There is really no need for them to "drink" salt water. Eastern Diamondbacks and pygmies have migrated into the Lower Keys (at least as far as Big Pine Key. It is not really that unreasonable to assume that it might be possible with Burmese pythons. The argument of them traveling via the overseas highway is somewhat of a strawman argument. The ability to survive in a marine environment is quite possible for some species, asserting it is not a possibilty for Burmese is a bit absurd. The purpose of scientific investigation is to back-up assertions with those ugly fact thingies. Data and evidence need to be collected and examined - can they survive in a marine environment? How long? If you are so inclined, you could perform the experiment yourself, instead of grousing about something you believe to be true being contra to the findings of scientific study...C. Acutus occur in many brackish and estarine and marine habitats - they do survive in marine environments and are much more salt-tolerant than alligators. They even live in Lago Enriquillo, a hypersaline lake in the Dominican Republic...

Diamondbacks arrived in the Lower Keys via some pathway. Burmese could likewise migrate to the Lower Keys assuming that there was suitable prey available during the trip - they can survive prolonged periods without water and without food. This is not to assert that such a migration will occur, but that it could occur...

If there are papers or studies cited, please link to them.

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