How do burmese pythons digest whole skeletons? Scientists found something surprising in their guts

Burmese Python (Image: Canva)

Few animals can stomach an entire meal like a Burmese python. These snakes, known for swallowing prey whole, have now revealed a digestive secret hidden deep within their intestines.

A recent study, published on 25 June in the Journal of Experimental Biology, shows how pythons manage the calcium overload from digesting bones. The research was led by Jehan-Hervé Lignot, a biologist at the University of Montpellier, France.

Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) feed on birds and small mammals. They can go days or weeks without eating, but when they do, they consume their prey whole—bones and all. The bones offer calcium, a vital nutrient, though not all of it can be used.

To find out how the snakes regulate calcium, the research team tested three diets. One group received whole prey. Another ate boneless prey. A third had boneless prey with added calcium. After several feedings, the snakes’ intestines were closely examined.

The results pointed to narrow cells lining the intestinal walls. In snakes that ate bones or had calcium supplements, these cells held dense particles. The particles contained calcium, iron, and phosphorus. Snakes fed only boneless meals did not show these deposits.

The findings suggest the cells help filter excess calcium. By forming solid particles, the pythons may expel what they don’t need through their waste.

Lignot’s team believes these intestinal cells could be common in other reptiles. They’ve already spotted similar cells in other pythons, boas, and Gila monsters. All three species swallow prey whole.

However, researchers haven’t yet found such calcium-processing particles in dolphins or birds that also consume prey whole. Lignot said that predators feeding on bony fish or aquatic mammals might also have similar digestive tricks. Birds like the bearded vulture, which feed mainly on bones, are strong candidates for future study.

This research could lead to new insights into how various animals digest tough, mineral-rich meals. As Lignot noted, understanding how calcium is managed may be key to exploring digestion across the animal kingdom.