A Burmese python, an invasive species in the Everglades, was recently observed consuming a white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) weighing approximately 67% of its own body mass. This significant predatory event involved the python expanding its mouth to nearly the maximum possible gape, challenging previous assumptions regarding the physical limits of gape expansion in these invasive snakes.
In an interview with Live Science, Ian Bartoszek, wildlife biologist and science coordinator for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, noted the intensity of witnessing this predation event in real time, comparing it to “literally catching the serial killer in the act”.
The female python, measuring 14.8 feet (4.5 meters) in length and weighing 115 pounds (52 kilograms), was documented consuming a 76.9-pound (35-kilogram) white-tailed deer. Analysis revealed that the snake’s gape reached 93% of its potential maximum to accommodate its prey, as detailed in a study published on August 22 in the journal Reptiles & Amphibians. This observation provides critical insights into the predatory capabilities and ecological impact of Burmese pythons in non-native environments.
“This was the most intense and impressive sight we have observed in 12 years of tracking pythons in southwestern Florida,” Bartoszek, one of the study authors, said. “It was truly primal and felt like a scene that had been playing out for millions of years wherever you have large snakes. Unfortunately our native wildlife in Florida have not evolved with this apex predator and you are seeing that result with these images.”
Burmese pythons are an invasive species introduced to the Florida Everglades sometime in the mid-to-late 20th century. The first confirmed sighting of the species occurred in 1979, and by the 1990s, they had established a robust population. These pythons prey extensively on native species and lack natural predators in this environment, allowing their numbers to grow largely unchecked. Although the precise population size remains uncertain, experts estimate there may be hundreds of thousands of Burmese pythons across Florida. Over recent decades, these snakes have severely disrupted local ecosystems, causing significant declines in various mammal populations and leading to the extirpation of several species.
Burmese pythons are known to prey on large animals such as deer and even alligators. However, direct observations of these predatory events are rare, making it challenging for scientists to fully understand the extent of their dietary capabilities. This limited visibility into their feeding behaviors restricts the ability of researchers to assess the full impact these apex predators are having on the ecosystem, particularly regarding the depletion of native wildlife.
The study reports that the previously estimated maximum gape for a Burmese python (Python bivittatus)—the width to which it can extend its jaws—was approximately 8.6 inches (22 centimeters). However, upon examining three Burmese pythons, including a 14.8-foot (4.5-meter) specimen, researchers found that their maximum gape actually reached 10.2 inches (26 centimeters). This finding has “significantly affected” existing models of the physical swallowing capabilities of Burmese pythons, according to the researchers, and suggests that these snakes may be capable of consuming even larger prey than previously thought.
“These observations and this study serves as another warning sign to the threat imposed on the Everglades ecosystem by the Burmese python,” Bartoszek said.
Burmese pythons can swallow huge prey because their jaws are not fused at the front, which allows them to extend much further than similarly sized snake species. “Our anatomical measurements indicate that this deer was very close to the size limit of the prey that could be consumed by this snake,” said study author Bruce Jayne, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Cincinnati, in a statement sent to Live Science. “For this reason, these snakes resemble overachievers, sometimes testing the limits allowed by their anatomy, rather than being lazy slobs that eat only snack-sized prey.”
The deer-eating Burmese python was located with the assistance of a male python, named Ronin, who is equipped with a tracking device. Ronin is part of a broader conservation program that deploys male “scout snakes” to locate females during the breeding season. Burmese pythons are prolific breeders, with each female capable of laying dozens of eggs per season. Thus, targeting and removing females is a strategic approach to help manage and control the rapidly expanding python population in the Everglades.
- See also: Woman survives python attack in Thailand
“Each breeding season [Ronin] leads us to multiple females that we humanely remove before they have a chance to lay eggs,” Bartoszek said. “All of the pythons we remove are humanely euthanized. We have a lot of respect for the Burmese python and they are here through no fault of their own. However we understand the impact they are having on native wildlife and are not sitting on the sidelines.”
