Depending on what part of the world you are from, people have different names for the same thing. This is even true in countries that share the same language. One great example of this is with the ball python or the royal python. In fact, many people often wonder if a royal python is the same thing as a ball python.
Simply put, a royal python is the same thing as a ball python. The reason they are called different names is that people in the UK refer to them as royal pythons and in America, they are called ball pythons. That said, ball pythons and royal pythons are one and the same.
Ball pythons or royal pythons are both very popular pets in both the UK and the United States. So if you grew up in America then you probably have heard people talk about ball pythons. On the other hand, if you grew up in the UK you are probably more familiar with royal pythons.
Ball Pythons Are Called Royal Pythons In The UK
When you think of England one of the first things that might come to mind is royalty. Even today we are fascinated with the lives of English royalty. So you might think that it has something to do with the UK using the name royal python instead of ball python.
Well, the truth of the matter is that in many ways royal pythons do date back to royalty. In fact, ancient African royalty would wear royal pythons as jewelry. It is even rumored that Cleopatra would wear royal pythons as jewelry.
The proper name for the royal python is Python regius which actually translates into royal python. Or better yet regius could be translated as king. So perhaps king python.
The Igbo people from Nigeria where royal pythons are found highly revere the Royal python. This is also true for other cultures in Africa as well. Perhaps this also contributes to these pythons having a name that is based on kings or royalty.
So realistically royal python is the proper name if you are basing it on the Latin name. That said, both royal python and ball python are proper names for this amazing snake. With that in mind let’s talk about why we call them ball pythons in North America.
Royal Pythons Are Called Ball Pythons In America
If you have a ball python or have spent much time with one then you probably already know why they are called ball pythons. Simply put, they are called ball pythons because they love to curl up into balls. This is often due to their defensive and shy behavior. It is especially common for baby ball pythons to curl up into balls.
However, as they feel more comfortable with you then they will start to move around a bit more when you handle them. That said, even as adults these snakes like to curl up into balls and burrow in a log or somewhere else they can hideout.
Ball pythons are non-venomous constrictors so naturally, they kill their prey through suffocation by squeezing. So naturally, these snakes are very strong for their size and have a good amount of muscle. So when ball pythons curl into a ball it is like picking up a little ball of muscle.
Ball pythons are amazing snakes and are in fact the same type of snake as a royal python. So if you are in America it is common to refer to them as ball pythons. On the other, hand it is more common to call them royal pythons in the United Kingdom.
Do Royal/Ball Pythons Make Good Pets?
Ball pythons or royal pythons, as some may call them, make my list as one of the best pet pythons and boas. In fact, they might be my number one pick when it comes to pet snakes. Ball pythons have been captive-bred for a long time now and ball pythons have pretty docile temperaments. They are great snakes for handling because they are a perfect size and move slowly.
A five-foot-long ball python would be considered a large ball python, though they can sometimes get a bit bigger. That said since pythons rarely stretch out into a straight line a five-foot python probably looks smaller than you would think. Unless you are scared of snakes then it would probably look enormous.
Ball pythons are just big enough to handle well and not be fragile but small enough to where they do not pose the same dangers as a large python could. After all, you can purchase pythons at the pet store that can reach lengths of 20 plus feet long. In light of that, ball pythons are a great size.
In addition, ball pythons come in all different morphs. Meaning they come in all kinds of different patterns and colors. So they are some very amazing and very beautiful ball pythons to choose from.
Ball Pythons And Royal Pythons Are One In The Same
If you were wondering if ball pythons were the same as royal pythons you are not alone. This is a common question that is asked all the time. Ball pythons and royal pythons are one and the same type of python. The difference in names simply has to do with what part of the world you live in. In North America, we refer to them as ball pythons because of their tendency to curl up into little balls.
On the other hand, if you are from the United Kingdom, you would refer to them as royal pythons. Royal python is the proper name translated from the Latin name python regius which translates into royal python or king python.