Naples9
12-17-2008, 08:18 AM
This is from a thread I made a while ago for another forum, it's just info. that I've pulled and learned from all over and observed myself...figured I'd put it all in one place! Enjoy!
There are always questions regarding locality, from what locality is my GTP? to How do you tell the difference between locality? to What are the localities? I figured I would make a thread to explain what I know of Green Tree Python Localities, in order to answer the questions often asked. Maybe this could be made a Sticky for quick future reference! Hope this helps all you GTP buffs and future GTP keepers!
GENERAL OVERVIEW: Green Tree Pythons (Morelia Viridis) or Chondros (as you will sometimes hear) come from New Guinea, the Indonesian Islands and the Cape York Peninsula of Australia. So naturally the categorization of localities come from various places within these parameters. Green Tree Pythons can Rarely be determined just by looking at them, although with some there is a better chance of distinction. Locality or Blood Lines can be determined visually in some snakes like Reticulated Pythons or King Snakes. Unfortunately the GTP is not one of those species. Often times coloring or head shape or something like that can be used to determine locality, but this is not so with Green Tree Pythons. It is often thought that GTPs can be determined by their temper too, however this is not an absolute. There are some localities that tend to be more aggressive than others, but again, it's not an exact science.
BREEDING CHARACTERISTICS:Green Tree Python parents often times don't even look like the young that they produce. When breeding a species such as ball pythons, it's easy to figure out what the general coloring and pattern will be, but not with GTPs. Two blue adult GTPs can often time produce young that will never change to blue or conversely two seemingly "normal" looking GTPs can produce offspring that start red, turn green, turn blue and turn back to green...it's crazy!! They are extremely individual snakes!
Localities: Since people LOVE to categorize their GTPs by a certain locality, we will discuss the localities in which GTPs come from. Some are actual locations and some are ports in which the animals are exported. Keep in mind that the generalizations that I am making are just that; generalizations. There is NO set way to distinguish GTPs from their localities. First I'll take a look at the Mainland GTP localities.
SORONG: Located of the Vogelkop Peninsula Sorong GTPs tend to have yellow babies, so if you have a red baby GTP, there is a good chance it's not a Sorong. As far as color goes they tend to be a vibrant green with a white stomach and yellow speckling. They also tend to have a blueish dorsal stripe and blueish "triangles" along their sides and a calico (black) tail. They also tend to have shorter heads and very distinct lobes. Sorong GTPs are often times known for being very docile and much less aggressive than other GTP localities.
JAYAPURA: Jayapura is a port city from which GTPs are often exported. They tend to be smaller in size compared to other GTPs. Babies can be either red or yellow and adults have more blueish features. They aren't known to have the black calico tails like Sorongs. Their dorsal region tends to have yellow and white scales, and hardly ever blue.
LEREH: This locality comes from the North East Lowlands. Babies can be red or yellow and adults are almost exclusively green and yellow in color. The triangle pattern usually only contain 1 blue scale. They are known to have a moderate temper.
MANAKWARI: Like the Sorong, this locality also comes from the Vogelkop Peninsula, and likewise tend to have only yellow offspring. Their coloring is described with more blue than most GTP localities. The body is also very similar in shape and size to a Sorong.
WAMENA: This is a town in central Irian-Jaya. Babies are often Red rather than yellow and almost always have white tails as neonates. They tend to be a more dark green than Sorongs, but very similar in shape and size. This locality often features a "mite phase" as Juveniles, which means they get black speckles. The mite phase diminishes as the GTP gets older.
NABIRE: This is actually not a locality or port, rather an airport on the Vogelkop Peninsula. Babies tend to be yellow more often than red, and adults contain more white than other localities. Nabire locality GTPs are also a larger locality than most.
ARAFAK: These come from a National Park (Arafak) on the Vogelkop Peninsula. Babies are a dark red and adults are a dark green, with little to no blue. This is not a very common locality.
