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Pythons Can Kill a Human in Minutes, and Swallow Them in an Hour

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Pythons Can Kill a Human in Minutes, and Swallow Them in an Hour

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The length of time it takes to watch an episode of Games of Thrones is about all it takes for a reticulated python to kill and swallow a human being.

Death comes quickly, notes Cornell Professor Dr. Harry W. Greene. The reticulated python, the longest living species of snake in the world, are constrictors, meaning they coil around their prey and squeeze them until they're dead in just a couple minutes. The swallowing takes most of the time.

"It would be extremely difficult for me to save my life without help," Greene said. "It wouldn't take very long and it would be awful."

Such a nightmare occurred earlier this week, when a 23-foot reticulated python swallowed whole an Indonesian farmer. It's a rare occurrence for that part of the world, but not unheard of, Greene said. There are, he said, examples of people being eaten by reticulated pythons, particularly on Sulawesi, the island where 25-year-old Akbar Salubiro was eaten.

Humans, unfortunately, fit into the general, mammal-heavy diet of the reticulated python, which can grow between 20 and 25 feet long. The Guinness World Records notes a reticulated python named Medusa, which lives in Kansas City, Mo., holds the title as the world's largest snake ever in captivity at over 25-feet long. Pythons often eat primates, including monkeys, sometimes orangutans and, seldom, people.

Pythons bite first and would attack a human in two ways: 1. A startled snake could bite as a form of defense; 2. The python stealthily lies in wait along a game trail, edges of waterways or any other place where they would find unsuspecting prey. On Thursday, CBS reported villagers said Akbar was attacked from behind.

Reticulated pythons bite first. Then, Greene said, "literally within a few seconds," it would wrap its powerful coils around a person's body, cutting off blood circulation to the brain, blocking off airways and preventing the chest from expanding. From one or all of those reasons, he said, a person would quickly die.

"Big pythons are incredibly powerful animals with huge muscles to both move and eat and constrict," said Stephen Ressel, a professor at the College of Atlantic. "They certainly can pack a huge force as they're constricting."

Then comes the swallowing. Pythons can swallow humans because their lower jaw is indirectly attached to their skull, allowing it to expand. Also, a python's lower jaw comes apart, allowing it to further open up. Over the course of about an hour, Greene estimates, the snake would walk its teeth over a person's body until it is completely inside the animal's stomach.

A person's body would be digested by the snake's stomach acid, Greene said.

Akbar's death, noted Greene, isn't the first one. In a study he did with Thomas N. Headland, Greene found reticulated pythons killed at least six Filipino hunter-gatherers from 1934 to 1973. Once, a python went into a thatched house, killed two children and was swallowing one of them when the father came home and killed the snake with a bolo knife.

The study found it was pretty common for humans to be attacked by reticulated pythons. Among the nearly 60 hunter-gatherers interviewed, more than a quarter had been attacked by a python and had the bites and scars to prove it. Most often, they were able to escape by using a knife or a shotgun.

Greene, an emeritus professor in Cornell's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, said the case of Akbar is special because there's video evidence of his body being pulled from the snake. Usually, he said, we don't hear about people being eaten because pythons rarely leave a carcass as a trace. The animals can digest flesh and bones.

"I'm pretty sure it happens every year," Greene said.
Follow Sean Rossman on Twitter: @SeanRossman

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Pythons can kill a human in minutes and swallow them in an hour

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The Indonesian farmer swallowed by a massive reticulated python earlier this week likely endured a horrific final moments, one in which he was wasn't the first person to be swallowed whole by a reticulated python, the longest living snake in the wor

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Dr Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace

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We are Dr Goodall’s official UK charity. For almost 35 yrs, we have spread hope and turned it into positive impact in the UK & Africa.

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Ball Python, the Best Pet Reptile? Video

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Ball Python, the Best Pet Reptile? Video

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Are Pythons Venomous, Poisonous or Otherwise Dangerous to Humans?

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Are Pythons Venomous, Poisonous or Otherwise Dangerous to Humans?

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Reader question: "I was wondering if pythons are poisonous snakes and therefore dangerous to humans? Anything you can tell me about this subject would be helpful. I am doing a school report on the different types of pythons, and whether or not they are dangerous is a big part of my report. Thanks in advance."

In a hurry? Here's the general idea of this article in 100 words or less. All pythons are non-venomous, and most of them pose no threat to humans. But a handful of species do grow large enough to constrict and kill their owners. These include the reticulated and Burmese pythons, along with a few other species. If you want to keep a member of the Pythonidae family as a pet, you might consider the more manageable ball python.

