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15 Facts About Burmese Pythons

The Burmese python is the world’s longest snake, weighing up to 200 pounds. They are non-venomous and use their strength to suffocate their prey. These snakes are native to Africa, Asia, and Australia, with the Burmese python specifically found in Southeast Asia as a distant subspecies of the Indian python.

While they are commonly kept as pets, they can also be found in the wild. Here are 15 fascinating facts about the Burmese python you may not know.

1. In some places, Burmese pythons are considered invasive

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The Southeast Asian forests are home to Burmese pythons. They have several natural predators in these areas, which helps to keep their population in check. Burmese pythons are becoming common in many households throughout the world as a result of an increase in demand for them from buyers abroad. But in certain areas, escaping pythons have succeeded in establishing a region for themselves in the wild, posing a threat to the surrounding ecosystems.

The Burmese python is regarded as an invasive species in the state of Florida. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the state imported a large number of pythons, many of which were later released or managed to escape into the wild. Nowadays, hundreds of pythons may be found in the wild, mostly in southern Florida’s Everglades.

2. Burmese pythons are threatened and on the decline

Regretfully, there are fewer and more Burmese pythons in the wild. Over the past few decades, researchers estimate that the global population of Burmese pythons has decreased by about 30%. The primary risks are the degradation of natural habitats, excessive skin harvesting, and the pet trade.

It remains to be seen if the many nations that have implemented laws to safeguard Burmese pythons will be effective in their efforts. The IUCN has listed Burmese pythons as a Vulnerable species due to their reduction in population.

3. They have become increasingly popular in the pet trade

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There has been a sharp rise in the market for exotic pets in recent decades. Large snakes like pythons and anacondas are in higher demand as a result of this. Burmese pythons are becoming more and more common in the pet trade because of their size, formidable reputation, and stunning scales. Tens of thousands of snakes as a consequence left Southeast Asia and entered households and pet shops all over the world.

A few factors should be taken into account when thinking about buying a Burmese python as a pet. To begin with, their size, temperament, and expense make them unsuitable for beginners. They also have a rather long lifespan, often reaching up to 20 years in captivity. Lastly, their height and strength allow them to quickly kill a human if not handled properly.

4. Female Burmese pythons protect their eggs from predators

One of the more astounding facts about Burmese pythons is this. Snakes are often thought of as being aloof and uncaring, and this belief even extends to our conception of them as moms. It’s important to remember that newborn snakes are capable of caring for themselves right away, thus motherhood is not required from an evolutionary perspective. However, while it is true that most snake species do not express clear concern for their young, this is not always the case.

Pythons, especially Burmese pythons, and cobras have various ways of caring for their young. Mature female Burmese pythons will remain with their clutch of eggs until they hatch, shielding them from any predators. The females also move their bodies and twitch their muscles to surround the eggs with ambient heat. In order to gather food for themselves, mothers of Burmese pythons leave their young once the eggs hatch.

5. They have exceptionally sophisticated digestive systems for handling large meals

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Burmese pythons kill and devour their victim right away. Alligators and deer are among the larger creatures that Burmese pythons often kill, thus this might become an essential duty. Their highly developed digestive systems allow them to swallow their prey whole during huge meals.

Burmese pythons may stop feeding for weeks or months at a time, depending on how long they go without. Their stomach volume, acidity, and intestinal mass all decrease during this period. To aid in providing enough energy for digestion, Burmese pythons rearrange their intestines, increase the amount of stomach acid they create, and even expand their hearts after ingesting prey.

6. Burmese pythons can quickly smother or induce a heart attack in their prey

Burmese pythons encounter several dangers during their early years. Predators like mongooses, other snakes, and prey-seeking birds are a threat to them. Still, fewer and fewer animals may expect to compete with a Burmese python as they get older and bigger. They are almost invincible to predators due to their massive size and strong muscles.

Even though there are very few predators for adult Burmese pythons, they are not completely safe in the wild. Burmese pythons are most threatened by humans because they are caught for their skin and used as pets. An adult alligator is the only other creature that has a chance of competing with an adult Burmese python.

7. Burmese pythons also make excellent swimmers

The majority of people imagine snakes slithering around the ground in graceful ripples, their long bodies gliding. While it is true that the majority of snake species prefer to live on the ground, certain species do not. Some snakes, for example, spend much of their time in trees, while others can “fly” by gliding just a short distance in the air.

