In The Jungle Book, what species is Kaa?

Kaa is a python in The Jungle Book.

Kaa is an enormous snake who appears in Kipling’s Mowgli stories. He is ancient, powerful, and knowledgeable, and his role changes between the original stories and later adaptations. In the book, Kaa can be an ally to Mowgli, especially when the boy needs help against the Bandar-log, or monkey people.

The species label is sometimes simplified in adaptations. Kipling’s Indian setting makes a python the appropriate identification, while popular culture often loosely calls any large snake a “boa” or “constrictor.” Kaa’s ability to hypnotize prey is a traditional fictional trait rather than a reliable description of real python behavior.

Disney’s 1967 animated film turns Kaa into a comic and deceptive antagonist, voiced by Sterling Holloway. The 2016 film changes the character’s gender and casts Scarlett Johansson as Kaa. These versions differ substantially, but the character’s identity as a giant python remains rooted in Kipling’s stories.