Number 101 - Herpetological Bulletin [2007] 5 T HE Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus), a subspecies of the Indian python (Python molurus), is one of the largest snakes in the world, attaining lengths of up to six meters and over 90 kg in weight (Ernst & Zug, 1996; Minton & Minton, 1973). Native throughout southeast Asia, P. molurus is known to consume a wide variety of prey items including various mammal, amphibian, lizard, snake, bird and fish species (Bhupathy & Vijayan, 1989; Ernst & Zug, 1996; Minton & Minton, 1973). A formidable predator, large P. molurus have been reported to even prey upon adult leopards, jackals, deer, and boar (Ernst & Zug, 1996; Minton & Minton, 1973; Wall, 1921). However, information specific to P. m. bivittatus in the wild is scant and limited to data available for P. molurus. Instances of pet release have lead to P. m. bivittatus becoming established within Everglades National Park (ENP), Florida (Snow, 2006). The number of individuals captured or sighted in ENP has increased dramatically since large specimens were first reported in the 1980s (Meshaka et al., 2000) (see Figure 1). From 1995 through 2005, P. m. bivittatus have been observed and removed along Main park road, Long Pine Key, Shark Valley, Tamiami trail, and along the eastern park boundary (Snow, 2006). The majority of sightings have been along roads and canal levees. More troubling is that pythons have been observed in remote areas such as the mangrove backcountry and recovered along the 18 mile stretch leading to the Florida Keys (Snow, 2006). This suggests a far broader invasion than initially thought and one that appears to be expanding. Given the ability of P. molurus to consume large and varied prey, P. m. bivittatus poses a serious threat to the majority of native fauna in ENP and surrounding areas. Determining which native species may be most at risk is of particular concern. In an effort to understand the potential ecological impact of this invasive species, we investigated the diet of sub-adult and adult P. m. bivittatus through analyses of stomach and lower intestines of captured specimens. Fifty-six P. m. bivittatus recovered in or adjacent to ENP between January 2003 and March 2006 were examined for prey. These individuals were located along elevated roads and canal levee corridors associated with habitat including coastal prairie, mangrove, freshwater marl prairie, cypress, pinelands, hardwood hammocks, freshwater slough, and farmland (both active and former). Sex, snout-vent length (tip of snout to posterior of anal plate), weight and total length were recorded where possible. Stomach and lower gastro-intestinal tracts were then examined stereoscopically for feathers, hair, teeth, bone fragments, claws and scales. An attempt was made to identify mammal, bird and reptile remains to species level, however, most were identifiable only to genus, with others to order. Fifty (89.3%) of the 56 P. m. bivittatus examined (mean total length 265.14 ± 10.90 cm, range 69.5–427 cm) contained prey remains from twelve species of mammal and five species of birds. This included two bird species listed by the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission as species of special concern (Table 1). Eighty six percent (43 out of 50) of these pythons had prey items in an advanced stage of digestion and found Dietary habits of the Burmese python, Python molurus bivittatus, in Everglades National Park, Florida RAY W. SNOW¹, MATTHEW L. BRIEN², MICHAEL S. CHERKISS², LAURIE WILKINS³, and FRANK J. MAZZOTTI² ¹South Florida Natural Resources Center, Everglades National Park, 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, Florida 33034, U.S.A. ²Department Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 3205 College Avenue, Davie, Florida, 33314, U.S.A. E-mail: mbrien@ufl.edu [corresponding author]. ³Florida Museum of Natural History, Museum Road, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, U.S.A.