Boa constrictor (Scientific name: Boa constrictor) – true to their name, this python uses a way of squeezing its prey to death to knock down the victim. The squeeze will suffocate the prey, preventing the victim’s blood circulation.
According to evolutionary biologist Elizabeth Brainerd of Brown University (USA):
The main prey of this python species is the mouse and Opossum weasel, some larger species can eat large prey such as deer, water guinea pig… The time to squeeze the prey depends on the size of the prey. that they need from 10 minutes to 45 minutes.
This process also consumes a lot of energy of the python, so they need to breathe. That’s why Brainerd and his colleagues at Brown University have researched deeply together to find the answer to the question. tWhy can pythons breathe while squeezing their prey.
The python uses a tight grip to knock down its prey. Illustration: Youtube
This study was published in the scientific journal Experimental Biology, in which researchers studied the python’s anatomy while it was swallowing its prey. In which all snakes breathe through their ribcage.
According to Brainerd, ‘Basically, all snakes breathe through their chest. To breathe, they will expand their chest to change the pressure to push air in. So when squeezing the prey, the snake’s chest is also pressed tightly, making it difficult to breathe.
The python uses different parts of its ribs to breathe. Photo: Techtose
Not only that, swallowing prey also causes them to expand their chest to the maximum, so whether pythons squeeze their prey or other pythons breathe while squeezing or eating prey is still a mystery to scientists. learn.
‘Something happened in the evolution of the ventilation system of the lungs so that they could become creatures with small heads, long bodies but able to swallow large prey‘, Brainerd said.
To test this hypothesis, the team used 3D X-ray technology to be able to observe the python’s entire process of squeezing and swallowing food. Simultaneously, a small metal device (0.5 mm) was implanted in the python’s chest and spine.
An X-ray image of a python squeezing its prey. Photo: Techtose
When observing the python under the video using a technique called XROMM (X-ray reconstruction of movement morphology), blood pressure monitor… the mystery was gradually revealed, when the python was resting, They will breathe against a rib located in the 3rd position above their lungs.
However, when wrapping the pressure gauge on the python’s chest, another rib located much lower will take over this role. From there, the python can breathe as well as eat large prey even when their ribcage is tightly pressed.
Conclusion: The study shows that Boa’s contractile organ has the ability to selectively use different parts of the rib cage to breathe during contraction to squeeze prey or swallow food, so pythons can still breathe. as usual.
at Blogtuan.info – Source: Soha.vn – Read the original article here
