UNHINGED
Wild moment 15ft Burmese python swallows entire deer whole and stretches its mouth to the limits
The solitary nature of these snakes makes it hard to catch them in the act of devouring prey
A HUGE Burmese python has been caught swallowing a white-tailed deer whole in Florida's Everglades by wildlife researchers.
The deer, weighing 35kg (77lbs), was the equivalent of 67 percent of the snake's mass.
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"Our anatomical measurements indicate this deer was very near the size limit on the prey that could be consumed by this snake," study author Bruce Jayne, professor of biological sciences at the University of Cincinnati, told Live Science.
"Hence, these snakes resemble overachievers by sometimes testing the limits of what their anatomy allows rather than being slackers that eat only 'snack size' prey."
The female Burmese python, in the footage above, measured 14.8ft (4.5m) long and weighed a whopping 52kg (115lbs).
This species of snake, researchers found, can stretch its mouth up to 10.2inches (26cm).
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To consume the deer, the snake had to unhinge its jaw and widen its mouth to 93 per cent of its maximum gape, according to a published in August.
Researchers previously believed Burmese pythons could only open their mouths as wide as 8.6inches (22cm), which the recent study has since updated.
"This was the most intense and impressive sight we have observed in 12 years of tracking pythons in southwestern Florida," said Ian Bartoszek, wildlife biologist and science coordinator at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida organisation.
"It was truly primal and felt like a scene that had been playing out for millions of years wherever you have large snakes.
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"Unfortunately our native wildlife in Florida have not evolved with this apex predator and you are seeing that result with these images."
Burmese pythons have been known to eat deer and even alligators.
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But their solitary nature makes it hard to catch them in the act of devouring such prey.
Scientists, therefore, have limited knowledge of what these apex predators are capable of eating and what their impact is on the ecosystem.
This was the most intense and impressive sight we have observed in 12 years of tracking pythons in southwestern Florida
Ian Bartoszek
"It felt like we were literally catching the serial killer in the act and it was intense to observe [in] real time," Bartoszek, fellow author of the study, said.
"These observations and this study serves as another warning sign to the threat imposed on the Everglades ecosystem by the Burmese python."
Factbox: Burmese pythons
Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) are considered semi-aquatic due to their excellent swimming capabilities.
While young Burmese pythons mostly spend their lives in the trees, they head down to ground level as they get older - and bigger.
This species of snake is one of the top five largest snakes in the world.
These reptiles can stretch to nearly 20ft long in adulthood, and weigh more than 200 pounds.
Though they are about 24inches (61cm) long, and just 4ounces (0.25lbs) when they hatch.
Burmese pythons are non-venomous, though you certainly want to avoid a bite if you can.
Their lifespan is around 20 years, although the oldest living python recorded died at 28 years old.
They are solitary animals, and only really come together to mate in the spring.
Burmese pythons are currently listed as 'vulnerable' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.
However, they are an invasive species in Florida, after being introduced to the US state at some point in the late 20th century.
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