NATURAL HISTORY · CATALOGUE RECORD
Pygmy Python
Antaresia perthensis (Stull, 1932)
Source-backed taxonomic record
Accepted species in Catalogue of Life’s 11 September 2026 base release. This preserves the source classification and available supporting data; it is not a completed species monograph.
Open encyclopedia reference
The pygmy python (Antaresia perthensis), also known as the anthill python, is a species of snake found in Western Australia. Their common names are due to their being the smallest member of the family Pythonidae and often being found in termite mounds. No subspecies are currently recognised.
The specific epithet is derived from the Western Australian state capital, Perth—a city which is not, ironically, within the range of the species. The global biodiversity database iNaturalist has documented a number of different visual sightings of the pygmy python within the state of Western Australia, with the nearest physical sighting to Perth having occurred near Reedy, some 680 km (422.53 mi) north and slightly further inland of the capital.
Wikipedia contributors, Pygmy python; see linked history · CC BY-SA 4.0 . Plain-text lead excerpt, at most 180 words; no infobox or later sections Retrieved 2026-10-05T02:56:22.361768+00:00. This reference remains separate from the taxonomic record.
Identity & source status
- Scientific name
- Antaresia perthensis (Stull, 1932)
- Name authority
- (Stull, 1932)
- Common name
- Pygmy Python
- Rank
- species
- Accepted status
- accepted
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Squamata
- Family
- Pythonidae
- Genus
- Antaresia
- Extinction status
- Not supplied by this source
Classification family tree
Nested taxonomic groups from the source. This is not a direct-ancestor chain, a dated evolutionary tree or a phylogenetic reconstruction.
- domainEukaryota (Chatton, 1925) Whittaker & Margulis, 1978
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumChordata
- subphylumVertebrata
- infraphylumGnathostomata
- parvphylumOsteichthyes
- megaclassTetrapoda
- classReptilia Laurenti, 1768
- orderSquamata Oppel, 1811
- suborderSerpentes Linnaeus, 1758
- infraorderAlethinophidia Nopcsa, 1923
- familyPythonidae
- genusAntaresia
- speciesAntaresia perthensis (Stull, 1932)
Close classified relatives
These entries share the source’s genus, Antaresia. They are not necessarily the closest relatives established by molecular evidence.
| Species | Classification | Source status |
|---|---|---|
| Children's PythonAntaresia childreni (Gray, 1842) | PythonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Cape York Spotted Python [peninsularis]Antaresia maculosa (Peters, 1873) | PythonidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
Names & synonyms
Names explicitly linked to this accepted taxon in the source. Synonymy can change with revision.
| Recorded name | Source status |
|---|---|
| Liasis childreni perthensis Stull, 1932 Stull, 1932 | synonym |
Documented distribution
Source distribution statements, not a complete range map. A listed locality is not necessarily a place of origin.
Source literature & publication evidence
References attached to this source record, including nomenclatural citations where supplied. This is a selected bibliography; abbreviated citations remain in the source’s form.
- https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Antaresia&species=perthensis Source fields: Taxon.tsv dwc:namePublishedIn, Taxon.tsv dcterms:references
Origins, evidence & remaining research
Name authority and publication references document nomenclature where the source supplies it. They do not establish evolutionary origins or the earliest fossil occurrence.
Specimen-level evidence, morphology, ecological research, phylogenetic studies, a comprehensive bibliography and a located literary passage have not yet been compiled for this record. A suitable sourced image remains to be added.
Dataset citation & attribution
This exact taxon in ChecklistBank · Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11
Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11; dataset 316321; doi:10.48580/dgz5n. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . Retrieved 5 October 2026.
Stable key: col:5V9S6. Classification follows source parent identifiers. English common names may vary by region.