Editing Ball python (section)

==Description==
[[File:Python regius 070731 Portrait.jpg|thumb|Close-up of head]]
The ball python is black, or albino and dark brown with light brown blotches on the back and sides. Its white or cream belly is scattered with black markings. It is a stocky snake with a relatively small head and smooth scales.<ref name="Meh87"/> It reaches a maximum adult length of {{convert|182|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}. Males typically measure eight to ten [[subcaudal scales]], and females typically measure two to four subcaudal scales.<ref name="Bar06">{{cite book |author=Barker, D. G. |author2=Barker, T. M. |year=2006 |title=Ball Pythons: The History, Natural History, Care and Breeding |series=Pythons of the World |volume=2 |publisher=VPI Library |location=Boerne, TX |isbn=0-9785411-0-3}}</ref> Females reach an average snout-to-vent length of {{convert|116.2|cm|frac=16|abbr=on}}, a {{convert|44.3|mm|frac=32|abbr=on}} long jaw, an {{convert|8.7|cm|frac=16|abbr=on}} long tail and a maximum weight of {{convert|1.635|kg|lboz|abbr=on}}. Males are smaller with an average snout-to-vent length of {{convert|111.3|cm|frac=16|abbr=on}}, a {{convert|43.6|mm|frac=32|abbr=on}} long jaw, an {{convert|8.6|cm|frac=16|abbr=on}} long tail and a maximum weight of {{convert|1.561|kg|lboz|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Aubret_al2005>{{Cite journal |author1=Aubret, F. |author2=Bonnet, X. |author3=Harris, M. |author4=Maumelat, S. |year=2005 |title=Sex Differences in Body Size and Ectoparasite Load in the Ball Python, ''Python regius'' |journal=Journal of Herpetology |volume=39 |issue=2 |pages=315–320 |doi=10.1670/111-02N |jstor=4092910|s2cid=86230972 }}</ref>
Both sexes have [[pelvic spur]]s on both sides of the vent. During [[Copulation (zoology)|copulation]], males use these spurs for gripping females.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Rizzo, J. M.|year=2014 |title=Captive care and husbandry of ball pythons (''Python regius'') |journal=Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=48–52 |doi=10.5818/1529-9651-24.1.48|s2cid=162806864 }}</ref> Males tend to have larger spurs, and sex is best determined by manual eversion of the male [[hemipenes]] or inserting a probe into the [[cloaca]] to check the presence of an inverted hemipenis.<ref name="McCurley">{{cite book |author=McCurley, K. |year=2005 |title=The Complete Ball Python: A Comprehensive Guide to Care, Breeding and Genetic Mutations |publisher=ECO & Serpent's Tale Natural History Books |isbn=978-097-131-9}}</ref>