Burmese python captured in the Florida Everglades. Photo by U.S. Geological Survey (
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The first thing we need to do is distinguish between the terms "poisonous" and "venomous." Technically, they are two different things (and pythons are neither).

Poisonous - Something that harms you when you ingest it through eating or drinking. Poisonous mushrooms fall into this category, as do many household cleaners and insecticides. If you ingest them, you will become ill and possibly die.

Venomous - Something that harms you when it bites or stings you (like a rattlesnake, a jellyfish, or a black widow spider).

Pythons are not poisonous or venomous. They do not meet either of these definitions.

Pythons Are Not Venomous

Pythons are members of the Pythonidae family of snakes. There are about 26 different species within this family. The ball python, one of the most popular snakes in the pet trade, is a member of this family. The world's longest snake, the reticulated python, is also part of the Pythonidae family.

All of the species within this family are non-venomous. This means they do not possess any venom that is harmful to humans. They kill their prey through constriction, literally by squeezing the animal to death. Venomous snakes, on the other hand, kill their prey by biting and injecting venom through hollow fangs or teeth.

Interestingly enough, scientists have discovered that pythons (and many snakes for that matter) have the remnants of a venom delivery system. They all go back to a common ancestor species, supposedly. But no, pythons are not poisonous / venomous in any way that could harm humans. They kill their prey by slowly squeezing it to death. They are constrictors.

The Larger Pythons Can Be Dangerous to Humans

I've divided this article into two parts because you are asking two different questions:

1. Are pythons venomous? We've answered this one. No, they are not.

2. Are pythons dangerous to humans? They certainly can be!

Certain python species are potentially dangerous to humans. But it's not because they are venomous. It's because they are so large and powerful. They can quite literally squeeze a human to death, and there are plenty of documented cases to support this. Here are two examples:

In 2013, an African rock python (one of the largest snake species in the world) killed two young boys in Canada after escaping from its enclosure. Here is a link to the CNN story:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/06/world/americas/canada-snake-deaths/

In 2009, in Florida, a two-year-old girl was constricted and killed by an eight-foot-long Burmese python while sleeping in her crib. This is another massive snake that could potentially be dangerous to humans, as shown by this tragic story. Here is a link to the story:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2009/07/02/child-dies-after-being-strangled-by-pet-python-in-florida/

These are not the only instances of captive pythons attacking humans. A Google search on this subject will produce even more results. The bottom line is that the larger snakes within the Pythonidae family are potentially dangerous to humans. They are large enough to overpower and constrict their owners.

Potentially dangerous species within this family include:

African rock pythons

Amethystine Pythons

Burmese pythons

Indian pythons

Reticulated pythons (arguably the most dangerous due to its size)
All of these powerful constrictors, and also the green anaconda, can grow larger enough to pose a serious threat to humans. So while they are not venomous, they are still potentially dangerous when kept as pets.

Consider Keeping One of the Smaller Species

If you would like to keep a member of the Pythonidae family as a pet, you might want to consider the following species:

Ball python - These snakes are generally docile and easy to handle. They don't get large enough to pose a threat of constriction. They rarely grow larger than 5 - 6 ft (152 - 182 cm). The average adult size is even smaller than that.

Blood python - These snakes are not for beginners, but they are generally safe to keep as pets. They can deliver a nasty bite, like any other python, but they do not grow large enough to be dangerous to humans. They grow slightly larger than ball pythons and are thick, heavily built snakes. But they are not large enough to constrict an adult human.

Children's python - These snakes do not get their name because they are recommended for children. They are actually named after English zoologist John George Children. Adults grow to an average length of around 3 ft (1 m) and rarely exceed 5 ft (1.5 m). Due to their relatively small size (and the fact that they are non-venomous like all pythons), these snakes are not considered dangerous to humans.

Other Safety Considerations

Reptile can pose a health threat in other ways as well. Snakes, lizards and turtles can transfer salmonella and other harmful bacteria to their owners. This typically occurs when proper cleaning and handling procedures are neglected. The risk of bacterial transmission can be greatly reduced, if not completely eliminated, with common-sense cleaning and handling techniques.

Always wash your hands before and after handling a pet snake. Keep cages, water bowls and other cage "furniture" clean at all times. Keep pet reptiles away from kitchens and food-storage / food-preparation areas. Use caution when allowing children to handle a pet reptile, and make sure they wash their hands afterward. Common sense is the best defense.

