Aspidites ramsayi

Aspidites ramsayi, commonly known as Ramsay's python, woma python, and sand python, is a species of snake endemic to Australia. Once common throughout Western Australia, it has become critically endangered in some regions.

Etymology

Their genus name is translated into shield bearer in relation to the symmetrically shaped head scales. The specific name, ramsayi, is in honor of Australian zoologist Edward Pierson Ramsay.

Taxonomy

This is one of two species of Aspidites, the pitless pythons, an Australian genus of the Pythonidae family.

Description

Adults average 1.5 m (4.5 feet) in total length. The head is narrow and the eyes small. The body is broad and flattish in profile while the tail tapers to a thin point.

The dorsal scales are small and smooth, with 50-65 rows at midbody. There are 280-315 ventral scales, an undivided anal plate, and 40-45 mostly single subcaudal scales. Some of the posterior subcaudals may be irregularly divided.

The color may be pale brown to nearly black. The pattern consists of a ground colour that varies from medium brown and olive to lighter shades of orange, pink, and red, overlaid with darker striped or brindled markings. The belly is cream or light yellow with brown and pink blotches. The scales around the eyes are usually a darker color than the rest of the head.

Omar Pene

Omar Pene (born 1956 in Dakar) is the emblematic lead singer of the Super Diamono.

Career

Pene was born in the working-class neighborhood of Derkle in 1956. In the mid-1970s (1975–1976), he joined the Super Diamono, one of the longest running Senegalese popular bands. Recruited by Bailo Diagne, the first bass-player and a founding member of the group, Pene stood out as the most natural fixture in the band.

Along with his band members Bassirou Diagne, Bob Sene, Aziz Seck, Lapa Diagne, Adama Faye, Abdou Mbacke and shortly after, Ismael Lo - already known as 'l’homme orchestre' (one man band) due to his solo performances - they helped shape Senegalese contemporary music. During the 1980s, in Dakar, there were two dominant types of melomanes, the ones bitten by the frenetic and highly syncopative Mbalax of the Super Etoile, who frequented Djender and later on Thiossane night club, and those who religiously consumed the progressive bluesy-funky- soulful brand of local fusion of Super Diamono- who filled the Balafon Club located in the other side of town, near the Port Autonome de Dakar. Although Omar Pene and Youssou Ndour, always maintained an healthy and lively artistic competition, their supporters pledged a loyalty only seen among opposing football fans (soccer). In many ways, both used the Mbalax, which is almost unavoidable, once the Sabar is involved, but they did it differently.