This article is rated B-class on Wikipedia's
content assessment scale. It is of interest to the following WikiProjects: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Daily pageviews of this article
A graph should have been displayed here but
graphs are temporarily disabled. Until they are enabled again, visit the interactive graph at
pageviews.wmcloud.org |
This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 19 January 2021 and 30 April 2021. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Mkarasik. Peer reviewers: John.waswill, Samsmith428.
Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT ( talk) 18:24, 17 January 2022 (UTC)
This article is or was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): KHoang02, Juliajerolamon.
Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT ( talk) 16:25, 16 January 2022 (UTC)
I find this whole paragraph very offensive and riddled with flaws:
The captive breeding of Burmese Pythons in the Americas has led to some rather serious problems. People who grow tired of their pythons, or whose pythons have grown too large to be kept in their houses, have been known to release their pets into the wild rather than have them re-homed. This has been particularly problematic in Florida, where a large number of pythons have made their way to the Everglades.[2] They have thrived there, begun to reproduce prolifically, and become an invasive species. Over 230 (National Geographic - October 28, 2005) have been captured in the Everglades where they are competing with alligators as the dominant predator. In recent years this competition has resulted in what officials describe as a draw.[3][4][5] Since they have been known to eat endangered birds and alligators, these snakes present a new danger to an already fragile ecosystem. In February 2008, one scientist predicted that, after several generations, these snakes could eventually migrate to and flourish in as much as a third of the continental United States.[5]
Let's break this down.
"The captive breeding of Burmese Pythons in the Americas has led to some rather serious problems." Really? Exactly what serious problems? And make sure you're serious!
"People who grow tired of their pythons, or whose pythons have grown too large to be kept in their houses, have been known to release their pets into the wild rather than have them re-homed." One person, two people, exactly how many. You don't know do you? I do know one thing, Animal Rights activists have intentionally released exotic animals into the wild to further their own agenda.
"This has been particularly problematic in Florida, where a large number of pythons have made their way to the Everglades.[2]" Really? From where? Pensacola perhaps?
"They have thrived there, begun to reproduce prolifically, and become an invasive species. Over 230 (National Geographic - October 28, 2005) have been captured in the Everglades where they are competing with alligators as the dominant predator. In recent years this competition has resulted in what officials describe as a draw.[3][4][5] Since they have been known to eat endangered birds and alligators, these snakes present a new danger to an already fragile ecosystem." There are hundreds of invasive species in the Everglades, but none so sensational as the Burmese Python, I guess. However, I can assure you that the Burmese Python is not the most destructive to the ecosystem. Can you say feral cats?
"In February 2008, one scientist predicted that, after several generations, these snakes could eventually migrate to and flourish in as much as a third of the continental United States.[5]" Pure hogwash! This USGS map has been completely discredited. Even an elementary school student could reason that "If its true that irresponsible pet owners are releasing their Burmese Pythons into the wild, then why are they only found to be thriving in the Everglades?" —Preceding unsigned comment added by Webwheeler ( talk • contribs) 08:10, 15 September 2009 (UTC)
Claims of Potential Expansion throughout the U.S. by Invasive Python Species Are Contradicted by Ecological Niche Models, http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0002931 Webwheeler ( talk) 06:58, 9 November 2009 (UTC)
"The captive breeding of Burmese Pythons in the Americas has led to some rather serious problems. People who grow tired of their pythons, or whose pythons have grown too large to be kept in their houses, have been known to release their pets into the wild rather than have them re-homed."
