“This report clearly reveals that these giant snakes threaten to destabilize some of our most precious ecosystems and parks, primarily through predation on vulnerable native species,” ~ Dr. Robert Reed

“Compounding their risk to native species and ecosystems is that these snakes mature early, produce large numbers of offspring, travel long distances, and have broad diets that allow them to eat most native birds and mammals,” ~ Dr. Gordon Rodda

“We have a cautionary tale with the American island of Guam and the brown treesnake,” -  “Within 40 years of its arrival, this invasive snake has decimated the island’s native wildlife—10 of Guam’s 12 native forest birds, one of its two bat species, and about half of its native lizards are gone. The python introduction to Florida is so recent that the tally of ecological damage cannot yet be made.” ~ Dr. Robert Reed

Resources

• View the risk-assessment report
• Questions and Answers about this report

Scientific Names

• Indian or Burmese Python (Python molurus)
• Northern African Python (Python sebae)
• Southern African Python (Python natalensis)
• Reticulated Python (Python [or Broghammerus] reticulatus)
• Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor)
• Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus)
• Yellow Anaconda (Eunectes notaeus)
• Beni or Bolivian Anaconda (Eunectes beniensis)
• De Schauensee’s Anaconda (Eunectes deschauenseei)

Source: http://www.usgs.gov/