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
Recent advances may speed time to endometriosis diagnosis
March 16, 2026
The average time to clinical diagnosis of endometriosis is nine years. Definitive diagnosis of the disease is difficult, and until recently, has relied on laparoscopic surgery. Now, as Medscape recently reported, novel clinical recommendations, advanced diagnostic tools and research into inflammation and immune responses, are bringing promise that women with endometriosis will find relief sooner and without surgery, according to experts, including Katie Burns, PhD, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine associate professor.
Position-specific helmets may not improve protection
March 16, 2026
Local 12 highlighted a new study by biomedical engineering researchers that looked at how well new football helmets protected players from impacts that can cause concussions.
UC biologist talks about 'pearmageddon'
March 16, 2026
WLWT talks to UC biologist and Department Head Theresa Culley about invasive, nonnative Callery pear trees that are spreading across Ohio forests after they were introduced by landscapers more than 50 years ago.