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Ever heard of a heat-seeking missile? Well, meet nature’s version: the heat-sensing python. In this article, I will introduce you to these remarkable snakes. These creatures are more than just big snakes; they are some of the strongest constrictors on earth. Constrictors fall into two categories: boas and pythons. These snakes are classified as constrictors because of the way they kill their prey: by using their powerful muscles to squeeze and eventually suffocate them. Pythons specifically are found in many places, including thick rainforests, dry savannas, rocky shrublands, and even swamps. Even though they inhabit a wide range of areas, pythons typically thrive because of their patience and precision, mastering the art of hunting.
Getting Personal About Pythons
The muscles of a python allow them to move quickly and ambush prey.
©Lauren Suryanata/Shutterstock.com
These constrictors belong to the family Pythonidae. A few species in this family include the ball python, Burmese python, and reticulated python; the latter is the longest snake alive. What sets these snakes apart from others is that they do not use venom. Instead, they kill by constriction, which involves wrapping around their prey and tightening until the prey is unable to breathe or circulate blood. Brutal, but pretty metal. Additionally, many of these snakes are massive. Some pythons can weigh more than 200 pounds and grow to over 20 feet long. Interestingly, pythons still have small leg spurs, a remnant of their evolutionary history that shows how nature sometimes preserves traces of the past.
What Fuels A Python?
Pythons have unique jaws with extreme flexibility that allows them to eat prey twice their size.
©Alberto Loyo/Shutterstock.com
These ambush hunters are strict carnivores, but their diet depends on their species, size, and environment. Their feeding habits revolve around their ability to swallow prey whole. The jaw of a python can stretch open up to 150 degrees, and they have loose ligaments between their bones to help move their mouths over food—no chewing required.
Young pythons, due to their size, start with small prey items such as frogs, lizards, insects, and baby rodents. Even though they are quick and cautious like their adult counterparts, young pythons need to eat more frequently to sustain their growth. As they grow, so does their appetite and menu. Adult pythons can take on rabbits, monkeys, pigs, and even antelopes, depending on the species. Surprisingly, pythons have been documented eating large animals as well, such as deer, crocodiles, and alligators. Don’t believe me? Check out this clip.
Hunting and Feeding Behavior
Pythons breathe through their mouths when full to avoid suffocation while eating.
©MarkLuk/Shutterstock.com
This stealthy hunter is a known ambush predator. They play the long game, waiting for their prey to come to them. Sometimes, pythons can stay motionless for days, staying completely hidden, waiting to attack. When their prey comes close, they strike quickly, wrapping around their prey to suffocate them. The goal of constriction is not to break bones; instead, pythons cut off blood flow and oxygen, leading to asphyxiation or cardiac arrest. When a python attacks, death usually occurs within minutes.
But how do they know their prey is near, especially when hiding in places that might obstruct their vision? The answer lies in their tongue. Pythons flick out their tongue to “taste the air.” Using a special internal organ called the Jacobson’s organ, they can pick up scent particles, alerting them to the presence of prey. In addition, they have heat-sensing pits near their mouths that help detect when prey is nearby. This adaptation is extremely helpful when hunting in total darkness. Once the prey stops struggling, the python aligns the prey head first and then begins to swallow it whole. This entire process can take hours or longer. After swallowing their prey, they usually retreat into cover while they digest their food.
Adaptive Diet and Body Changes
During digestion, a python’s body changes to compensate for the meal.
©steve bushman/Shutterstock.com
After a large meal, a python’s body undergoes significant changes. Their heart, liver, pancreas, and intestines all increase in size to handle the food. When the digestive system kicks into overdrive, their metabolism also increases. To aid in digestion, they produce powerful stomach acid capable of dissolving bones, fur, feathers, and scales, leaving behind very little waste.
After digestion, everything returns to normal size, and the snake lowers its metabolism, similar to a low-power mode. This adaptation allows them to survive long periods without food. Depending on the species, some pythons can go months without eating. Since they are vulnerable during digestion, they can regurgitate their food to escape when faced with threatening situations. This defense mechanism can cost them in the short term, but may save their lives.
Feeding Across Life Stages and Species
Pythons are excellent swimmers.
©Heiko Kiera/Shutterstock.com
As pythons grow, their feeding habits change. Hatchlings (newly hatched) and small juveniles eat small prey like crickets, lizards, and mice. As pythons grow larger, they eat bigger meals but feed less frequently. Larger meals require longer digestion, so it is beneficial for them to have more time between feedings. Let’s break down the diets across different species.
Ball Pythons (Python regius)
Ball pythons are also called royal pythons.
©Egoreichenkov Evgenii/Shutterstock.com
Ball pythons are known for being picky eaters, often preferring specific conditions before they will eat. Specifically, they have preferences for certain conditions when eating. For example, they might skip meals during cold spells or while shedding.
Reticulated Pythons (Malayopython reticulatus)
Reticulated pythons are one of the largest snakes in the world.
©tanoochai/Shutterstock.com
These heat-seeking savages, on the other hand, are powerhouses. They are opportunistic carnivores, eating a wide variety of prey.
African rock pythons (Python sebae)
Rock pythons are mostly solitary except during mating season.
©Michael Rads/Shutterstock.com
These hunters have been documented swallowing large game, including antelopes, goats, and even crocodiles.
Ecosystem Role
These snakes play a role beyond that of stealthy predators. As mesopredators, or mid-level predators, they regulate prey populations without dominating the food chain. In other words, they eat enough smaller animals to help keep ecosystems stable, but not so many as to wipe out prey populations. In natural environments, species like pythons help keep smaller animal populations in check.
While these mesopredators are impressive, they are not immune to being hunted. Juvenile pythons are often hunted by raptors, carnivorous mammals, and other large birds. Even adults can fall victim to crocodiles, big cats, or other large constrictors during territorial fights. Unfortunately, in places like Florida, invasive Burmese pythons can throw off these natural environments. Specifically, in the Everglades, these snakes are believed to have been released by the exotic pet trade. Now, these snakes reproduce freely in the wild, significantly reducing populations of rabbits, raccoons, birds, and more.
Threats Against Pythons
Despite their capabilities, there are some threats that wildlife cannot account for. Much of the pressure these constrictors face is caused by a single factor: humans. Namely, deforestation, expansion of urban areas, and agriculture have stripped away huge chunks of their habitat. To build on that, species like the ball python (Python regius) are currently listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, primarily due to habitat loss and exploitation for the pet trade. Climate change also greatly impacts these snakes by affecting prey availability, nesting patterns, and seasonal behaviors.
Built for the Long Game
The Green Tree Python (
Morelia viridis) is also known as the Emerald Green Python.
©Lauren Suryanata/Shutterstock.com
These serpents are masters of patience. Pythons prove that snakes do not need venom to be efficient killers. With immense strength, perfect camouflage, and internal systems built to change on command, these snakes wield the ultimate tools of survival. Understanding pythons gives you a glimpse into the world of serpents. Furthermore, understanding pythons means not only knowing what they eat, but also recognizing how they fit into their ecosystems and what can happen when that delicate balance is disrupted.
The post Inside the Python Digestive System That Can Melt Bones appeared first on A-Z Animals.
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