Meet Monty, Our Mascot

Monty the Python

Monty the Python is the Massachusetts Academy of Sciences official mascot. You can see Monty at any event that MAS attends.

Facts about Monty:

Monty is a ball python (Python regius).
Monty is about 3-5 years old. He is still considered a juvenile.
Monty is 3 feet long. When he is fully grown he'll be about 5-6 feet long.
Monty was donated to MAS by Dr. Al Richmond, a herpetologist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Is Monty a male or female?

We don't actually know. There are some physical characteristics that may indicate the gender of a snake, such as bluntness of the tail, but with ball pythons looks can be deceiving. There is an invasive procedure that involves probing the snake, which we don't feel is necessary. Monty is our pet, and we do not intend to breed him, so we're just happy to assume that he's male.

Facts about Ball Pythons:

Ball Pythons get their name because they coil up into a ball when they are frightened.
They are native to West and Central Africa
Ball Pythons are constrictors, they subdue their food by coiling around them and suffocating them. Since constrictors use their bodies to kill their prey, and they don't chew their food, they have reduced teeth that aren't very strong or sharp.
Ball Pythons are very docile snakes and make excellent pets.