Latest news with #burmese
Miami Herald
11-07-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Invasive carnivore plaguing Florida can completely absorb skeletons, study says
The invasive Burmese pythons plaguing Florida have an almost supernatural ability to absorb skeletons and scientists say they have finally found out how it's done. Turns out the intimidating predators have 'previously unknown cell type' in the walls of their intestines that completely dissolves skeletons, according to a study published June 25 in the Journal of Experimental Biology. The revelation helps explain why the giant snakes — which can grow to 18 feet in Florida — are not afraid to swallow creatures that are nearly equal in size, experts say. Professor Jehan-Hervé Lignot of the University of Montpellier in France is credited with making the discovery, using captive juvenile pythons as his test subjects. It has long been known that bones went into pythons and never came out the other end, but the 'mechanisms that enable them to do this have remained mysterious until now,' Lignot told Eureka Alert! To solve the mystery, researchers fed three types of meals to young pythons: Whole rodents, rodents with no bones, and boneless rodents injected with calcium carbonate, the study reports. It became clear that the intestines of the snakes reacted differently when they were fed whole rodents or rodents injected with calcium, the researchers said. Not only were they able to completely dissolve the skeletons, but they also were able to excrete excess calcium in cases where too much bone was consumed, tests showed. Not even fragments of bones showed up in their feces, the team found. 'This study revealed the presence of a new type of cell along the intestine that is involved in the production of large particles made from calcium, phosphorus and iron,' a July 9 news release says. 'When fed with boneless prey, these calcium and phosphorus-rich particles were not produced.' The newly discovered 'bone-digesting cell' has since been found in other species of pythons and boas, along with venomous Gila monsters native to the Southwestern United States and Mexico, the study reports. 'Marine predators that eat bony fish or aquatic mammals must face the same problem,' Lignot said in the release. 'Birds that eat mostly bones, such as the bearded vulture, would be fascinating candidates too.' Native to Southeast Asia, burmese pythons were introduced to South Florida 'due to accidental or intentional release of captive pet animals,' the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports. The snakes have no natural enemies in Florida and they are creating havoc with the ecosystem by preying on native wildlife, including deer and alligators, experts say. In 2022, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida discovered a 115-pound python in the process of swallowing a 77-pound deer, which amounted to 66.9% of the snake's body mass, officials said. A study published in 2024 also revealed the predators are capable of eating each other, McClatchy News reported.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Burmese pythons have bone-digesting cells that allow them to convert entire prey into nutrition; scientists reveal
Source: Joel Sartore In a remarkable discovery that deepens our understanding of how predators digest whole prey, scientists have found that Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) possess specialised intestinal cells that help process calcium from the bones of their meals. This research not only explains how these large snakes handle mineral-rich diets but also hints at a broader evolutionary adaptation among whole-prey eaters. The study, published on June 25 in the Journal of Experimental Biology , uncovers the mechanism behind how pythons manage the calcium overload that results from consuming entire animals—bones and all. How burmese pythons digest whole prey: Study explains Burmese pythons, native to Southeast Asia and invasive in parts of Florida, are ambush predators that feed on birds and small mammals. Uniquely, they swallow their prey whole and then retreat for days while their powerful digestive systems do the work. Though they may go weeks without eating, when they do feast, they must digest everything—including bones, which provide essential nutrients like calcium and phosphorus. However, this introduces a challenge: too much calcium can be toxic. To investigate this, researchers from the University of Montpellier in France, including co-author Jehan-Hervé Lignot, fed Burmese pythons three different diets: Whole prey (with bones) Boneless prey (low calcium) Boneless prey + calcium supplements They then studied the snakes' intestinal tissue to examine how each diet impacted calcium processing. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo Source: Live Science Bone-digesting intestinal cells discovery The team discovered narrow, specialised cells in the snakes' intestinal lining that appear to manage the digestion of bones. In snakes fed either whole prey or boneless prey with calcium supplements, these cells contained tiny particles made of calcium, phosphorus, and iron. However, these mineral particles were absent in snakes that were fed boneless prey only—confirming the link between these particles and calcium intake. The researchers believe these cells help remove excess calcium by forming solid particles, which are later expelled through the feces. This adaptation allows the snake to benefit from the nutrients in bones without suffering from calcium toxicity. Are these cells found in other animals Interestingly, after finding these cells in Burmese pythons, scientists also observed similar cells in other whole-prey reptiles, including: Other species of pythons Boas Gila monsters (Heloderma suspectum) These reptiles share one thing in common: they swallow prey whole. However, scientists have not yet found similar calcium-processing cells in animals like dolphins or fish-eating birds, despite their similar feeding habits. What bone-eating predators might reveal next This discovery opens the door for further research into how different predators manage mineral overloads from consuming bones. As study co-author Lignot pointed out, animals such as marine mammals and bone-eating birds (e.g., the bearded vulture, Gypaetus barbatus) could possess similar adaptations—or entirely different mechanisms. Understanding these differences could help scientists learn how digestion, mineral processing, and evolutionary pressures shape feeding strategies across species. Also Read | Chihuahua becomes 'Glacier Hero' after saving owner from 26-foot fall into icy crevasse in Switzerland
