Alligator v Python: 0-0

We've all asked ourselves the question: "What if a crocodile fought a shark? What about pirahna's vs electric eels?" Well one famous match-up has been fought to the death in the depths of the Everglades, Florida.

Stunned park officials came across the macabre scene last week. An adult Burmese python (an introduced species) was found attempting to digest a 2m alligator.

Burmese pythons are commonly kept as pets, and often released into the wild when they grow too big. They thrive in the humid Everglades swamps. The original size of the python is unclear as its head has been bitten off (probably by another alligator), but was estimated at 3.9m.

The most bizarre part: the python seems to have exploded while attempting to digest the alligator. Experts suggest that the alligator may have clawed at the pythons belly on the way down. For what its worth, I think this is unlikely - pythons generally squeeze until something is very dead before eating it - but they do take up to 2 weeks to digest a large meal; I'm wondering if it wasn't attacked by another alligator shortly after eating which caused its stomach to rupture (for supporting evidence: note missing head).

If you are eating breakfast right now, don't look below.

Burmese python explodes eating an alligator

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