Ball/Royal Python.

The ball python, given it's name sake due to the defensive act of curling in to a tight ball to protect it's head and vital organs or also known as the Royal python is a brilliant option for a beginner wanting a larger snake without feeling overwhelmed.The species is native to Africa but mainly in the west and central areas of the continent, where it lives in grasslands, shrublands and open forests. This non venemous yet slightly intimidating snake is the smallest of the African pythons, and a the widely available "wild type" is commonly black or dark brown with light brown blotches on the back and sides. Its white or cream belly is scattered with black markings, however as with most domesticated snakes and reptiles many morphs are available from yellows to silvers to even albino and BEL complex colouration. It is a stocky snake with a relatively small head and smooth, semi iridescent scales which will reach a comfortable maximum adult length of 182 cm (6.0 ft). Females reach an average snout-to-vent length of 116.2 cm (45.7 in), a 44.3 mm (1.74 in) long jaw, an 8.7 cm (3.4 in) long tail and weights easily upto 3kg dependant on age,feeding habits and more. Males are smaller with an average snout-to-vent length of 111.3 cm (43.8 in), a 43.6 mm (1.72 in) long jaw, and a 8.6 cm (3.4 in) long tail, but as with all nature this can vary snake to snake. Both sexes have small, pointed pelvic spurs on either sides of the vent and these can vary in size dependant on age. During copulation, males use these spurs for gripping females. Males tend to have larger spurs although the sex is best determined by manual eversion of the male hemipenes or inserting a probe into the cloaca to check the presence of an inverted hemipenis but this is not advised unless you have a qualified vet, similar or well experienced, as done wrong can cause severe damage and complications.