Where are your peer reviewed papers that substantiate these claims? DNA population genetics studies of the Burmese Pythons found in the Florida Everglades National Park seem to say otherwise. To my knowledge, no one has ever been observed, charged or convicted with letting a pet Burmese Python loose anywhere near the Florida Everglades National Park or anywhere else in the U.S. for that matter. Where is your proof? Webwheeler ( talk) 06:34, 10 November 2009 (UTC)
Furthermore, your contention that it is released large, captive raised, Burmese Pythons that are responsible for feral populations of Burmese Pythons in the Florida Everglades is a very unlikely hypothesis because a large, captive raised, Burmese Python would be rather unlikely to survive in the Florida Everglades National Park, as pointed out by David and Tracy Barker, graduate biologists with more than 70 years of combined experience with reptiles and amphibians, in this discussion paper:
http://www.vpi.com/sites/vpi.com/files/OnBurmese_Florida_compressed.pdf
I would like to see some proof of YOUR RESEARCH that supports your contentions. Webwheeler ( talk) 18:08, 10 November 2009 (UTC)
The claim that the USGS study is "unscientific" and "not peer-reviewed" was made by the US Association of Reptile Keepers, of all organizations. Blatant politicization of science. I doubt the USGS would publish a major report without substantive peer-review involving people who are not shilling for the exotic pet industry (it's, you know, in their operating procedures) and that particular criticism of the report can be dismissed out of hand. In fact, as this deals with a policy issue I'd suspect this report was much more substantially reviewed than the non-USGS report critical of it. 69.207.66.238 ( talk) 02:36, 23 December 2009 (UTC)
What do you mean by "technically"? According to their operating guidelines all USGS publications should be peer-reviewed, especially those dealing with policy. Also, saying that this paper was not peer-reviewed is a strawman for attacking it on a legitimate scientific basis, the thinking being that if you assert that it was not peer-reveiwed then you imply that its conclusions would not have passed peer-review, which is something else altogether. There is a devastating response to the methodology of the response paper in the 2009 USGS paper which seems (caveat - I'm an engineer, not a herpetologist) pretty comprehensive. In any event I think the motives and science of people making money on the issue should be scrutinized rather than the USGS, which doesn't have a dog (alligator?) in the fight so to speak. 69.207.66.238 ( talk) 19:54, 30 December 2009 (UTC)
Since there is no evidence that the keeping of Burmese pythons outside of Florida has ever represented a problem, I have changed 'captive breeding in the Americas' to 'importation and keeping in Florida'. Obviously, captive breeding is not primarily responsible for the problem, since the majority of the Burmese in the Everglades are believed to come from a warehouse holding imported individuals. (Applying logic makes this obvious--hundreds of snakes released all at once in a single area is much more likely to produce a breeding population than the occasional escaped or released pet). Laying the blame at the door of breeders does not match the known facts (Everglades Burmese show no signs of the mutant genes that breeders select for), and is not a neutral statement, given the current politics-driven attacks against the reptile industry. Winged_Wolf ( talk) 12:28, 19 May 2011 (UTC)
I have also changed the information the Burmese pythons brumate, to specify that Indian pythons brumate, and that it is unclear whether Burmese pythons are capable of doing so. I provided a reference to a scientific study of how Burmese pythons act in cold weather. (In my opinion, if something is wrong with a Wikipedia article, don't just complain about it and leave it that way--correct it, and support your corrections). Winged_Wolf ( talk) 12:40, 19 May 2011 (UTC)
Is this snake diurnal or nocturnal? I find both in the article, as well as in a web search. I think the "diurnal" sentence is probably wrong, though, since it reads "Burmese python is diurnal, equally at home on the ground and in trees." I have deleted it. -- Hcethatsme 23:44, 6 May 2007 (UTC)
While it's acknowleged early in the article that this is not a species, but a subspecies of the Indian Python, later on I can see "As an introduced species" and "In Hong Kong, it is a protected species under Wild Animals Protection Ordinance Cap 170" – I don't think there's a concept of introduced subspecies, and subspecies protection too is unusual; but if these are references to the species Python molurus they should be on the Indian Python article. This said, do subspecies really deserve their own articles? Since they only represent the geographical variation of species, most of the information (likely 90+ %) will be overlapping with that of the nominate form, and therefore the bulk of subspecies articles' content are bound to be repetitions of species articles. -- Anshelm '77 17:25, 25 September 2007 (UTC)
The fourth picture down on the right titled "Burmese Python in India." appears to be an Indian Python rather than a Burmese. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Steve Ray ( talk • contribs) 05:55, 16 September 2008 (UTC)
I find the line, "People who grow tired of their pythons have been known to release their pets into the wild rather than have them euthanised" terribly offensive. While this IS an option, it's not the best option. I can't say I know anyone that would do this to their dog or cat. They'd "re-home" them, right? Why is it different for a reptile?