Burmese pythons, on the other hand, spend a good deal of their early life in trees. As they get older and heavier, they drop to the ground and spend hours hidden among plants. However, Burmese pythons can swim rather well as well. They can hold their breath underwater for up to thirty minutes, and they are proficient swimmers.

8. Some Burmese pythons that live in more northern regions brumate during the winter

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When an animal hibernates, their metabolism slows down and they must rely on fat reserves to get through the chilly winter months. Although most people connect hibernation with mammals, many fish, reptiles, and amphibians also hibernate throughout the winter.

In the winter, certain Burmese pythons that live in northern regions brumate. Less daylight and a lack of heat trigger brumation, similar to hibernation. Burmese pythons only come up for water and hide beneath rocks, inside tree trunks, or in cracks in riverbanks. They also get ready to reproduce during this time by getting their reproductive organs ready.

9. Burmese pythons are one of the largest snakes in the world

Snakes can be as small as garden snakes, only a few inches long, to as large as limousines, with pythons and anacondas being the largest. Together with other members of the family Pythonidae, Burmese pythons are renowned for being among the largest snakes in the world. Males tend to be slightly larger than females, but females are also significantly heavier and thicker. Even when they are at their smallest, adult snakes are rarely shorter than 7 feet, or 9 inches.

The largest Burmese python ever measured was recorded by a female at the Gurnee, Illinois-based Serpent Safari reptile exhibit. While uncorroborated accounts state that some snakes in the wild have been measured as long as 23 feet, this female measured 18 feet, 10 inches. At a staggering 403 pounds, a female snake by the name of Baby now holds the record for being the largest snake ever recorded.

10. They only eat every one to two months

Compared to other snakes, the Burmese python moves relatively slowly. It usually eats only once or twice every two months and does not require frequent feeding. However, when it does eat, it consumes too much food. This is because food digestion takes a long time in a snake with a slow metabolism. Some Burmese pythons can go for months without eating.

11. Females lay a clutch of 12 to 36 eggs in March or April

Mating season begins in the early spring. Females lay their clutch of 12 to 36 eggs in March or April. They nurture the eggs until they hatch by wrapping themselves around them and twitching their muscles to produce heat. The female leaves the eggs after hatching. The egg teeth of a hatchling can be used to break free of its shell, allowing it to remain inside the egg until it moults and then emerges to hunt. Burmese pythons have a 20-year lifespan on average.

According to research, Burmese pythons are capable of parthenogenesis, an asexual reproductive process, unlike other reptiles. One captive female was able to lay viable eggs for five years while being kept separate from males.

12. Burmese Pythons play a crucial role in balancing the ecosystem

Burmese pythons are an important part of the ecosystem’s balance since they are apex predators. In addition to acting as organic pest controllers and promoting the general stability and well-being of their habitats, they aid in the management of small mammal populations.

Since they are carnivorous, Burmese pythons play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. They assist in the management of small mammal populations in addition to serving as natural pest controllers and enhancing the stability and wellbeing of their habitats.

13. Burmese Pythons started their own little clan in Florida in 1980’s

Burmese pythons have been spotted in the Florida Everglades dating back to the 1980s. They are said to have come from pet owners’ intentional or unintentional releases, which allowed them to create self-sufficient breeding colonies. It’s thought that the population has grown as a result of hurricane damage to a huge Burmese python breeding facility.

14. Albino Burmese pythons exist

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Because of their lack of colour, albino Burmese pythons are often kept as pets. These people are quite uncommon in the wild, nevertheless. A genetic mutation that rarely manifests in natural populations is albinism. Because they lack hiding, albino Burmese pythons would be at a disadvantage in the environment and make easy prey for predators.

15. Burmese python teeth sort of look like backward-angles combs

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Remember that Burmese python teeth resemble combs with reverse angles if you’re one of the fortunate few who gets to witness one of these incredible reptiles but if you manage to frighten it enough it will bite you. First of all, if you’re daring enough to test this snake then be prepared for several pins and needles that may pierce the skin and hurt for a while but it won’t be too severe. Place a bandage on the wound if this unfortunate incident happens. 

After learning a little bit about Burmese pythons, you should not be surprised if you see a few of them slithering around at your family reunion close to Everglades National Park. If your friend, uncle, or anybody else you know still has a pet, make sure to visit it eventually to see for yourself how amazing these enormous snakes are.