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Scientists from the United States and France made a surprising discovery: a previously unseen cell in vertebrates, capable of helping the python completely digest the bones of its prey.
The finding, published at the end of June in the Journal of Experimental Biology, reveals that Burmese pythons (species Python molurus bivittatus) possess a special type of cell in their intestines, responsible for dealing with the high levels of calcium and phosphorus resulting from the ingestion of whole skeletons.
The study was conducted by an international team of specialists who analyzed the intestinal tracts of snakes on different diets.
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The discovery may help explain how these snakes can process large amounts of minerals without harming their bodies — a biological challenge faced by few animals.
How the Python Digests Bones Without Leaving Traces
Burmese pythons are known for swallowing their prey whole, including the bones. This leads to an accumulation of minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron in their digestive system.
However, unlike other animals, they do not eliminate bone fragments in their feces — which piqued the scientists’ curiosity.
The key lies in a specialized intestinal cell, located in the epithelium (the layer that lines the intestine) of the python. This structure is responsible for absorbing nutrients and blocking disease-causing organisms.
Within these cells, researchers found large particles composed of calcium, phosphorus, and iron — accumulated in compartments called “crypts”.
According to Jehan-Hervé Lignot, a professor at the University of Montpellier and author of the study, this type of cell had never been identified before in vertebrates. “I had never seen this in other animals,” he stated to the portal EurekAlert.
Three Diets and a Secret Hidden in the Intestine
To understand the behavior of these cells, scientists fed the snakes three types of diets:
- Standard Diet: whole rodents, including bones;
- Low Mineral Diet: de-boned rodents;
- Calcium-Rich Diet: de-boned rodents supplemented with calcium via injections.
The results were revealing. In pythons that consumed whole rodents or the supplemented diet, the cellular crypts were filled with mineral-rich particles. In contrast, snakes fed on de-boned prey did not form these particles.
Moreover, no bone fragments were found in the snakes’ feces, confirming that the skeletons of the prey had been completely dissolved during digestion.
This reinforces the hypothesis that these cells play a crucial role in metabolizing bones.
What Makes These Cells So Special?
These cells are not like traditional intestinal cells. In fasting snakes, for example, the crypts appeared completely empty — indicating that their function is directly linked to the ingestion of bones.
The function of these structures is still under investigation. It is believed that they are responsible for storing and controlling the release of calcium and phosphorus safely, preventing these minerals from entering the python’s bloodstream in excess.
Discovery Goes Beyond Burmese Pythons
The research was not limited to Python molurus bivittatus. After the initial discovery, the same cell was found in other species of pythons and even in boas.
Interestingly, it was also identified in the Gila monster, a venomous lizard found in regions of the United States and Mexico.
This connection suggests that the adaptation may be present in different carnivorous animals that consume whole prey — especially those rich in bones.
Animals That May Have the Same Mechanism
The discovery raises an important question: do other predators have the same cell? According to the researchers, there is a good chance of that.
“Marine predators that eat bony fish or aquatic mammals must face the same problem [high levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood]. Birds that primarily feed on bones, like the bearded vulture, would also be fascinating candidates,” commented Professor Lignot.
This new field of research may reveal an adaptation previously unknown in other groups of vertebrate animals.
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