of subspecies and hybrids; these have also been known by various informal names. The attempted arrangement of taxa in this, and other, Australasian Pythonidae has produced numerous synonyms. The discreet and roaming habits of this species have produced a low number of recorded specimens, giving inadequate sample numbers to support descriptions of a taxon's morphology. This is the case with proposed names which are sometimes cited, such as the Papuan Morelia spilota harrisoni (Hoser), despite being unaccepted or invalid. Common names are regional variants of carpet and diamond python or snake. The following is an incomplete list of synonyms: [Coluber] Arges - Linnaeus, 1758 [Coluber] Argus - Linnaeus, 1766 Coluber spilotus - Lacépède, 1804 [Python] punctatus - Merrem, 1820 [Coluber (Natrix)] Argus - Merrem, 1820 [Vipera (Echidna)] Spilotes - Merrem, 1820 Python Peronii - Wagler, 1828 Python spilotes - Gray In G. Grey, 1841 Morelia punctata - Gray, 1842 Morelia argus - A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844 Morelia spilotes - Gray, 1849 M[orelia]. argus var. fasciolata - Jan In Jan & Sordelli, 1864 Python spilotes - Boulenger, 1893 [Python spilotes spilotes] - Werner, 1909 Python spilotes macrospila - Werner, 1909 Morelia argus - Loveridge, 1934 Morelia argus - Stull, 1935 Morelia spilotes spilotes - Worrell, 1961 Morelia argus argus - Stimson, 1969 Python spilotes - McDowell, 1975 [Python spilotus spilotus] - L.A. Smith, 1981 Morelia spilota - Cogger, Cameron & Cogger, 1983 Morelia spilota - Underwood & Stimson, 1990 Morelia spilota spilota - Barker & Barker, 1994 References Further reading Lacépède, B.G. 1804. Mémoire sur plusieurs animaux de la Nouvelle-Hollande dont la description n'a pas encore été publiée. Annales du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris 4: 184–211. (Coluber spilotus, p. 209.) Mattison, C. 1999. Snake. DK Publishing. . External links DPIPWE (2012) Carpet Python (Morelia spilota) PDF — Detailed description and pest risk assessment — Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment. Hobart, Tasmania. Morelia (snake) Snakes of Australia Reptiles of Indonesia Reptiles of Papua New Guinea Reptiles described in 1804 Snakes of New Guinea