July 10, 2025, 3:08 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Tiger pythons are among the most impressive predators in the animal kingdom: They can grow up to 20 feet long, are powerful, and can swallow entire animals whole–including fur, feathers, and even bones. But how is it possible for them to digest the hard skeletons of their prey without breaking them down–literally?
Burmese pythons are among the few animals that can even digest bones. An international research team has now unveiled the fascinating secret of how these giant snakes manage the extreme calcium and phosphorus load. The new findings were published in the scientific journal “Experimental Biology.” They not only provide insights into the extraordinary biology of these animals but could also offer clues to similar strategies in other predators.
What do Burmese pythons eat?
The Burmese python (Python bivittatus), also known as the dark tiger python, is one of the largest snakes in the world. As a typical ambush predator, it hunts a wide range of vertebrates, including amphibians, birds, and small to medium-sized mammals. Simply put, these snakes eat anything that fits in their mouths.
The choice of prey depends on the python’s body size. Juveniles primarily feed on frogs and rodents. However, adult specimens can also capture wild piglets, small monkeys, or even full-grown deer. In Florida, there have even been documented cases of these snakes swallowing white-tailed deer. This is a remarkable testament to the stretchability of their mouths and their digestive capacities.
How do Burmese pythons digest entire skeletons?
Digesting entire prey animals–including their bones–poses a significant challenge for the organism. This is primarily due to the massive amounts of calcium and phosphorus released in the process. Yet, Burmese pythons can fully digest bones. Over the course of their evolution, they have developed an astonishing adaptation: Their intestinal lining contains specialized cells that bind excess minerals into particles, allowing them to be expelled from the body. Simply put, the intestinal cells package the large amount of minerals so they can be easily excreted with digestion.
How researchers unveiled the secret
A research team led by Jehan-Hervé Lignot from the University of Montpellier has now examined these cells more closely. They fed young Burmese pythons various diets–with and without bones–and analyzed the intestinal lining using microscopy.
The result: Only when the pythons received whole prey with skeletons or calcium supplements did the specialized cells form particles of calcium, phosphorus, and iron. These particles apparently ensure that excess minerals, which the body no longer needs, are excreted through feces.1
What is the significance of the new findings for science?
This discovery is a breakthrough for comparative physiology. It shows how highly specialized animal species can cope with extreme metabolic demands. The ability to efficiently digest bones and control the excretion of excess minerals could also be significant for other predators with similar diets.
Moreover, the discovery provides important information for veterinary medicine and the care of these animals in captivity–such as how to prevent calcium deficiency or which feed is suitable.
Can other snakes or animals digest bones in this way?
Interestingly, similar cells to those found in Burmese pythons have also been detected in other snake species, such as boas and the colubrid snake Lampropeltis. Comparable structures were also found in the Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum), a lizard-like reptile that also swallows whole prey.
However, whether this strategy is also used by other animal “whole feeders” like dolphins, fish-eating birds, or vultures remains unclear. The researchers therefore advocate for further studies to explore the evolutionary spread of this ability.
Where do Burmese pythons live?
The natural habitat of the Burmese python extends across large parts of Southeast Asia–from northeastern India, Nepal, and Bangladesh through Burma, Thailand, Vietnam to southern China and Indonesia. The animals prefer moist, forested regions near water but are also found in agricultural areas and on the edges of human settlements.
Particularly concerning is the establishment of an invasive population in the Everglades in Florida (USA). Since their illegal release by pet owners in the 1970s, the snakes have spread rapidly there–with dramatic consequences for the local ecosystem. Many native mammal species have been decimated or completely displaced.2 3
Are Burmese pythons dangerous to humans?
Despite their impressive size and strength, wild Burmese pythons are generally not dangerous to humans. The animals are shy, avoid contact, and only attack if they feel severely threatened. In their Asian homeland, there are no documented cases of humans being killed by wild pythons–and attacks in Florida are extremely rare.
The greater danger actually comes from humans themselves–when Burmese pythons are kept as pets and then handled carelessly or negligently. In such cases, there have already been fatal incidents in the U.S. For nature, however, the snakes pose a serious threat–not because of their aggressiveness, but because of their outstanding hunting success.4
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Conclusion:
The Burmese python is not only a biological marvel in terms of muscle strength and digestive performance–it is also a prime example of how much we still have to learn about the inner workings of even well-known animal species. The new findings on their bone digestion once again show: Nature is often much more sophisticated than we would ever suspect.