 
Brendan and a reticulated python named Worm.
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Two very big reticulated pythons named Lily and Worm live in an enclosure at the Australia Zoo's recently completed Feeding Frenzy food court.
The food court boasts six different specialized outlets: hamburgers, Italian and Chinese food, deli sandwiches, salads, coffee and cakes, and a scrumptious ice cream parlor.
Lily and Worm, neither of whom are on the menu, live a quiet existence amongst all the hustle and bustle of the Feeding Frenzy. They are both 25 years old and very gentle, though they do get fairly excited when hungry. Hold on to your hamburgers!
Reticulated pythons are the longest snakes in the world. The longest specimen on record was 33 feet in length. They can weigh up to 440 pounds, which makes them one of the largest snakes on Earth, if not the largest.
They live in tropical forests and wooded areas in Southeast Asia, usually near small rivers, lakes and ponds. They also live in agricultural areas, feeding on livestock, dogs and even the occasional human.
In their rainforest habitat, they feed mainly on warmblooded prey such as nesting birds, waterfowl, large deer, feral pigs and other mammals.
Though they are excellent swimmers, they spend more time on land and in trees than in the water. Their favorite hunting strategy is waiting in a tree for prey to wander by, then launching an ambush. They also forage, but do so rarely because it requires a lot of energy.
Reticulated pythons have a unique strategy for consuming antlered prey. If the antlers are small enough, they are simply swallowed and digested. If they are too large, the snake will actually break them back so that they lie flat before engulfing the animal headfirst.
On rare occasions, reticulated pythons will even consume antlered prey from the hind end. As the snake works its way toward the antlers, its digestive acids break down and soften the animal's flesh, helping the antlers to fall off before the head is swallowed.
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Name: Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus)
Primary Classification: Henophidia (Boas, Pythons and Relatives) Location: Southeast Asia. Habitat: Tropical rainforests and woodlands near small rivers, lakes and ponds. Also agricultural areas. Diet: Warmblooded prey such as nesting birds, waterfowl and mammals, including dogs, large deer, pigs and occasionally humans. Size: Up to 33 ft in length and 440 lbs in weight. Description: Yellow or tan body with interlocking black marks. Orange eyes. Thin, dark line from eye to jaw. Big head, wider than neck. Heat pits along jaw. Very long, relatively slender body. Smooth scales. Conservation Status: Common |
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