A carpet python, photographed at Perth Zoo. From this angle, you can clearly see the heat-seeking pits on the lower jaw. The python uses these to detect the body heat of its warm-blooded prey.

Python Moms Care for Their Young, Surprising Experts A new study from South Africa observed wild snake mothers protecting and warming their young for weeks after they emerged from eggs.

To learn more about how researchers caught this record-breaking python and what they hope to learn from studying her, check out this feature in National Geographic.

To learn more about how researchers caught this record-breaking python and what they hope to learn from studying her, check out this feature in National Geographic.