What factors are suggested as stronger limiting factors for Woma distribution than temperature extremes alone?
Rainfall and vegetation structure
While Woma pythons thrive in environments with high daytime heat and cooler nights, which characterize inland Australia, the species' known range pattern suggests that factors related to moisture and plant life exert a stronger regulatory influence on its distribution than temperature variability alone. Specifically, rainfall amounts and the resultant vegetation structure are implied to be more significant limiting factors. This is evidenced by the distinct avoidance of the tropical north and temperate southeast coasts, patterns which correlate strongly with differences in typical rainfall regimes and characteristic plant communities compared to the arid belt they inhabit, provided adequate subterranean shelter remains accessible.
