Size Matters: First record of minimum male size at maturity and mating of free-ranging, endangered Indian Python Python molurus

Abstract

Indian python Python molurus (Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the world’s giant snakes with maximum lengths measured six to eight meters. Nevertheless, information on the size at maturity of P. molurus is not available. On February 9, 2019, 12:56 pm, one female and two males were observed during the group mating in Moyar River Valley Landscape, Southern India. We report the first observation on smallest male measuring 198 cm total length, 172 cm snoutvent length and weighing 3.3.kg mated with a radio-tagged larger female. At the end of the mating event everted hemi penis were observed in the male pythons. Our observation on the mating and morphology details of P. molurus gives the first glimpse of juvenile the male maturity that representing the youngest known free-ranging matured male of this poorly studied species in its distribution range.