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A Burmese python has been spotted aggress and swallowing a reticulated python . The unusual encounter could be the first known guinea pig of these coinage — two of the world ’s biggest snakes — predate on one another , scientist say .

research worker in India observed the rare event in 2020 , and images captured the second the Burmese python ( Python bivittatus ) began feasting on the reticulated python ( Malayopython reticulatus ) from the bottom up , while it was still alive . It took about two hour for the Hydra to be completely consumed , scientist cover in a research note bring out Aug. 20 in the journalReptiles and Amphibians .

A Burmese Python (Python bivittatus) using its mouth to swallow the body of a Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus) in Bandarban District, Bangladesh.

A Burmese python was seen eating a larger reticulated python on a wildlife farm in Bangladesh.

" It was a really strange post to retrieve two python in the same expanse , " study co - authorAshikur Rahman Shome , a wildlife ecologist at Dhaka University in Bangladesh , order Live Science .

When the scientists arrived , the 10 - base - long ( 3 metre ) Burmese python was handbuild around the more or less larger reticulated python ’s tail . The latter attempt to push back by constricting the Burmese python , but it eventually untie its grip and was swallowed from the tail remnant up .

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Close-up of Burmese python swallowing reticulated python.

The reticulated python initially attempted to fight back, but was overpowered by the other snake.

Burmese python can grow to 19 feet ( 5.8 m ) , while reticulate pythons can strain up to 25 feet ( 7.6 thousand ) . In thi case , the reticulated python was larger than the Burmese , but the accurate length was not take , Shome said .

The event took billet on the Akiz Wildlife Farm in Bangladesh ’s Chittagong Division . This area is one of the few position where the ranges of Burmese and reticulated Python overlap . The two snake species prey on similar animals , such as mammal , birds and lizard .

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Burmese python has its body wrapped around the reticulated python while it has its mouth around it.

The smaller Burmese python ate the reticulated python in two hours, scientists report.

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It ’s not completely well-defined why the reticulated python was eaten , but given the expert food options at the land site , it might just have been a territorial dispute that end up with one eating the other as an wanton mode to terminate the fight : " There are a number of chickens at the site . They make a honorable meal , " Shome said .

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" To the best of our noesis , this reflection correspond the first documented depredation ofM. reticulatusbyP. bivittatus , " the squad write in the paper .

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