This species is very easy to identify with its shiny black head and distinct banding. They and their close cousin, the Woma belong to Aspidites, a genus endemic to Australia. "BHP's" are found across the top third of Australia in a broad range of habitats. In the wild, they spend considerable time in burrows and will also shelter in hollow logs, burrows, deep soil cracks, inside termite mounds, under rocks and there crevices.
They are often known by common names such as the tar pot snake, rock python etc.
In the winter months they are sometimes observed holding their head in a vertical position and it is thought that the black coloured head serves as a solar panel to heat their entire body without fully emerging from their burrow.
Although their body coloration and pattern does not vary considerably there is noticeable differences in coloration between the ones found in the Pilbara district of W.A compared to Black headed pythons found in the Northern Territory and Queensland which tend to have a much darker body colour.