Appearance
It has a total length up to 2.3 m, 2.0 m from snout to vent. This species has a well defined neck and small scales across the head. Males may be up to 1.1 kg in weight, females may be four times heavier when fully grown. Larger individuals have been given as 4 m in total length.Several other similar pythons occur in its range. The woma, "Aspidites ramsayi", lacks the obvious neck of "M. spilota imbricata", and the western Stimson's python, "Antaresia stimsoni stimsoni", has a higher number of ventral scales.
Status
"Morelia imbricata" is widespread and thought to have large populations, but is exposed to the threatening processes of its distribution range. Noted in the assessment of its conservation status are land clearing and altered fire regimes, as it typically occupies a large undisturbed habitat. The impact of introduced predators, known to be foxes and cats, have not been assessed. Population densities have declined in the Esperance region. The various threat assessments have described it as near threatened and 'specially protected fauna' under its region's Wildlife Conservation Act. The hollow logs favored by the species are not produced by altered fire regimes or cleared in plantations.Behavior
It is discreet and slow moving, spending most of its time hidden, though occasionally it is seen attempting to cross roads. Typically this python is sedentary, but females in a survey at Garden Island were noted to be active most of the year. "M. imbricata" takes up residence in deep crevices or holes in limestone, on granite, in dense heath, and animal burrows.Habitat
The habitat is coastal areas, woodland, heathland, and semiarid areas. It is often found in woodlands of Eucalypt and "Banksia", or amongst grasses or low growing shrubs.Food
This species eats geckos, house mice, birds, and marsupials, including the Tammar wallaby.The young of brooding red-eared firetails, "Stagonopleura oculata", were taken from a nest being observed.
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