Florida’s 18-foot-long Burmese python stomach reveals a 5-foot-long alligator

The Burmese python in Florida, US continues to amaze the scientists as well as people. Recently, as per a report in sciencealert.com a group of scientists in Florida opened up one such snake and found an intact alligator 5-foot-long. The snake measuring 18 feet had swallowed the whole gator.

In an Instagram post, Florida-based geoscientist Rosie Moore mentioned that the euthanized python which had a bulging stomach was handed for necropsy to a research laboratory. The objective was to gather scientific samples and find out about the diet of these pythons.

Moore in her post shared the footage which shows the gator being pulled out of the snake’s digestive tract measuring 18 feet.

Talking to CNN she said: “I actually thought it was pretty gross too and I’m used to necropsies and things.” She also told that the stench in the room was so strong that the scientists went out regularly for air.

In the footage scientists are shown feeling the enlarged and lumpy body of the snake following which they slice the underside and reveal the full form of the alligator under a layer of tissue.

Slicing this layer, they go on to expose what is inside while sliding the alligator out.

The huge python was located and killed by Everglades National Park employees. Florida has been facing the problem of these invasive snakes destroying the ecosystem while killing the native species.

More in her post writes: “These snakes have successfully invaded ecologically sensitive areas such as Everglades National Park. This poses a threat to a variety of wildlife, due to the pythons’ wide dietary preferences.”

Mike Kirkland, who is an invasive species biologist and manages South Florida Water Management District’s programme to eliminate pythons informed that besides eating the native wildlife, “they’re also outcompeting native animals for food.”

One of the largest snakes in the world, the Burmese pythons came into being in Florida as pet owners who were unable to handle them when they became big released these creatures. With no predators and suitable subtropical climate, these released snakes thrived.

The result of their proliferation is that today there are 100 licensed python hunters who are paid to catch and kill them.

Blessed with a broad diet, they can eat small as well big creatures like alligators and white-tailed deer. The latter becomes feasible as their jaws can expand wide to swallow bodies much bigger than theirs.

Also read: Scientists discover how Burmese pythons swallow huge alligators and deer