Pythons could fit your whole head in their mouth
UC study examines how largest snakes have ability to swallow enormous prey
Newsweek highlighted a new study by the University of Cincinnati and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida that examined the size of the prey that the biggest Burmese pythons captured could consume.
Burmese pythons are nonnative to Florida's Everglades National Park, where they have established themselves as apex predators. The biggest wild snakes captured in Florida stretch more than 15 feet with a mouth or gape that stretches 26 centimeters. That's big enough to swallow a 77-pound deer.
The bones of the snake's lower jaw are not fused at the front. But more importantly, Jayne said, the snakes have incredibly stretchy skin that allows them to swallow sometimes enormous prey.
Federal officials say the invasive snakes are decimating wildlife in the Everglades.
The study was published in the journal Reptiles & Amphibians.
"Watching an invasive apex predator swallow a full-sized deer in front of you is something that you will never forget," co-author Ian Bartoszek, a researcher at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, said.
The conservancy's Ian Easterling also co-authored the study.
"The impact the Burmese python is having on native wildlife cannot be denied. This is a wildlife issue of our time for the Greater Everglades ecosystem," Bartoszek said.
Featured image at top: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is leading a campaign to eradicate invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades National Park. Photo/Susan Jewell/USFWS
More UC Biology in the news
UC Professor Bruce Jayne poses with two mounted specimens of Burmese pythons captured in Florida showing the impressive gape of their mouths. Photo/Bruce Jayne
- Earth.com: Burmese pythons can eat larger animals whole
- West Hawaii Today: Large python swallows 77-pound deer, stunning researchers
Related Stories
Yes, gas prices will be high this summer
June 17, 2026
WLWT turned to assistant professor-educator at the University of Cincinnati Clermont Seth Powless for a look into how supply chain volatility will keep prices up in the air.
UC Foundation Board of Trustees announces seven new members
June 17, 2026
The University of Cincinnati Foundation is proud to announce that seven dedicated community members are joining its board of trustees. Ray Brooks, CEAS ’83; Chris Carper, A&S ’93; Tim Giglio, Bus ’84; Nandita Jena, A&S '03, Bus '03 and Chris Lewis, MD, Med ’00 will begin their term in October 2026. In addition to this esteemed group, two new student trustees, Case Trokhan, Med ’26 and Joseph Verry, Med ’30 are joining the board.
Rivers expert says satellite technology can help protect drinking water
June 17, 2026
University of Cincinnati environmental engineering professor Dongmei Feng is using satellite remote sensing to study rivers around the world and protect drinking water supplies. As co-lead author of a paper in Nature Water and the recipient of two major federal grants, Feng is developing tools to monitor nutrient pollution and toxic algal blooms from space, with applications for cities like Cincinnati.