ABSTRACT
Wildlife management authorities often need to base recommendations for species protection on very flimsy evidence. Researchers can contribute by providing a more extensive database. As an example of this process, the idea that Diamond Pythons were endangered by pet-collecting proved to be mistaken, when radio-tracking of these giant snakes near Sydney revealed high abundances. That work also showed an unusual level of geographic variation in mating systems and sexual size dimorphism of Carpet Pythons. In some parts of Australia, male pythons tolerate each other even in the presence of reproductive females, and males are smaller than their mates. In other regions, males battle vigorously for mating rights, and males grow larger than females. The degree of size difference between the sexes also depends upon food supply. If medium-sized prey are rare, male snakes remain small even in populations where females grow large.
