Burmese pythons can eat bigger prey than previously thought

A recent study published in Reptiles & Amphibians reveals that Burmese pythons can consume prey larger than previously thought, posing a serious threat to wildlife in southern Florida. These invasive snakes have already devastated populations of animals like foxes, bobcats, and raccoons.

Burmese pythons can swallow large animals such as deer and alligators, with their ability determined by their gape, or jaw flexibility. Professor Bruce Jayne from the University of Cincinnati found that the largest pythons have a significantly greater gape than earlier models suggested, allowing them to eat larger prey.

Jayne measured three exceptionally large pythons, noting that their gapes reached 26 centimeters (about 10.2 inches). This increase, while seemingly small, corresponds to a 40% rise in the total area of the gape, enabling these snakes to consume prey much larger than expected.

For instance, researchers have documented a python consuming a 77-pound deer, which represented two-thirds of the snake's body weight. This highlights the severe impact Burmese pythons have on native wildlife in the Greater Everglades ecosystem.

Understanding the size limits of prey for these pythons is crucial for predicting their ecological impact as they expand into new areas. Native to southeast Asia, Burmese pythons were introduced to Florida through the pet trade and have become a significant ecological threat.

Their unique jaw structure allows for remarkable flexibility, enabling them to consume prey up to six times larger than similar-sized snakes. Despite the rarity of pythons longer than 16 feet, Jayne suggests that larger individuals with even greater gapes could still be lurking in the wild.

Since 2013, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida has been conducting research and removal efforts on Burmese pythons. They have successfully removed 770 pythons, which could represent a staggering loss of prey in the ecosystem. Researchers are working to understand the extent of this invasive species' impact as they continue to spread throughout Florida.