A massive snake was spotted showcasing its abilities by devouring a whole deer.
A new study published in the journal Reptiles & Amphibians found that Burmese pythons can consume prey larger than previously known.
Wildlife researchers managed to spot a massive Burmese python swallowing a white-tailed deer whole in the Everglades region of Florida.
The weight of the deer is 35 kg, which is equivalent to 67% of the snake’s mass. Bruce Jayne, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Cincinnati, told Live Science: “It seems that these snakes sometimes challenge themselves by testing the limits of what their bodies can handle instead of being lazy and settling for small prey.”
The female Burmese python measured 4.5 meters (14.8 feet) in length and weighed 52 kg (115 pounds). The researchers found that this type of snake can extend its mouth up to 26 cm (10.2 inches).
According to a study published in August, the snake had to open its jaw and expand its mouth to 93% of its maximum gape to swallow the deer.
Researchers previously believed that Burmese pythons could only open their mouths to a width of 22 cm (8.6 inches).
Ian Bartoszek, a wildlife biologist and science coordinator at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, said, “This was the most impressive scene in 12 years of tracking snakes in Southwest Florida.”
It is known that Burmese pythons eat deer and even alligators, but their reclusive nature makes it difficult to catch them while devouring such prey. Therefore, scientists have limited knowledge of what these predators can eat and what their impact on the ecosystem is.
Bartuszek, the co-author of the study, said, “We felt like we were literally catching the serial killer in the act, and it was difficult to monitor him in real-time.” These observations and this study serve as another warning signal regarding the threat posed by the Burmese python to the Everglades ecosystem.
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