MERAUKE: (Cape York) This is a coastal city in the south that is very close to Australia. This is also a very common GTP locality for color and temperament reasons. Baby Merauke's are Yellow and adults are a vibrant green with a white dorsal stripe. They tend to be among the more expensive wild caught locality and are very docile and good natured.
This second categorization of GTP localities are Island.
BIAK: If you've heard of GTPs, chances are you've also heard of a "Biak". This is an Island locality, which makes it's physical traits a bit more reliable when making generalizations. They are quite large as far as GTPs are concerned and have large heads and pronounced snouts. Babies can be both red or yellow, but after than, not much is certain. They can be a variety of colors and "splotchy" color patterns. They are the most common locality offered for sale. Biaks have a reputation for being "nasty" or "aggressive" and this does tend to be true, however with handling they can settle down quite nicely. Most people just don't have the patience or willingness to get bit repeatedly until the snake learns to settle down. Biaks also include the GTPs caught on the surrounding small islands (Yapen).
ARU: This is an island locality that is located off the southwest coast of West Papua. Babies are always yellow and they tend to change much earlier than other localities. As adults they are an emerald green color and have white scales on their dorsal region. They are a medium sized GTP with a "stubby" tail. They are extremely docile and easy to handle. These are great for beginners who are eager to handle and see color changes.
KOFIAU/CANARY: These come from the Kofiau Islands which are just south of the Vogelkop Peninsula. A common misconception with this locality is that they are yellow and stay yellow. This is NOT true! Even adults who were always yellow have been known to change overnight! It's CRAZY!
So those are the locations. Hope that gave a better understanding of the generalizations that we make about each locality. There are also many projects that are going on to produce "designer" GTPs. Without fully understanding the genetics behind this amazing species of python, it is hard to produce animals in which we understand the changes that they will undergo from neonate to adult.
Good Luck to anyone who is keeping Green Tree Pythons or is looking forward to keeping them in the future! They are truly one of the most special snakes around and are the highlight of any snake collection. If you are looking for an amazing snake with limitless potential and unsurpassed beauty and intrigue, the Green Tree Python is for you!
There are always questions regarding locality, from what locality is my GTP? to How do you tell the difference between locality? to What are the localities? I figured I would make a thread to explain what I know of Green Tree Python Localities, in order to answer the questions often asked. Maybe this could be made a Sticky for quick future reference! Hope this helps all you GTP buffs and future GTP keepers!
GENERAL OVERVIEW: Green Tree Pythons (Morelia Viridis) or Chondros (as you will sometimes hear) come from New Guinea, the Indonesian Islands and the Cape York Peninsula of Australia. So naturally the categorization of localities come from various places within these parameters. Green Tree Pythons can Rarely be determined just by looking at them, although with some there is a better chance of distinction. Locality or Blood Lines can be determined visually in some snakes like Reticulated Pythons or King Snakes. Unfortunately the GTP is not one of those species. Often times coloring or head shape or something like that can be used to determine locality, but this is not so with Green Tree Pythons. It is often thought that GTPs can be determined by their temper too, however this is not an absolute. There are some localities that tend to be more aggressive than others, but again, it's not an exact science.
BREEDING CHARACTERISTICS:Green Tree Python parents often times don't even look like the young that they produce. When breeding a species such as ball pythons, it's easy to figure out what the general coloring and pattern will be, but not with GTPs. Two blue adult GTPs can often time produce young that will never change to blue or conversely two seemingly "normal" looking GTPs can produce offspring that start red, turn green, turn blue and turn back to green...it's crazy!! They are extremely individual snakes!
Localities: Since people LOVE to categorize their GTPs by a certain locality, we will discuss the localities in which GTPs come from. Some are actual locations and some are ports in which the animals are exported. Keep in mind that the generalizations that I am making are just that; generalizations. There is NO set way to distinguish GTPs from their localities. First I'll take a look at the Mainland GTP localities.