Disclaimer: Large pythons can be dangerous to humans. The news stories cited above, and many like them, clearly show the risks associated with keeping and handling these powerful snakes. We generally do not recommend large constrictors as pets. The risks are too high, especially when children or infants are brought into the equation. This information has been provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute one-on-one advice.

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Are Pythons Venomous or Dangerous to Humans?

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Pythons are not venomous, but they can still be dangerous to humans. Some of the larger species, such as the Burmese and reticulated pythons, are large enough to constrict and kill their owners. Here''s what a future snake keeper needs to know.

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Pythons are nonvenomous snakes found in Asia, Africa and Australia. Because they are not native to North or South America, they are considered Old World snakes. The word python can refer to both the family Pythonidae or the genus Python, found within Pythonidae.

There are 41 species of python found within the family Pythonidae, according to the Reptile Database. Though both pythons and boas are large constrictors, they are separate families.

Physical characteristics

The family Pythonidae contains some of the largest snakes snakes in the world, according to Sara Viernum, Wisconsin-based founder of The Wandering Herpetologist. "Most pythons are large snakes ... such as the reticulated python ( Python reticulatus), which can grow over 30 feet [9 meters] in length," she said. "There are also small species of pythons such as the anthill python ( Antaresia perthensis), which only grows up to 24 inches [61 centimeters] in length and is considered the smallest python species in the world."

The coloration and size of different species of python vary widely. Depending on their local habitats and need for camouflage, coloring can range from elaborately patterned scales (such as those on the Burmese python, the ball python and many other species) to solid brown (leiopythons) to bright green (the green tree python), but scientists note some more subtle physical commonalities.

"Most python species have heat-sensing labial pits to aid them in finding warm-blooded prey," said Viernum. Pythons that feed on cold-blooded prey do not have the labial pits. Regardless of length, pythons are bulky for their size. They have triangular-shaped heads and sharp, backward-curving teeth that they use to grab prey. Arboreal pythons' teeth are longer than their terrestrial cousins. Arboreal pythons also have extremely prehensile tails.

"Pythonidae is considered a primitive family of snakes mainly because pythons have remnants of a pelvis and small vestigial hind limbs, called spurs, located on either side of their cloaca," Viernum continued. "The spurs of males are larger than the spurs of females." Pythons also have two lungs, a primitive characteristic, since most snakes have evolved to have only one lung.

Habitat

Within Asia, Africa, Oceania and Australia, pythons stay in relatively warm, wet climates. Many species thrive in rain forests, though pythons also live in grasslands, woodlands, swamps, rocky outcrops, dunes and shrubs, according to the San Diego Zoo. Pythons shelter in hollows, under rocks, in abandoned mammal burrows and tree branches, depending on the species. As humans have developed python habitats, pythons have become accustomed to sheltering in urban debris and farms.

Though native to the Old World, one species of python has made its home in the Western Hemisphere. "The Burmese python is an invasive species that has been discovered living and successfully breeding in the Florida Everglades," Viernum said. The climate of the Everglades allows it to live much as it would in a Southeast Asian swamp.

[ Photos: Giant Pythons Invade Everglades]

Behavior

Because of their bulk, pythons move by scooting forward in a straight line. This is called "rectilinear progression" movement, according to the San Diego Zoo. Pythons stiffen their ribs for support against the ground then lift their bellies and push themselves forward. It is a slow form of movement and pythons can't go more than 1 mph (1.6 kph).

Many species of python are excellent swimmers, while others are arboreal, according to Viernum. "They hang from branches with their prehensile tails."

Hunting and feeding habits

Pythons have different diets, depending on their size. Small pythons, such as the anthill python, eat mostly rodents, lizards and small birds. Bigger pythons eat mammals as big as monkeys, wallabies, antelope and pigs. According to the San Diego Zoo, a rock python was once found with a small leopard in its stomach. According to an article in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, there have been reports of the large reticulated python attacking humans.

"Pythons are nonvenomous ambush predators," said Viernum. "Some species are capable of swimming and may lie partially submerged in shallow water waiting for prey to visit the water body."

It is a myth that arboreal pythons, such as the green tree python, launch themselves from branches onto prey below. This could cause serious injury to the snake. Rather, they lie still on a branch and wriggle their tails to lure in their prey. They strike while still in the tree, according to the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

After they've grabbed their prey in their long teeth, pythons kill it by constriction. Contrary to popular belief, constriction does not mean crushing. Pythons and other constricting snakes do not use their strength to break their prey's bones. Many scientists think that pythons suffocate their prey, squeezing the prey's ribs so that it cannot breathe. In 2015, however, a paper revealed the long-held suffocation theory to be incorrect in boa constrictors, probably the most famous constrictor. The paper revealed that squeezing overwhelms the circulatory system, cutting blood off from the brain and causing death. Scientists are looking into whether other constrictors, including pythons, also use this method.

