Coelomic foreign bodies in wild-caught Python spp. in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA
Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) and African rock pythons (Python sebae) have established invasive populations in southern Florida, severely disrupting local ecosystems. We analysed necropsy data from 2,179 pythons captured between 2006 and 2022, revealing nine cases of coelomic foreign b...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pensoft Publishers
2025-07-01
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| Series: | NeoBiota |
| Online Access: | https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/148521/download/pdf/ |
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| author | Gretchen E. Anderson McKayla M. Spencer Ray W. Snow Andrea F. Currylow Frank N. Ridgley Bryan G. Falk Amy A. Yackel Adams |
| author_facet | Gretchen E. Anderson McKayla M. Spencer Ray W. Snow Andrea F. Currylow Frank N. Ridgley Bryan G. Falk Amy A. Yackel Adams |
| author_sort | Gretchen E. Anderson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) and African rock pythons (Python sebae) have established invasive populations in southern Florida, severely disrupting local ecosystems. We analysed necropsy data from 2,179 pythons captured between 2006 and 2022, revealing nine cases of coelomic foreign bodies, primarily consisting of bird beaks, which presumably entered the coelom following gastrointestinal perforations during prey consumption. Despite the presence of foreign bodies, most examined pythons exhibited no obvious health issues. These findings indicate that the consumption of prey with sharp morphological features, such as wading birds, may not impede the pythons’ survival or health significantly, thereby underscoring their adaptability as apex predators in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5ab96dfa1d4c4e9cb98d4cff4873507f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1314-2488 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | NeoBiota |
| spelling | doaj-art-5ab96dfa1d4c4e9cb98d4cff4873507f2025-08-20T03:17:13ZengPensoft PublishersNeoBiota1314-24882025-07-019936337010.3897/neobiota.99.148521148521Coelomic foreign bodies in wild-caught Python spp. in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USAGretchen E. Anderson0McKayla M. Spencer1Ray W. Snow2Andrea F. Currylow3Frank N. Ridgley4Bryan G. Falk5Amy A. Yackel Adams6U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center - South Florida Field Station in Everglades National ParkFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionNational Park Service, Everglades National ParkU.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center - South Florida Field Station in Everglades National ParkZoo Miami, Conservation and Research DepartmentNational Park Service, Everglades National ParkU.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science CenterBurmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) and African rock pythons (Python sebae) have established invasive populations in southern Florida, severely disrupting local ecosystems. We analysed necropsy data from 2,179 pythons captured between 2006 and 2022, revealing nine cases of coelomic foreign bodies, primarily consisting of bird beaks, which presumably entered the coelom following gastrointestinal perforations during prey consumption. Despite the presence of foreign bodies, most examined pythons exhibited no obvious health issues. These findings indicate that the consumption of prey with sharp morphological features, such as wading birds, may not impede the pythons’ survival or health significantly, thereby underscoring their adaptability as apex predators in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem.https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/148521/download/pdf/ |
| spellingShingle | Gretchen E. Anderson McKayla M. Spencer Ray W. Snow Andrea F. Currylow Frank N. Ridgley Bryan G. Falk Amy A. Yackel Adams Coelomic foreign bodies in wild-caught Python spp. in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA NeoBiota |
| title | Coelomic foreign bodies in wild-caught Python spp. in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA |
| title_full | Coelomic foreign bodies in wild-caught Python spp. in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA |
| title_fullStr | Coelomic foreign bodies in wild-caught Python spp. in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coelomic foreign bodies in wild-caught Python spp. in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA |
| title_short | Coelomic foreign bodies in wild-caught Python spp. in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA |
| title_sort | coelomic foreign bodies in wild caught python spp in the greater everglades ecosystem florida usa |
| url | https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/148521/download/pdf/ |
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