Nagini: If she's not a Horcrux, what the heck is she?

[Lisa]

No: HPFGUIDX 171966

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "sdeepthi" <sdeepthi at ...> wrote:
> Where in canon is it stated that Nagini is a python? 
==========================

Lisa:

Good question -- I thought I remembered it, and just googled it.  
According to Wikipedia:
"Nagini is a fictional animal from the Harry Potter series created by 
JK Rowling. She is a large serpent, specifically a Brazilian Python who 
is the loyal pet of the main antagonist of the series named Lord 
Voldemort. Lord Voldemort is able to communicate with her due to an 
unusual genetic trait that he recieved from his ancestor named Salazar 
Slytherin. Both Lord Voldemort and Harry Potter are able to speak 
Parselmouth, the language of snakes."
Wikipedia, of course, is far from canon.  Perhaps the movie portrayed 
Nagini as a python, and that's why it's sticking in my mind?