Reptiles Magazine
While
January 25, 2021
Burmese pythons have evolved to be resistant to Cobra venom. Photo by rina oxilixo Danilova/Shutterstock
A new study coming out the University of Queensland in Australia has found that certain snake species that are preyed upon by venomous cobras have become neurotoxin resistant, helping them to avoid (at least those that are larger) being eaten by the venomous snake.
The researchers noted that the Burmese python (
Python bivittatus), for example, is extremely resistant to the venom of cobras. They also noted that while the Asian snakes are resistant to the neurotoxins found in cobra venom, Australian pythons that don’t live in the same environment as venomous, snake eating snakes, don’t possess the neurotoxic resistance.