Aspidites melanocephalus
Silhouette: SeismicShrimp · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%
The black-headed python (Aspidites melanocephalus) is a species of snake in the family Pythonidae (the python family). The species is endemic to Australia. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid. Adults of A. melanocephalus typically grow to 1.5–2 m (4.9–6.6 ft) in length (including tail), but can grow to a maximum length of 3.5 m (11 ft). The body is muscular with a flattened profile, while the tail tapers to a thin point.
The top of the head is covered by large symmetrical scales. The dorsal scales, which are smooth and glossy, number 50-65 rows at midbody, while 315-355 ventral scales occur. The tail has 60-75 mainly single subcaudal scales and the anal scale is single. The posterior subcaudals tend to be divided, often irregularly.
The color pattern consists of shades of black, dark grey, brown, gold, and cream arranged in a banded or brindled pattern. The belly is light-colored, flecked with darker spots. The head is shiny black that also extends down the neck and throat for several inches.
The species A. melanocephalus is found in Australia, in the northern half of the country, excluding the very arid regions... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Litchfield National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Cape Range | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Kakadu National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Ningaloo Marine Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | National Zoological Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Australia Zoo | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Safari Madrid | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 5 | Kyabram Fauna Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Toledo Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Detroit Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Zoo La Barben | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 10 | Healesville Sanctuary | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 11 | Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 12 | Zoo Knoxville | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 13 | Taronga Zoo | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 14 | Houston Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 15 | Melbourne Zoo | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 16 | Perth Zoo | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 17 | London Zoo | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 18 | Riverbanks Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 19 | Hamerton Zoo Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 20 | Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 21 | Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 22 | Sydney Zoo | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 23 | Alligator Adventure | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 24 | Reptile Gardens | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 25 | Belgrade Zoo | 🇷🇸 Serbia | |
| 26 | Symbio Wildlife Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 27 | Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 28 | National Aquarium | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 29 | Ranger Red’s Zoo & Conservation Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 30 | Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 31 | Wildlife HQ Zoo | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Likely
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Black-headed Python sighting in Litchfield National Park on a given day, based on 25 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 7th most-seen of the 24 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February
In that month about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Black-headed Python in Litchfield National Park on a given day, against about 10% in January, the lowest month. That is one of Litchfield National Park's wettest months, with about 340 mm of rain against almost none in July.
Between 7 and 10 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black-headed Python sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is seen both by day and at night.
Yes
Of the 4 parks where we can rate Black-headed Python sightings, Litchfield National Park has the highest daily chance: about 40%. Next come Cape Range (Australia, about 20%) and Kakadu National Park (Australia, about 20%).
Same family: Pythonidae
The closest relatives of the Black-headed Python that you can see in Litchfield National Park (family Pythonidae, Pythons) are Children's Python (about 40%) and Olive Python (about 40%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Black-headed Python is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Litchfield National Park (25 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
