Why is the Pilbara Olive Python significantly paler than its tropical northern counterparts?

These specimens are much paler, often leaning toward light tan or sandy yellow, to blend with the rocky, sparsely vegetated terrain

The variation seen in the Pilbara Olive Python is a classic example of local adaptation to an extreme environment. Found in the arid northwest of Western Australia, these snakes have evolved to possess colors ranging from light tan to pale brown or sandy yellow. This coloration scheme provides exceptional camouflage, allowing them to blend almost seamlessly with the rocky outcrops and sparsely vegetated landscapes characteristic of that region. This adaptation is necessary because the environment is consistently dry, conditions which the Water Python, which prefers aquatic habitats, would struggle to survive in.