A recent study conducted by biologists in Southwest Florida has revealed that Burmese pythons can eat prey much larger than previously thought, according to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.

The snakes have a jaw gape that is at least two inches wider than earlier measurements, enabling them to potentially consume larger animals such as deer and alligators.

The research involved measuring the jaws of three large adult female pythons, including one that was in the process of swallowing a 77-pound white-tailed deer in a Florida swamp. This deer was noted to be nearly two-thirds larger than the overall mass of the snake.

Ian Bartoszek, a biologist involved in a recent study, commented on the striking sight of an invasive apex predator, the Burmese python, swallowing a full-sized deer, emphasising the significant impact these snakes have on native wildlife.

“Watching this unfold is unforgettable,” he said and highlighted the issue as a critical wildlife concern for the Greater Everglades ecosystem.

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Wildlife experts noted that the snakes’ lower jawbones are not fused, which allows their mouths to stretch significantly.

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida added that while the sheer size of the deer being consumed is impressive, anatomical measurements suggest that it was approaching the upper limit of prey size that such snakes can manage.

“These snakes are not simply opportunistic; they push the boundaries of their anatomical capabilities rather than only settling for smaller prey,” the conservancy stated.