The Ball python (Python regius) is a nonvenomous constrictor snake native to sub-Saharan Africa. Known for its docile temperament and manageable size, it has become one of the most popular pet ...

Though widely bred in captivity in the U.S. and Europe, tens of thousands are exported from West Africa each year, with little understanding of what that means for their conservation or well-being.

Their feeding habits revolve around their ability to swallow prey whole. The jaw of a python can stretch open up to 150 degrees, and they have loose ligaments between their bones to help move their ...