It is the smallest of all pythons and rarely exceeds one and a half meters in length. Generally females are longer than males. It is timid in nature, and when it feels threatened, it adopts a somewhat peculiar defensive position, rolling its body into a ball and hiding its head in the center, which is why it is also known as a ball python for its way of protecting itself.

Like all pythons, it has thermal sensors in holes located on the upper lip that are called thermal pits. These allow them to detect their warm-blooded prey in complete darkness.

Locally, this species is poached for its meat and fur, however its biggest threat is the international pet trade. In West Africa, thousands of specimens are captured each year to be exported to other countries. It is a species of great importance in terms of pest control, since by feeding on rodents, its presence is of great help in crop fields.