Just when you thought you knew everything about one of Florida's least-favorite invasive species, a surprise emerges. Scientists have discovered a new type of cell that helps Burmese pythons digest ...

Scientists have discovered a new type of cell that helps Burmese pythons digest the entire skeletons of their prey. Pythons can eat prey over 100% of their body mass, including deer and bobcats.

UC Professor Bruce Jayne poses with a Burmese python specimen with a 22-centimeter gape, right, compared to an even larger specimen with a 26-centimeter gape. Credit: Bruce Jayne UC Professor Bruce ...

In a remarkable discovery that deepens our understanding of how predators digest whole prey, scientists have found that Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) possess specialised intestinal cells that ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Few predators swallow their prey whole. Even fewer can digest their ...

Scientists have discovered a new type of cell that helps Burmese pythons digest the entire skeletons of their prey. Pythons can eat prey over 100% of their body mass, including deer and bobcats. Just ...

Researchers discover the secret behind Burmese pythons' ability to fully digest the bones of their prey. Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons ...

Holly has a degree in Medical Biochemistry from the University of Leicester. Her scientific interests include genomics, personalized medicine, and bioethics. Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) don’t ...

As part of digestion, pythons break down their prey's bones. The bones provide necessary calcium in the snakes' diet — but the pythons can't use all the calcium. "We wanted to identify how they were ...