When the prey is dead, pythons slowly open their jaws and swallow the prey whole, head first. Once the meal is consumed, pythons rest in a warm place while they digest. [ Related: Python's Extreme Eating Abilities Explained]

Reproduction and lifespan

The timing of python mating season depends on the species. When courting, the males use their large spurs (vestigial limbs) to stroke the female, according to Viernum.

"All pythons are egg layers (oviparous)," said Viernum. This sets them apart from boas, the world's family of other large constricting snakes, which give birth to live young.

"Most species of python provide parental care to their eggs," Viernum continued. "The females will make nests of vegetation and soil or use old burrows. After the eggs are laid, the female will coil around them to protect the eggs and to keep them warm. If the temperature in the nest begins to decrease the female will contract her muscles to warm eggs. This is known as shivering thermogenesis. Females typically do not feed during this time and may only leave the nest to bask. After the eggs hatch, the female does not care for the hatchling snakes."

Viernum said that some species of pythons live 25 years or longer. The San Diego Zoo lists 35 years as their maximum lifespan.

Taxonomy/classification

The taxonomy of pythons, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), is:

Kingdom: Animalia Subkingdom: Bilateria Infrakingdom: Deuterostomia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Infraphylum: Gnathostomata Superclass: Tetrapoda Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Infraorder: Alethinophidia Family: Pythonidae Genera:

Select species facts
Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus or Python bivittatus)
ITIS classifies this snake as a subspecies; other sources, such as the Reptile Database, call it a separate species. Burmese pythons are large snakes native to Southeast Asia that have recently made headlines by showing up in Florida. They have pale tan, yellow-brown, or gray bodies with large, reddish blotches outlined in white or yellow, according to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park.

Burmese pythons are regularly caught and killed for their skins or bred as pets. According to the National Park Service, pet owners either accidentally or intentionally released their Burmese pythons into the Florida wilderness. Now, they live and breed successfully in the Florida Everglades, said Viernum, who described them as an invasive species.

(Image credit: FWC)

Burmese pythons are causing problems in Florida. "This species is a very large, up to 20 feet in length, top predator that is able to consume most of the Everglades' native wildlife, including medium-sized American alligators," Viernum explained. "Burmese pythons have very few predators in the Everglades and even the hatchlings are too large for most native predators to consume. Females produce an average of 40 eggs every two years and the hatchlings are 18-36 inches long. This species typically begins breeding at 3-4 years old. Because of their large size and their relatively high reproduction rates, this species is considered to be a major threat to the native wildlife of the Everglades."
Ball python and albino ball python (Python regius)
Ball pythons are also known as royal pythons. They are native to west and central Africa but have become popular pets in Western countries. They are large snakes but not gigantic, reaching lengths between 3 and 6 feet (0.9 to 1.8 meters), according to the University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web.

Ball pythons have black or dark brown stripes on their face that partially cross their eyes. Their bodies have large dark brown blotches outlined in cream and then outlined in black. According to Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo, there are several rare color morphs of ball pythons, including snakes with patches of white or lacking yellow, black or red pigments.

Albino ball pythons have a genetic mutation called amelanistism, which limits dark pigments and leaves a white snake with yellow blotches and pink or red eyes. Albino ball pythons are popular among pet owners and the mutation has been cultivated by breeders, according to the pet site World of Ball Pythons.

Endangerment status

Thirteen species of python are on the International Union of Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species. Ramsay's python ( Aspidites ramsayi) is listed as endangered; the Burmese python ( Python bivittatus) and the Myanmar short-tailed python ( Python kyaiktiyo) are listed as vulnerable. The other species are listed as "least concern." Humans are a primary threat to pythons, which are regularly killed for their skins.

Additional resources

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Pythons are nonvenomous snakes found in Asia, Africa and Australia. Because they are not native to North or South America, they are considered Old World snakes. The word python can refer to both the family Pythonidae or the genus Python, found within Pythonidae.

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The ball python is a good snake for a beginning snake owner. They typically grow to be up to five feet long, they are not as large as many of the other constricting snakes that are kept as pets, they are quite docile, and they are easy to handle.

Breed Overview

Scientific Name: Python regius

Common Name: Ball python

Adult Size: 4-5 feet

Behavior and Temperament of Ball Pythons

Ball pythons are so named because, when threatened, they roll themselves into a tight ball, tucking their head inside their coils. Young ball pythons grow about a foot a year for three years. They can live for 20-30 years with proper care, and it's possible for them to live for decades longer.

