{{Short description|Species of snake}} {{Speciesbox | image = Liasis fuscus.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 |status_ref=<ref>{{cite iucn|author1=Tallowin, O.|author2=O'Shea, M.|author3=Parker, F.|author4=Teale, R.|author5=Melville, J.|author6=Wilson, S.|author7=Ellis, R.|author8=Doughty, P.|author9=Keogh, J.S.|year=2018|title=''Liasis fuscus''|article-number=e.T177518A21649324|doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T177518A21649324.en|access-date=27 November 2025}}</ref> | genus = Liasis | species = fuscus | authority = Peters, 1873 | synonyms = * ''Liasis fuscus'' - Peters, 1873 * ''Liasis cornwallisius'' - Günther, 1879 * ''Nardoa crassa'' - Macleay, 1886 * ''Liasis fuscus'' - Boulenger, 1893 * ''Liasis fuscus fuscus'' - Stull, 1935 * ''Bothrochilus fuscus'' - Cogger, Cameron & Cogger, 1983 * ''Lisalia fuscus'' - Wells & Wellington, 1984 * ''Lisalia fusca'' - Wells & Wellington, 1985 * ''Morelia fusca'' - Underwood & Stimson, 1990 * ''Liasis fuscus'' - Cogger, 1992 |synonyms_ref=<ref name="McD99">McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. {{ISBN|1-893777-00-6}} (series). {{ISBN|1-893777-01-4}} (volume).</ref> }}

The '''water python''' ('''''Liasis fuscus''''') is a python species found in Australia and Papua New Guinea. No subspecies are currently recognized.<ref name="ITIS">{{ITIS |id=634772 |taxon=''Liasis fuscus'' |access-date=5 August 2008}}</ref> Like all other pythons, it is not venomous.

==Taxonomy== German naturalist Wilhelm Peters described the water python in 1873. It is also known as the brown water python.<ref name="GT00">Tierney G. 2000. ''Liasis fuscus''. James Cook University, 2001. [http://www.jcu.edu.au/school/tbiol/zoology/herp/Liasisfuscus.PDF PDF] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051130003647/http://www.jcu.edu.au/school/tbiol/zoology/herp/Liasisfuscus.PDF |date=2005-11-30 }} at [http://www.jcu.edu.au/ James Cook University]. Accessed 5 August 2008.</ref>

==Description== Adults average about 6–8 feet (2+ meters) in length, but may reach {{convert|10|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}}.<ref name=Cogger>{{cite book|last1=Cogger|first1=Harold G.|title=Reptiles & amphibians of Australia|date=1999|publisher=Reed New Holland|location=Sydney|isbn=1876334339|page=606|edition=6th}}</ref> Robustly built, it has a long head that is slightly distinct from the neck. The anterior supralabials have thermosensitive pits.<ref name="GT00"/>

Scalation includes a pair of undivided parietal scales and a single loreal scale on either side of the head. On the body, the dorsal scales number 45-55 at midbody, the ventral scales 270-300, the anal scale is single, with 60-90 paired subcaudal scales.<ref name="GT00"/>

The color pattern consists of a uniform, iridescent dark blackish brown dorsal color. The belly is a dull to bright yellow that includes the first few rows of dorsal scales. The throat is cream colored, while the upper labials are light gray-brown with dark brown or black spots.<ref name="GT00"/>

==Distribution and habitat== They are found in Australia in the Kimberley district of northern Western Australia from around Broome east through Northern Territory at least as far south as Mataranka to the coast of central Queensland to near Mackay. Also found in the Sir Charles Hardy Islands, on Cornwallis Island in the Torres Strait, and in Papua New Guinea, Western District, in the lower Fly River region at least as far inland as Lake Daviumbo. It can also be found in the southern part of Papuan province of Indonesia.<ref>[http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/177518/0 IUCN Red List - Liasis fuscus]</ref> The type locality given is "Port Bowen" (Port Clinton, Queensland, Australia).<ref name="McD99"/>

The highest population density is reached on the Adelaide River floodplains in the Northern Territory.<ref name="GT00"/>

==Behavior== Despite its common name, many individuals are found far from water for most of the year. They are usually nocturnal, seeking shelter during the day in hollow logs, in riverbank dens, and in vegetation. When surprised, most attempt to flee into any available water.<ref name="GT00"/>

==Feeding== An opportunistic feeder, its diet consists of a variety of vertebrates.<ref name=Cogger/> However, <!-- a study by Madsen and Shine (1996) revealed that --><!-- --> on the Adelaide River floodplains, this species preys mainly on dusky rats (''Rattus colletti'').<ref name="GT00"/>

In North Johnstone River, potential prey of water pythons include long-finned eels, freshwater catfish, bullrout, sooty grunters, spotted tilapia, sleepy cod, and prawns.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Grant S. Turner|title=Observations of water pythons Liasis fuscus foraging underwater|date=June 2025|website=www.researchgate.net}}</ref>

==Reproduction== Mating takes place in July–August, which is the middle of the dry season. This is followed by a gestation period of about a month, after which females lay an average of 12 eggs. The hatchlings emerge after 57–61 days of incubation and are each about 30&nbsp;cm in length.<ref name="GT00"/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{NRDB species|genus=Liasis|species=fuscus|date=5 August|year=2008}} {{Pythonidae}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q181841}}

fuscus Category:Reptiles of Western Australia Category:Snakes of New Guinea Category:Reptiles described in 1873 Category:Taxa named by Wilhelm Peters Category:Snakes of Australia