As of August 1st, I'm changing this line. Removing the incorrect spelling of "euthanize" & adding "re-homed" or something of the sort.
It just really rubbed me the wrong way. Quietpopcorn ( talk) 22:46, 1 August 2009 (UTC)
A. Euthanizing IS an option. And regardless "re-home" is bad word choice. B. Don't edit out talk page comments. This is where we debate thea rticles wording. AHev a revert war in the article, not here. GRRRRRRRRRRR! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.82.44.253 ( talk) 04:53, 10 September 2009 (UTC)
Webwheeler ( talk) 14:49, 21 September 2009 (UTC)
Hello! This article has several fatal errors! Please improve the following points:
Please visit the German article of this Python: [2] There are many useful pictures and links to original sources. Good luck with this article and thanks for the improvements!
80.218.203.225 ( talk) 15:03, 20 October 2009 (UTC)
References
The photo of an alligator eating a Burmese python has been captioned to more clearly reflect this, rather than the strangely sensationalistic wording 'locked in struggle'. Of course, the python is struggling to escape, but it is merely lunch for the alligator, lol. The previous implication was that the snake could somehow harm the huge alligator in the photo, which gives a false impression. Winged_Wolf ( talk) 11:08, 26 December 2011 (CST)
The original title might well reflect the competition of the Burmese python with other top predators for food, coupled with the virtual disappearance of many traditional prey species for the alligator throughout the Everglades and northern Florida coastal areas.
The full original source caption reads as follows:
These are dangerous wild animals quite capable of eating humans after killing them with constriction that stops the heart in seconds.
Their bites routinely infect with salmonella. The moving or handling of a full-grown adult requires several highly-skilled handlers working in concert and adequate and costly equipment and cages. And even then, is not without serious risk.
Information on the dangers should be added and illustrated by a herpetologist expert in pythons.
The omission of that information, and the ad copy about "reputation for docility" is ad copy for the sellers of these deadly animals, which as the cute soon wears thin, tend to quickly end up in the Everglades where they are currently decimating the native animals. See, e.g.,
Invasion of the Giant Pythons PBS Video
-- Ocdnctx ( talk) 02:01, 20 August 2012 (UTC)
Here's info from a pro-python site: http://www.anapsid.org/burm.html
"popularity"
"popular"
"attractive colour"
"apparently easy-going nature"
"reputation for docility"
"captive-bred for colour, pattern, and more recently size"
"albino form is especially popular"
" "labyrinth" specimens"
and more. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ocdnctx ( talk • contribs) 12:31, 20 August 2012 (UTC)
from http://www.anapsid.org/burm.html
If you see a python, who's to say the prior owners haven't fed it chicken, or that it hasn't come across Salmonella in the wild? -- Ocdnctx ( talk) 13:17, 20 August 2012 (UTC)
Links to medical journals describing transmission of salmonella from a snakebite, or just keeping snakes as pets.
Bello CS, Singh S, Al-Waley A, Hyde M, Khan MR.
Salmonella arizonae infection from snake bite.
Ann Saudi Med. 2001 Sep-Nov;21(5-6):352-3.
Sanyal D, Douglas T, Roberts R.
Salmonella infection acquired from reptilian pets.
Arch Dis Child. 1997 Oct;77(4):345-6.
Abstract
Two children presented with signs and symptoms of gastroenteritis. Salmonella chameleon was isolated from the stool of one child and also from an iguana kept in the home as a pet. Salmonella arizonae was isolated from the stool of the other child and also from four snakes sharing the same household. Exotic reptiles are unsuitable pets to share the home environment with infants.
Free PMC Article
Gruschwitz MS, Mahler V, Rupprecht M, Hornstein OP.
[Snake bite by a poisonous snake. Report of an unusual case].
Hautarzt. 1994 May;45(5):330-4.
