Even fewer can digest their meals with bones and all. But for some reptiles like the Burmese python (Python bivittatus), calcium-rich skeletons aren’t a digestive concern—they’re a necessity.

Scientists have discovered a new type of cell that helps Burmese pythons digest the entire skeletons of their prey.

Scientists have discovered a new type of cell that helps Burmese pythons digest the entire skeletons of their prey. Pythons can eat prey over 100% of their body mass, including deer and bobcats.

Biology Scientists Discover Secret Weapon That Allows Pythons to Digest Bones A newly discovered cell helps pythons digest entire skeletons—and might be present in other bone-eating predators, too.

The snake is a ball python — a common pet snake that is docile and not dangerous, according to an animal control officer. By Jessica Ma Globe Correspondent,Updated July 12, 2025, 4:27 p.m.