False brooding (FB): Many species of pythons continue to brood when their 
clutches are removed prior to hatching (T. Miller, pers. comm.), and a Python 
molurus has brooded without ovipositing (J. S. Foster, pers. comm.). The 
nongravid female P. m. bivittatus housed with two gravid conspecifics brooded 
when the gravid females oviposited and brooded their eggs. This "false 
brooding" consisted of the python laying in a conical coil and exhibiting 
shivering thermogenesis (J. S. Foster, pers. comm.; Somma, pers. observ.). 
Oophagy (00): The parent eats eggs or aborted ova. This is a form of 
parental behavior because it may prevent microbial infection of viable, 
healthy eggs from adjacent infected eggs (Groves, 1982; Somma, 1989a) or 
prevent detection of progeny by predators using olfaction (i.e., detection of 
chemical cues released from rotting eggs or aborted ova) to locate food 
(Tinkle and Gibbons, 1977; Groves, 1982; Shine, 1988). Earliest observations 
of this behavior may be found in Hindu scriptures dating back to 600 BC (Rao, 
1957). 
Removal of nonviable eggs from nest (RE): Nonviable eggs are removed from the 
nest, presumably at a safe distance from viable eggs. This behavior has been 
reported only in Python molurus (Griehl, 1982) and perhaps occurs in 
Gerrhonotus liocephalus (Greene cited in Tinkle and Gibbons, 1977). 
Parental care of neonates (CN): A parent remains with and expresses parental 
behavior toward neonates after hatching or parturition. 
Neonates assisted during hatching or parturition (AN): Attending parent 
assists neonates from eggs, extraembryonic membranes or nest chamber. In 
Eumeces obsoletus and E. septentrionalis, the mother licks amniotic fluid from 
neonates' bodies after hatching (Evans, 1959; Somma, 1987c). 
Manipulation or retrieval of eggs (ME): Eggs are manipulated within the nest 
or moved to a new nest site. Eggs that have been removed from the nest may 
also be retrieved. 
Communal care of eggs (CC): Eggs may be deposited in a communal clutch and 
attended by several unrelated parents. In some situations, this behavior 
could be interpreted as alloparental care (Banks and Schwaner, 1984; Somma, 
1987a). 
Neonatal feeding facilitated (FN): A brooding female E. obsoletus avoided 
taking food items in deference to its young, waiting for them to finish before 
she fed (Evans, 1959). This behavior has not been observed in other reptiles. 
Normally does not exhibit parental behavior (NPB): Parental behavior has been 
reported (sometimes reliably) for individuals of species that normally abandon 
their progeny. 
Details unknown (DU): Details of parental behavior are not known or not 
reported. 
Reliability uncertain (RU): Reliability of report regarded as uncertain or 
possibly unreliable due to paucity of information provided or observed by the 
author. 
