Chondro Locality Maps
If you have been around green tree pythons long enough you're sure to have heard people attach a "locality" name to green tree pythons. These locality tags are generally based on the snake's appearance or physical characteristics and not on the actual location where the snake (or its parents) were collected. In most cases people are interested in knowing what geographic race their chondro might resemble. This is a tricky subject because of the genetic variability within chondros and the fact that there are no clear geographic boundaries dividing natural populations.
It is illegal for wild caught chondros to be exported so there are several in-country breeding facilities that regularly collect wild specimens for their breeding collections. Many of these farm hatched babies are imported into the US and tagged as a specific locality. The commonly seen chondro localities are typically based on the proximity to the nearest large city or airport to a favorite collection site. There is rarely any actual proof of where the snakes came from and the information given by collectors cannot always be trusted.
While most of us do not have chondros that are from legitimately documented locality stock, there are several races that have consitent identifiable traits. Biak, Aru, and Sorong are three exampes of races that are considered "identifiable" based on certain characteristics. As suggested by Greg Maxwell, I promote the use of the word "type" to designate those chondros with typical geographic race appearances, but who lack any documentation.
The debate rages on about the claims of locale specific chondros; however, this page is not to prove or disprove locales from which green tree pythons orginate, but rather to provide online maps of the collection and exportation locations commonly associated with chondros. The map below includes further information on Sorong, Biak, and Aru Island chondros.
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