In a recent study, researchers explored the limits of a Burmese python’s capacity to swallow large prey. Published in the journal ‘Reptiles and Amphibians’ on August 22, the study focused on a female python that weighs approximately 52 kg and measures 14.8 feet in length. Remarkably, the python consumed a white-tailed deer, specifically from the ‘Odocoileus virginianus’ species, which weighed about 35 kg. A striking aspect of this event was how the deer managed to fit into the python’s mouth; the reptile had to stretch its jaws to 93 percent of their capacity.
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Conservancy of Southwest Florida biologists recently documented this Burmese python eating an adult white tail deer. The deer was 66.9% of the snake’s mass! Thanks to the conservancy for sharing this video with us. pic.twitter.com/4YXxtlS0vr
— Channing Frampton (@Channing_TV) October 24, 2024
Ian Barteszek, a wildlife biologist and science coordinator for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and one of the study’s authors, shared with ‘Live Science’ that witnessing this event felt akin to observing a serial killer at work. He described it as a very strange experience to watch unfold in real-time.
The wild areas of Florida are already known for their large Burmese pythons. For this research, a male python named Ronin was equipped with a tracking device. Barteszek remarked that the scene was the most brutal and heart-stopping sight he had encountered in his twelve years of tracking pythons in Southwest Florida.
According to Barteszek, this python preys on both deer and crocodiles. He emphasized that the observed behavior was exceptionally savage, indicating that such occurrences have been common for millions of years in habitats inhabited by large snakes. He noted that the forests of Florida have not developed top predators capable of threatening various animal species.
Burmese pythons first appeared in the Everglades in the mid-20th century and are considered a threat to Florida’s forest ecosystem. The species was initially sighted in 1979, became fully established during the 1990s, and began preying on local species. With no natural predators to control their population, Burmese pythons have rapidly proliferated, with experts estimating millions now exist in the area, causing significant harm to the local ecosystem and endangering numerous animal species.
The study revealed that it was previously thought a Burmese python could open its mouth to a maximum of about 22 cm. However, by examining three pythons, including the female that preyed on the deer, researchers determined that the actual limit is closer to 26 cm.