by Snappy meal amazing images capture moment huge python unhinges its jaw to ᴅᴇᴠᴏᴜʀ crocodile
Even in Australia — the de facto home of ᴛᴇʀʀɪꜰʏɪɴɢ animal footage and wildlife encounters — it’s not every day that you see a snake swallow a croc whole. Yet one intrepid photographer recently captured a series of images showing an enormous olive python (Liasis olivaceus) ᴅᴇᴠᴏᴜʀɪɴɢ a full-size Johnstone crocodile.
The olive python, Australia’s second-largest snake, methodically ᴅᴇᴠᴏᴜʀs the crocodile, which is barely visible by its tail, before crawling away. The olive python, They can grow up to 13 feet in length, though the average size tends to be around eight feet, with the females tending to be slightly longer than their male counterparts. As for the Johnstone crocodile, it can reach nearly 10 feet in length. Fortunately for animal advocates and conservationists, the olive python is under no current ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛ of ᴇɴᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴍᴇɴᴛ or ᴇxᴛɪɴᴄᴛɪᴏɴ. The species is generally considered stable and is routinely observed in sizable numbers at known sites frequented by these reptiles. These sites all tend to have a few things in common, namely their proximity to water: Olive pythons relish water holes, gorges, and swamps. Mainly, however, these animals prefer aquatic and rocky environments, where they can capture some of their larger prey — like the Johnstone crocodile being ᴅᴇᴠᴏᴜʀᴇᴅ above. Breeding season for these ᴄᴏʟᴅ-ʙʟᴏᴏᴅᴇᴅ animals lasts from June to August, with males slithering as far as two miles to find female partners, who emit attracting pheromones during this time. It’s quite common for a pair of snakes to find secluded shelter, such as a cave, and stick close for as long as three weeks.
“Wow, incredible nature these critters and understand their desire for food.” “It’s usual for them to consume pretty much anything if they can fit it in their mouth”. The pythons’ jaws might unhinge when they try to consume the crocodiles. One commenter said: “That’s incredible, isn’t it???? You wouldn’t imagine a python could eat such a freshie.” Another was added: “A crocodile was ᴅᴇᴠᴏᴜʀᴇᴅ by a snake? Do you find stories about snakes interesting? Please comment and share with your friends.
