin, Goin, and Zug, Introduction to Herpetology, 3d ed, p315-320)
    

concept

A cestode from a Python, probably <I>Bothridium pythonis</I>.

Nematode egg in the faeces of a Python

Drawing: a Python's organs

Dead Python with severe bruising of heart

Dead Python with subcutaneous bruising

Python's skull showing six rows of teeth

Heat-sensitive pits on lips of a Python

View inside Python's mouth, glottis open

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Python's skull showing six rows of teeth

Heat-sensitive pits on lips of a Python

View inside Python's mouth, glottis open

Drawing: a Python's organs

Nematode egg in the faeces of a Python