SORONG: Located of the Vogelkop Peninsula Sorong GTPs tend to have yellow babies, so if you have a red baby GTP, there is a good chance it's not a Sorong. As far as color goes they tend to be a vibrant green with a white stomach and yellow speckling. They also tend to have a blueish dorsal stripe and blueish "triangles" along their sides and a calico (black) tail. They also tend to have shorter heads and very distinct lobes. Sorong GTPs are often times known for being very docile and much less aggressive than other GTP localities.
JAYAPURA: Jayapura is a port city from which GTPs are often exported. They tend to be smaller in size compared to other GTPs. Babies can be either red or yellow and adults have more blueish features. They aren't known to have the black calico tails like Sorongs. Their dorsal region tends to have yellow and white scales, and hardly ever blue.
LEREH: This locality comes from the North East Lowlands. Babies can be red or yellow and adults are almost exclusively green and yellow in color. The triangle pattern usually only contain 1 blue scale. They are known to have a moderate temper.
MANAKWARI: Like the Sorong, this locality also comes from the Vogelkop Peninsula, and likewise tend to have only yellow offspring. Their coloring is described with more blue than most GTP localities. The body is also very similar in shape and size to a Sorong.
WAMENA: This is a town in central Irian-Jaya. Babies are often Red rather than yellow and almost always have white tails as neonates. They tend to be a more dark green than Sorongs, but very similar in shape and size. This locality often features a "mite phase" as Juveniles, which means they get black speckles. The mite phase diminishes as the GTP gets older.
NABIRE: This is actually not a locality or port, rather an airport on the Vogelkop Peninsula. Babies tend to be yellow more often than red, and adults contain more white than other localities. Nabire locality GTPs are also a larger locality than most.
ARAFAK: These come from a National Park (Arafak) on the Vogelkop Peninsula. Babies are a dark red and adults are a dark green, with little to no blue. This is not a very common locality.
MERAUKE: (Cape York) This is a coastal city in the south that is very close to Australia. This is also a very common GTP locality for color and temperament reasons. Baby Merauke's are Yellow and adults are a vibrant green with a white dorsal stripe. They tend to be among the more expensive wild caught locality and are very docile and good natured.
This second categorization of GTP localities are Island.
BIAK: If you've heard of GTPs, chances are you've also heard of a "Biak". This is an Island locality, which makes it's physical traits a bit more reliable when making generalizations. They are quite large as far as GTPs are concerned and have large heads and pronounced snouts. Babies can be both red or yellow, but after than, not much is certain. They can be a variety of colors and "splotchy" color patterns. They are the most common locality offered for sale. Biaks have a reputation for being "nasty" or "aggressive" and this does tend to be true, however with handling they can settle down quite nicely. Most people just don't have the patience or willingness to get bit repeatedly until the snake learns to settle down. Biaks also include the GTPs caught on the surrounding small islands (Yapen).
ARU: This is an island locality that is located off the southwest coast of West Papua. Babies are always yellow and they tend to change much earlier than other localities. As adults they are an emerald green color and have white scales on their dorsal region. They are a medium sized GTP with a "stubby" tail. They are extremely docile and easy to handle. These are great for beginners who are eager to handle and see color changes.
KOFIAU/CANARY: These come from the Kofiau Islands which are just south of the Vogelkop Peninsula. A common misconception with this locality is that they are yellow and stay yellow. This is NOT true! Even adults who were always yellow have been known to change overnight! It's CRAZY!
So those are the locations. Hope that gave a better understanding of the generalizations that we make about each locality. There are also many projects that are going on to produce "designer" GTPs. Without fully understanding the genetics behind this amazing species of python, it is hard to produce animals in which we understand the changes that they will undergo from neonate to adult.
Good Luck to anyone who is keeping Green Tree Pythons or is looking forward to keeping them in the future! They are truly one of the most special snakes around and are the highlight of any snake collection. If you are looking for an amazing snake with limitless potential and unsurpassed beauty and intrigue, the Green Tree Python is for you!