what is the purpose of going into a ball

[exotica0095]

they hide their head and ball up if a predator comes? how does that help them in the wild ? wouldnt a predator such as a hawk just start eating the python and ripping it up while its in a ball?

The whole putting itself in a ball method just sounds like its serving itself as dinner to whoever wants to eat it

[tonkatoyman]

Good Question. I believe it is to hide the head, and perhaps to make itself look like to big a bite. You know all one big blob.

[Vypyrz]

they hide their head and ball up if a predator comes? how does that help them in the wild ? wouldnt a predator such as a hawk just start eating the python and ripping it up while its in a ball?

The whole putting itself in a ball method just sounds like its serving itself as dinner to whoever wants to eat it

It's just their defensive reaction. In their natural habitat, balling up may also help camoflage them into looking like a rock on the ground to blend in with the surrounding terrain.
While they don't have to worry about a hawk ripping them up in captivity, they do have to worry about unattended live mice and rats ripping them up...

[MarkS]

My understanding is that one of their biggest predators in their native range are cobras or other snake eating snakes. When they tuck up into a ball, they also usually tuck their head and tail into the center of the ball. Snakes won't be able to start swallowing them if they can't get to either the head or the tail

[exotica0095]

mark but the venom of those snakes would still kill it

[alittleFREE]

mark but the venom of those snakes would still kill it

Maybe the snake won't try to kill it if it doesn't see it as a potential meal or a danger to itself?

[771subliminal]

the one that has always made me think "why?" are the animals that play dead when they feel threatened. if the predator was going to eat them wouldnt them playing dead just make them think that they were going to have an easy dinner?

[Repsrul]

the one that has always made me think "why?" are the animals that play dead when they feel threatened. if the predator was going to eat them wouldnt them playing dead just make them think that they were going to have an easy dinner?

Usually the ones that play dead omit a foul musky smell. A foul smelling carcass should be enough to deter a predator.

[WingedWolfPsion]

It's really very little understood--animals that normally eat stinky, rotted carcasses will leave an animal that is playing dead alone.

Why doesn't a coyote eat an opossum, or a hognose snake, when it will eat 4 day old roadkill? We still aren't sure, but whatever the reason...it actually works.

[stevepoppers]

They're actually fairly immune to cobra venom. So I've heard around here.