Large Male African Python Found in Dade County, Florida

The SunSentinel.com reported on March 20, 2010 that a 14 foot (4.27 m), 140 pound (63.5 kg) male African Rock Python had been captured in West Miami (Dade County) in January. The species (Python sebae) was first discovered living in Florida in September of 2009. The news report suggests this is an unusually large male. In southeast Nigeria Luiselli et al. (2007, pages 89-100 in Henderson and Powell, Biology of Boas and Pythons, Eagle Mountain Publishing) measured 51 female and 39 male African Pythons and found females averaged 4.15 m and males 2.47 m. The largest female observed was about 5 m. Thus, the male from Dade County appears to be exceptionally large compare with the African population studied, suggesting this species may be finding food to be nutritious and plentiful in Florida.