I agree that crocodilians are probably the most evolutionarily advanced of the reptiles, (sea turtles close 2nd), but burmese pythons have an ace in the hole that becomes an important factor. The one drawback that crocs/gators have is that their metabolic oxygen consumption per Kg body weight is about 3 to 4 times that of a python under equal conditions. If a python is able to effectively restrain and constrict it, I believe the croc is in real trouble. It will rapidly deplete blood oxygen levels during its struggle. The problem would be if the python underestimated the crocs size and couldn't gain control. Anacondas eat caiman occasionally, and there are records of african rocks eating nile crocs. However, I have not seen any records of P. molurus sp. in their natural habitat feeding on crocs.



I think the most likely scenario would be the larger crocs feeding pretty freely on the smaller, younger pythons. I don’t think even larger burmese would see gators as a prey species under most conditions.



Kelly

[ Hide Replies ]

• odd question but important - mldolan, Fri Apr 11 07:39:06 2008
• RE: odd question but important - HappyHillbilly, Fri Apr 11 10:26:47 2008
• RE: odd question but important - laurarfl, Fri Apr 11 12:13:25 2008
• RE: odd question but important - Kelly_Haller, Sat Apr 12 16:15:16 2008
• RE: odd question but important - laurarfl, Sat Apr 12 20:25:56 2008
• I definitely agree with you, but....... - Kelly_Haller, Mon Apr 14 23:20:22 2008
• Interesting, thanks...np - laurarfl, Tue Apr 15 06:29:12 2008
• RE: odd question but important - mldolan, Sat Apr 19 10:58:36 2008