Monday, 24 March 2014

Giant pythons have 'homing instinct'

Giant Burmese pythons have map and compass senses which help them travel "home" over vast distances, scientists have been surprised to discover.

Pythons captured and relocated in Florida's Everglades - where they are an invasive species - returned 23 miles (36km) to their original start point.
It is the first evidence that snakes may share a similar magnetic compass to other reptiles, such as sea turtles.

The findings are published in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters.
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    If pythons can do this, all snakes can do it - rattlesnakes, vipers, the lot”

Dr Stephen Secor University of Alabama

The Burmese python (Python bivittatus) is one of the largest snakes in the world. The biggest specimen ever caught measured more than 17ft (5m) and weighed 164lb (74kg).

Source: Here