Pythons

Pythons are a large group of snakes that, like boas, are constrictors. They wrap their body around their prey—a small animal—and tighten their muscles, which suffocates the prey so it can be swallowed whole. Most pythons live in trees or on land and have heat-sensing pits on their head that are used to find prey. To reproduce, female pythons usually lay eggs. Mom may even wrap her body around the clutch of eggs to incubate them. Some pythons are quite large: the Burmese python can grow up to 25 feet in length! These snakes have been introduced in Florida and are invasive in sensitive habitats such as the Everglades, which can harm local wildlife.