The python's enlarged heart bears all the hallmarks of an "athlete's heart," a heavily muscularized organ common to long-distance runners and capable of feeding big demands for oxygen, Leinwand said.

Python heart muscles ramp up their force to sustain metabolic activity to maintain increased metabolism during feeding.

Zoo officials at the time knew very little about a python’s diet, and when Diablo went several months without eating, they grew concerned enough to try force-feeding him sausage through a hose ...

Burmese python caught swallowing full-sized deer proves the invasive snakes are eating bigger native prey in Florida, study says.

How Pythons Adapt Their Hearts After a Big Meal Python heart muscles ramp up their force to sustain metabolic activity to maintain increased metabolism during feeding.

Burmese python caught swallowing full-sized deer proves the invasive snakes are eating bigger native prey in Florida, study says.

Burmese python caught swallowing full-sized deer proves the invasive snakes are eating bigger native prey in Florida, study says.

Burmese python caught swallowing full-sized deer proves the invasive snakes are eating bigger native prey in Florida, study says.