Abstract
We report on a 31-year-old white woman, who was bitten in her right calf by a "spitting cobra" (Neia nigricollis) during a safari in Tansania. Minor initial systemic symptoms such as nausea and vomiting were followed by severe oedematous swelling of the extremity after 2-3 h and demarcation of a 2.75 x 2.75 in. area of necrotic skin. The patient returned to her home country, where 8 days after the snake-bite necrosectomy was performed. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatory agents and local therapy with hydrocolloidal wound dressings were administered. With this therapy the lesion healed completely with minor scarring within 5 months. A new Salmonella strain was isolated from the ground of the ulcer.
Rakesh Kumar Mahajan,1 Shoeb Akhtar Khan,2 Dinesh Singh Chandel,2 Navin Kumar,1 Charoo Hans,1 and Rama Chaudhry2,*
Fatal Case of Salmonella enterica subsp. arizonae Gastroenteritis in an Infant with Microcephaly
J Clin Microbiol. 2003 December; 41(12): 5830–5832.
Abstract
Salmonella enterica subsp. arizonae is a common gut inhabitant of reptiles, with snakes as the most common reservoir. Though human cases due to this organism are exceedingly rare, it may infect young infants and immunocompromised individuals with a history of intimate associations with reptiles. Gastroenteritis is the most common presentation; others include peritonitis, pleuritis, osteomyelitis, meningitis, and bacteremia. We report a fatal case of S. enterica subsp. arizonae gastroenteritis in a 3-month-old child with microcephaly, with a review of earlier cases and problems encountered in identification of this rare human pathogen.
...
the child's father was a snake charmer, having a professional interaction with reptiles at home
...
It was initially considered to be a reptile pathogen; the first report of human infection came in 1944 (J. M. Croop, B. Shapiro, G. Alpert, J. M. Campos, and W. Zavod, Letter, Pediatr. Infect. Dis. 3:188, 1984). Turtle-associated salmonellosis was also reported in 1963 (7). Now it is established as a well-known pathogen in young children and in patients with impaired immunity.
...
A literature survey (Table (Table1)1) [3] yielded 17 case reports of S. enterica subsp. arizonae infection, of which 11 were children, including 4 infants. Eleven of those 17 had an underlying disease such as AIDS, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), cancer, or leukemia. Clinical presentations varied: four cases each with gastroenteritis, bacteremia, and osteomyelitis; two with pleural effusion; and one each with otitis media, peritonitis, meningitis, and wound infection. Most of these strains of S. enterica subsp. arizonae were sensitive to all common antibiotics.
...
S. enterica subsp. arizonae, though an uncommon human pathogen, is a common organism in reptiles, particularly snakes. The prevalence of human infections is probably underestimated since the gastrointestinal problems they generate were considered usually benign. However, this pathogen should be considered in the differential diagnoses of patients with sepsis and severe gastroenteritis who have a history of contact with reptiles or ingestion of snake meat preparations, e.g., as powdered capsules. Young children are at a particular risk of acquiring such infections. Therefore, proper history should be obtained in such cases. Ownership of reptiles should be discouraged, especially in households with children less then 5 years of age.
doi: 10.1128/JCM.41.12.5830-5832.2003
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC309002
Schröter M, Roggentin P, Hofmann J, Speicher A, Laufs R, Mack D.
Pet snakes as a reservoir for Salmonella enterica subsp. diarizonae (Serogroup IIIb): a prospective study.
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2004 Jan;70(1):613-5.
Abstract
Reptile-associated Salmonella infections are an increasing problem for humans. We have prospectively screened two breeding groups of 16 pet snakes for colonization with Salmonella species. Various serovars of S. enterica subsp. diarizonae were found in 81% of the snakes. To avoid transmission, strict hygienic precautions should be applied when reptiles are handled.
Exotic reptiles have enjoyed increasing popularity as pets during the last few years. This increase in popularity has led to an increase in the number of reptile-associated salmonella infections which occur every year in the United States (presently estimated at 93,000) (4; J. Mermin, L. Hutwagner, D. Vugia, P. Kirley, J. Bender, J. Koehler, T. McGivern, R. Marcus, F. Angulo, and the FoodNet Working Group, 36th Annu. Meet. Infect. Dis. Soc. Am., 1998 [4]). Children under the age of 10 years and immunocompromised people seem to be especially prone to infections with reptile-associated Salmonella spp. and often experience severe clinical courses, including fatalities due to septicemia and meningitis (2, 4).
