This snake has balls...

[Angry Ewok]

Python Bursts After Swallowing Alligator Whole



"MIAMI - The alligator has some foreign competition at the top of the Everglades food chain, and the results of the struggle are horror-movie messy.
 
A 13-foot Burmese python recently burst after it apparently tried to swallow a live, six-foot alligator whole, authorities said.

The incident has heightened biologists' fears that the nonnative snakes could threaten a host of other animal species in the Everglades.

"It means nothing in the Everglades is safe from pythons, a top-down predator," said Frank Mazzotti, a University of Florida wildlife professor.

Over the years, many pythons have been abandoned in the Everglades by pet owners.

The gory evidence of the latest gator-python encounter — the fourth documented in the past three years — was discovered and photographed last week by a helicopter pilot and wildlife researcher.

The snake was found with the gator's hindquarters protruding from its midsection. Mazzotti said the alligator may have clawed at the python's stomach as the snake tried to digest it.

In previous incidents, the alligator won or the battle was an apparent draw.

"There had been some hope that alligators can control Burmese pythons," Mazzotti said. "This indicates to me it's going to be an even draw. Sometimes alligators are going to win and sometimes the python will win."

It is unknown how many pythons are competing with the thousands of alligators in the Everglades, but at least 150 have been captured in the past two years, said Joe Wasilewski, a wildlife biologist and crocodile tracker.

Pythons could threaten many smaller species that conservationists are trying to protect, including other reptiles, otters, squirrels, woodstorks and sparrows, Mazzotti said.

Wasilewski said a 10- or 20-foot python also could pose a risk to an unwary human, especially a child. He added, however, "I don't think this is an imminent threat. This is not a `Be afraid, be very afraid' situation.'" "


I just had to share this with someone.

[corey]

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

Is that for real?

I said "god damn"!

[Angry Ewok]

Oops, I forgot to post a link to the article -

yahoo News

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051005/ap_on_fe_st/gator_python;_ylt=Avzwir7F7iBvaUvoiUMRuuEDW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

[ratsprayer]

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

Is that for real?

I said "god damn"!

yeah, its very real.  supposedly its happened 4 times in the past 3 years, i mean i dont know if the python has exploded every time.  i guess the everglades is a perfect place for floridians to drop off unwanted reptiles, even if it fucks up things.

[EC]

Mazzotti said the alligator may have clawed at the python's stomach as the snake tried to digest it.

Oh my lord.

That's...  I don't have language for that.

[tomEisenbraun]

wow.

[primushead]

The snake was found with the gator's hindquarters protruding from its midsection. Mazzotti said the alligator may have clawed at the python's stomach as the snake tried to digest it.

Isn't nature awesome?  

[ratsprayer]

Isn't nature awesome?  

this more than makes up for poison ivy, doesnt it?

[primushead]

this more than makes up for poison ivy, doesnt it?

LOL.  Makes up for poison ivy, but ticks still remain at large.

[EC]

LOL.  Makes up for poison ivy, but ticks still remain at large.

Yeah, I wish dawn was a little later sometimes...

[primushead]

Yeah, I wish dawn was a little later sometimes...

I don't get it ???

[ratsprayer]

I don't get it ???

its like curling, something we just dont understand, eh?

[dragonboy]

I remember reading this story a few years ago:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/weekly/aa061101a.htm

[EC]

2 things:

1. ratz and primus, it means I wish I could sleep later sometimes...
2. dragonboyzzzzzzzzzinthehood, that is SICK!!!  It gave me dry heaves.  Oi.  



whew.

sick.  (I can't stop looking at it, what is wrong with me?)

[dragonboy]

Yer it is pretty gross isn't it? Sorry that it made you feel sick!

I did think about putting some kind of warning up but the let's be honest, the first picture isn't exactly pretty, is it?  :o