Wild-caught snakes tend to be very stressed from capture and transport and can harbor a large parasite load. Captive-bred snakes tend to be more expensive, but they are readily available.

Housing Ball Pythons

Ball pythons are not terribly active snakes, so a smaller enclosure is fine (use a 20-gallon tank for younger snakes and a 30-gallon tank for an adult). They are, however, adept escape artists, so a securely fitted top is absolutely necessary.

You have many options for a substrate for your snake including shredded bark, newsprint, and Astroturf. Astroturf is probably the easiest because you can cut a few pieces to fit the cage and simply replace the dirty pieces as necessary. The soiled pieces can be soaked in a solution of one gallon of water with 2 tablespoons of bleach, rinsed well, dried, and then used again.

Provide sturdy branches and a dark hiding place for your snake. They like to feel securely enclosed, so it should be just large enough to accommodate the snake.

The temperature in your ball python's cage should range from 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit on the cool side with a basking spot maintained at 88-92 degrees F. Nighttime temperatures can fall to around 75 degrees F.

An under-the-tank heating pad designed for reptiles works well but can make it difficult to monitor the temperature. An incandescent heat bulb or ceramic heating element can be used to achieve the basking temperatures.

Never use hot rocks with pet reptiles, and make sure the bulb or heat element is screened off to prevent contact with the snake otherwise burns may result. Use multiple thermometers to monitor the temperatures in the cage: one at the bottom of the cage and one at the basking spot.

Provide a dish large enough for your snake to soak in. Soaking is particularly helpful during sheds. Some owners like to provide a covered dish (e.g. plastic storage container) with a hole in the lid to provide security for the snake, so it will soak longer if necessary.

Another alternative is to provide a humidity retreat, which similarly uses a covered container with an access hole lined with damp sphagnum moss or paper towels to provide moisture (a water dish is still provided outside the retreat).

Food and Water

Ball pythons can be fed exclusively mice or small to medium-sized rats (as appropriate for the size of the snake) and only need to be fed every week or two. Young snakes should be fed fuzzy mice every 5 to 7 days, while older snakes should be fed increasingly larger prey and can go a little longer, up to two weeks. Use pre-killed prey since live mice can injure a snake. Dangling the prey in front of the snake with forceps usually gets the snake interested in it.

Moving the snake out of its cage into a separate enclosure for feeding is a good idea and will help in the taming process. The snake will associate eating with the other enclosure and is less likely to confuse your hand for prey when you put your hand into the cage. This will make it easier to reach into the cage to get the ball python out for handling.

Common Health Problems

If you already have a constricting snake at home, any new python (or boa) should be quarantined due to the risk of inclusion body disease. Experts vary on the length of recommended quarantine time, but 3 to 6 months is not extreme. In addition, a vet check is in order, especially for internal (take a recent stool sample) and external parasites.

Even captive-bred ball pythons sometimes refuse to eat, fasting for a couple of months. As long as body weight and condition are maintained, this is not problematic.

If your snake stops eating, carefully examine the husbandry, handling, health, and environment of the snake to make sure stress isn't the culprit. Consult a knowledgeable vet or experienced keeper for help if the fast is prolonged or causes weight loss over 10%.

If necessary, some tricks to entice a python to eat include dipping the prey in chicken broth, trying different colors of mice, exposing the brain of the prey before feeding it, feeding at night, and covering the cage with towels after offering a mouse.

You may even want to try feeding a hamster, although this may make your snake more likely to refuse mice if it develops a preference.

Choosing a Ball Python

When you are ready to get your ball python, look for a young, captive-bred snake (you may have to find a breeder for this). Choose a snake that has a well-rounded body, clean eyes and vent, and that shows no signs of respiratory problems (wheezing, bubbles around nostrils).

Look for one that is alert and curious and gently grips your hand/arms when handled. It may be skittish but should calm after handling for a bit. It is not a bad idea to ask for a feeding demonstration to be sure the snake readily takes a meal.

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Find out How to Care for Ball Pythons as Pets

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Learn basic information on the popular ball python, including choosing one for a pet, housing needs, and how to feed them to keep them healthy.

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After a chimp mutilated a Connecticut woman’s face, some are questioning the wisdom of keeping wild animals as pets

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We are Dr Goodall's official UK charity. For almost 35 yrs, we have spread hope and turned it into positive impact in the UK & Africa.