...
... corn snakes, pythons, and boas have also been identified as sources of Salmonella infections ...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC321278/#r1
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2004 January; 70(1): 613–615.
doi: 10.1128/AEM.70.1.613-615.2004 — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ocdnctx ( talk • contribs) 01:13, 24 August 2012 (UTC)
The article should be retitled “Burmese python” (lowercase p), to agree with standard rules of capitalization, namely that common names of individual species (or subspecies) are not capitalized.-- Solomonfromfinland ( talk) 10:41, 19 May 2013 (UTC)
in any given animal section, i would like to know if we can eat them. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.130.168.139 ( talk) 21:44, 5 August 2013 (UTC)
The result of the move request was: page moved.( non-admin closure) Raykyogrou0 ( Talk) 13:13, 29 November 2013 (UTC)
Burmese Python →
Burmese python – Article was moved away from "Burmese python" to "Burmese Python" by an editor who stated he/ she wanted to make it more consistent with other reptile articles. The other python articles appear to exist under various species names rather than common names, but in any case I could find no justification or pattern for naming this particular animal "Burmese Python" rather than "Burmese python" ("python" not being a proper noun in this instance). Another editor (see above) has also noticed this irregularity, and Wikipedia
naming conventions for fauna suggest that no capital letter should be present on any word other than the first in a case like this. cf.
Gila monster,
Australian water dragon,
King cobra, etc.
KDS4444
Talk 09:27, 28 November 2013 (UTC)
Please note that a new page on the Dwarf Burmese Python had recently been created. Editors may wish to assess whether that page is best left standing alone, or whether its contents woukld be more effective if merged into this page. Nick Moyes ( talk) 08:49, 19 July 2017 (UTC)
Hello fellow Wikipedians,
I have just modified 2 external links on Burmese python. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.
This message was posted before February 2018.
After February 2018, "External links modified" talk page sections are no longer generated or monitored by InternetArchiveBot. No special action is required regarding these talk page notices, other than
regular verification using the archive tool instructions below. Editors
have permission to delete these "External links modified" talk page sections if they want to de-clutter talk pages, but see the
RfC before doing mass systematic removals. This message is updated dynamically through the template {{
source check}}
(last update: 18 January 2022).
Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot ( Report bug) 18:13, 27 July 2017 (UTC)
2009. "Florida: Reptile Species Ban Considered." New York Times, August 06. 17. Academic Search Alumni Edition, EBSCOhost (accessed May 2, 2018).
Walters, T. M., Mazzotti, F. J., & Fitz, H. C. (2016). Habitat selection by the invasive species burmese python in Southern Florida. Journal of Herpetology, 50(1), 50-56.
Mazzotti, F. J., Rochford, M., Vinci, J., Jeffery, B. M., Eckles, J. K., Dove, C., & Sommers, K. P. (2016). Implications of the 2013 Python Challenge® for Ecology and Management of Python molorus bivittatus (Burmese Python) in Florida. Southeastern Naturalist, 15(sp8), 63-74.
python, in zoology. (2017). In P. Lagasse, & Columbia University, The Columbia encyclopedia (7th ed.). New York, NY: Columbia University Press. Retrieved from https://jwupvdz.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/columency/python_in_zoology/0?institutionId=8945
( Juliajerolamon ( talk) 21:15, 8 May 2018 (UTC))
Hello @ Romannpomsonth: This record is not verifiable by others. You can read about this WP:V requirement. Invasive Spices ( talk) 5 January 2023 (UTC)
This
edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request. |
A 19 foot specimen was discovered in the wild in the US State of Florida. https://www.npr.org/2023/07/13/1187497592/record-breaking-burmese-python-longest-florida 2600:100E:B090:ACBA:A4FE:B8D9:EDB3:2D3B ( talk) 04:51, 14 July 2023 (UTC)