An iridescent python has gone viral on social media for its mesmerizing rainbow scales that shine under the sunlight. The snake, named MyLove, is regularly featured on the zoo's social media accounts where it lives.
MyLove was born in The Reptile Zoo in Fountain Valley, California, where it was carefully bred to achieve the beautiful rainbow colors it has now. The people watching this snake love her. Perhaps that is why the zoo named her MyLove.
A Reticulated Python is pictured in a case at the house of Faisal Malikah in the Saudi Red Sea resort of Jeddah on September 16, 2021.
MyLove's Iridescent Colors
MyLove went viral last year when it was featured on the zoo's Instagram account in a video while her handler was holding her in the sunlight.
"MyLove's iridescence just never gets old," the caption of the video read. It has alreadyreceived more than 182,000 likes. Some Instagram users even pointed out how beautiful and stunning the snake's bright and colorful scales were.
The Reptile Zoo's founder Jay Brewer told Fox News that MyLove has genes from a motley and golden child species that makes her scales so colorful and bright under the sunlight. He added that it was not the first time MyLove went viral on social media. Every time they post the snake online, it catches many people's attention. Due to this, Brewer believes that MyLove could be one of the most famous snakes in the world that made it big on the internet.
MyLove was probably a product of breeding and that was how it got its rainbow-colored scales, The Rainforest Site claimed. The outlet added that aside from MyLove, the zoo has an all-black rainbow and polka dots snake named Domino
The Zoo where MyLove and Domino live also takes pride in its rainbow snakes. "It's true we have a Reticulated Python in nearly color imaginable," it announced on its website.
MyLove's Sweet Demeanor
Most reticulated pythons are not as sweet as MyLove. But her recent video posted on the Instagram account snakes_video, captioned "Check out My Love's insane rainbow!" shows how affectionate she is towards her handler.
Her handler explains in the video that MyLove is a reticulated python motley golden child about 12 feet long and could grow up to 25 feet. It can be seen that as the woman holds MyLove with much love, the reptile is equally friendly to her, unlike most reticular pythons, which are usually aggressive.
It is evident also in the video the huge size of MyLove as she is carried on her caretaker's shoulder, while her right hand is petting the snake as she speaks to the camera.
About Reticulated Pythons
Reticulated pythons (Malayopython reticulatus) are the largest snakes in the world, along with the green anaconda, according to Zoo Atlanta. The largest one in captivity grew up to 28.5 feet long and weighs about 320 pounds. On the other hand, the green anaconda does not grow as long but has heavier girth and mass.
These species are carnivorous and feed on birds and mammals, like boars and deers. They are typically found in rainforests and use camouflage to hide.
Although they are usually an aggressive species, they do not display this behavior when raised in zoological settings. As of now, their population remains ample despite the opportunistic persecutions by humans.
Below is another video of MyLove with one of her caretakers that was taken in 2020:
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