Editing Ball python (section)

{{Short description|Species of constricting snake}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}
{{Speciesbox
|status = NT
|status_system = IUCN3.1
|status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |author=D'Cruze, N. |author2=Wilms, T. |author3=Penner, J. |author4=Luiselli, L. |author5=Jallow, M. |author6=Segniagbeto, G. |author7=Niagate, B. |author8=Schmitz, A. |year=2022 |title=''Python regius'' |amends=2021 |page=e.T177562A220378972 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T177562A220378972.en |access-date=11 November 2023}}</ref>
|status2 = CITES_A2
|status2_system = CITES
|image = Ball python lucy.JPG
|genus = Python
|species = regius
|authority = ([[George Shaw (biologist)|Shaw]], 1802)
|synonyms = * ''Boa regia'' [[George Shaw (biologist)|Shaw]], 1802
* ''Cenchris regia'' [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1831
* ''Python bellii'' [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1842
* ''Hortulia regia'' [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1849<ref name=McD99/>
|range_map = Python regius distribution.svg
|range_map_caption = Distribution map of ball python
}}

The '''ball python''' ('''''Python regius'''''), also called the '''royal python''', is a [[Python (genus)|python]] species native to [[West Africa|West]] and [[Central Africa]], where it lives in [[grassland]]s, shrublands and open forests. This [[nonvenomous]] [[Constriction|constrictor]] is the smallest of the African pythons, growing to a maximum length of {{cvt|182|cm}}.<ref name=McD99>{{cite book |author1=McDiarmid, R. W. |author2=Campbell, J. A. |author3=Touré, T. |year=1999 |title=Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference |volume=1 |publisher=Herpetologists' League |location=Washington, DC |isbn=1-893777-00-6}}</ref> The name "ball python" refers to its tendency to curl into a ball when [[stress (biology)|stress]]ed or frightened.<ref name=Meh87>{{cite book |author=Mehrtens, J. M. |year=1987 |title=Living Snakes of the World in Color |location=New York |publisher=Sterling Publishers |isbn=080696460X |chapter=Ball Python, Royal Python (''Python regius'') |page=62 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/livingsnakesofwo00mehr/page/62}}</ref>