Burmese Pythons' Bone-Digesting Superpower Discovered

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, scientists have discovered a previously unknown cell type in the intestines of Burmese pythons that allows them to completely dissolve the skeletons of their prey. This explains why no bone fragments emerge from the snakes after they swallow large animals like deer.

Burmese pythons, an invasive species in Florida, are known for their ability to consume meals over 100% of their body mass. These snakes have been found to prey on more than 85 different species, including deer, bobcats, and other native wildlife. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has been working to combat the python population, having removed over 20 tons (40,000 pounds) of the snakes from the region since 2013.

The Conservancy's team uses 40 "scout snakes" to locate and target adult female pythons during the breeding season, in an effort to suppress python reproduction. Since 2013, they have stopped an additional 20,000 python eggs from hatching. The discovery of the bone-digesting cells in the pythons' intestines provides further insight into how these invasive predators are able to thrive in the Florida Everglades.