Buck_99
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Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 1335
Location: Midlothian, VA
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 Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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| MikeandSlick wrote: | Maybe evolution gave them an extra bit of jaw muscle since they hunt by snagging birdies out of the air.  |
Ok, I have some answers.
In The Green Tree Python & Emerald Tree Boa (Kivit and Wiseman, 2000, pg. 8), there is a photograph of an M. viridis skull. It is flat (the back part even seems to be somewhat sunken), suggesting that the bulges behind the eyes are indeed muscular.
Studies have shown that birds do NOT appear to be a significant part of their diet in the wild. According to Maxwell in A More Complete Chondro (2005, pg. 16), GTP's seldom eat birds and evidence of bird remains are not found in feces. I'm having trouble locating it now, but I have seen one study cited where the contents of the stomachs of 1000 specimens were examined, and no evidence of birds were found in their diet. There is some other evidence that they occasionally go for small birds that feed on nectar from low lying flowers (and this may lead to interesting speculation about the reason for their spectacular yellow and red coloring when neonates), but birds are not a regular part of their diet. Lizards and small rodents are much more common.
They will eat birds and chicks in captivity if offered.
Here is my own speculation on why they have such strong musculature in their jaws (though I'm sure others have thought this through as well): they cannot afford to drop their prey once they capture it. They are ambush predators who strike from above while anchoring themselves to branches with their tails. If they drop the prey, then all their work goes out the window as the jungle denizens down below enjoy the spoils. This wastes precious energy. I have watched mine eat many times, and they never let the prey go. Final consumption occurs after they have manipulated their prey along their coils to create enough slack so that they can drop the prey into their mouths from above. From the moment of the initial strike they never release the prey, yet at the same time they have to manipulate the prey with their jaws into the head first position, all without letting go. Contrast this to ball pythons who often let go and circle the prey to find the head before swallowing. It is quite a feat.
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