The sight of one black - headed python quaff down another was n’t just what Nick Stock , sanctuary director at the Australian Wildlife Conservancy ’s ( AWC ) Piccaninny Plains Wildlife Sanctuary , expected to see that twenty-four hours .
In fact , it was n’t until he grow closer to the ophidian feast he ’d just spotted , that he realized he was witnessing a case of cannibalism – a larger black - headpythonhad constrict around , and was eating a modest black - head teacher python , tail first .
“ as luck would have it for me but not - so - as luck would have it for the python being use up , it get around 15 minute from when I first witness the initial constriction to the python finishing itsmealand retort to its tunnel which was only about 10 feet [ 3 meter ] forth , ” said Stock , depict the event in astatement . “ This pass me mickle of clock time to get a camera and document the event . ”
Maybe it just mistook the word snake for snack?Image Courtesy: Nick Stock/Australian Wildlife Conservancy
It ’s not unusual to discover a black - headed python chowing down on another snake – reptilesare a primary component of their diet – and Stock had understand the python deplete other ophidian before .
“ I have previously find Black - head Pythons eat an Eastern Brown Snake and a Yellow Spotted Monitor , however , this was the first time I witness a Black - headed Python eating another Black - headed Python . ”
The sanctuary coach was lucky ; this kind of cannibalistic behavior has seldom been captured on photographic film outside of captivity , according to Helena Stokes , a wildlife ecologist at AWC .
However , Stokes was n’t ingest aback by this activity . “ pitch-black - headed Pythons prefer to eat reptilian over mammalian and are know to eat turgid reptiles admit goannas , and evenvenomous snakes , so I ’m not surprised that they would ware another python if the chance grow , ” the ecologist explicate . “ By consuming other individuals , they are also reduce rivalry for resources in the area . ”
If you require to know more about black - headed pythons , check out the video above , in which Terri Irwin predict them “ very sweet ” – we recall smaller members of the serpent mintage might be inclined to dissent .
