Burmese pythons have bone-digesting cells that allow them to convert entire prey into nutrition; scientists reveal
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 help process calcium from the bones of their meals.
This research not only explains how these large snakes handle mineral-rich diets but also hints at a broader evolutionary adaptation among whole-prey eaters. The study, published on
June 25
in the
Journal of Experimental Biology
, uncovers the mechanism behind how pythons manage the calcium overload that results from consuming entire animals—bones and all.
How burmese pythons digest whole prey: Study explains
Burmese pythons, native to Southeast Asia and invasive in parts of Florida, are ambush predators that feed on birds and small mammals.
Uniquely, they swallow their prey whole and then retreat for days while their powerful digestive systems do the work.
Though they may go weeks without eating, when they do feast, they must digest everything—including bones, which provide essential nutrients like calcium and phosphorus. However, this introduces a challenge: too much calcium can be toxic. To investigate this, researchers from the University of Montpellier in France, including co-author Jehan-Hervé Lignot, fed Burmese pythons three different diets:
Whole prey (with bones)
Boneless prey (low calcium)
Boneless prey + calcium supplements
They then studied the snakes' intestinal tissue to examine how each diet impacted calcium processing.
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Source: Live Science
Bone-digesting intestinal cells
discovery
The team discovered narrow, specialised cells in the snakes' intestinal lining that appear to manage the digestion of bones. In snakes fed either whole prey or boneless prey with calcium supplements, these cells contained tiny particles made of calcium, phosphorus, and iron. However, these mineral particles were absent in snakes that were fed boneless prey only—confirming the link between these particles and calcium intake.
The researchers believe these cells help remove excess calcium by forming solid particles, which are later expelled through the feces. This adaptation allows the snake to benefit from the nutrients in bones without suffering from calcium toxicity.
Are these cells found in other animals
Interestingly, after finding these cells in Burmese pythons, scientists also observed similar cells in other whole-prey reptiles, including:
Other species of pythons
Boas
Gila monsters (Heloderma suspectum)
These reptiles share one thing in common: they swallow prey whole.
However, scientists have not yet found similar calcium-processing cells in animals like dolphins or fish-eating birds, despite their similar feeding habits.
What
bone-eating predators
might reveal next
This discovery opens the door for further research into how different predators manage mineral overloads from consuming bones. As study co-author Lignot pointed out, animals such as marine mammals and bone-eating birds (e.g., the bearded vulture, Gypaetus barbatus) could possess similar adaptations—or entirely different mechanisms. Understanding these differences could help scientists learn how digestion, mineral processing, and evolutionary pressures shape feeding strategies across species.
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