currently available. Red hatchlings are clear-cut progeny
of exotic GTPs; they are not from Australia, or even
southern New Guinea. In fact, they are not even Morelia
viridis. But when it comes to adults, the picture gets a
little hazy. Some of the exotic GTPs can be identified by
visual cues, but this is not definitive and, as far as I
know, there is probably only one person in this country
capable of visually distinguishing between these species
on a reliable basis.
The other option is genotyping. Examination of
mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been utilised in the
past and the technology available today is quite
advanced and reliable. Genetic markers for localities
such as Aru, Sorong, Biak and others are now readily
available from GenBank. Furthermore, a new study,
which is currently under way, will allow genetic labs to
tell almost exactly (within ~ 400km.) the origin of any
GTP. It will also include a solid revision of Green Tree
Python taxonomy.
Although both sexes possess mitochondria, and hence
mtDNA, this is inherited only from the mother (and the
mother’s mother, etc.). Therefore, we can only reliably
trace the origin of exotic GTPs using mtDNA if the
mother is from New Guinea. In other words, if the
maternal lineage has remained intact since arriving in
Australia from New Guinea, then profiling can be used to
confirm the exotic origin of males and females, because
both sexes will have inherited mtDNA from their New
Guinean female ancestor. If we have 100% pure-bred
Biaks (of either sex) and 100% pure-bred Aussies (of
either sex), then mtDNA can reliably distinguish
between them.
However, if the mother is Australian, but the father is
from New Guinea, the resulting test (on offspring of
either sex) would suggest an Australian heritage.
Similarly, if we breed a female Biak with an Aussie male,
examination of the mtDNA of the offspring will reflect
only the mother’s New Guinean lineage. Therefore,