Python Wins Fight Against Crocodile in Australia, Swallows Dead Croc Face-First

A crocodile was no match for a snake in Australia. Apparently, size does not matter as the snake emerged the winner in a lengthy battle against the larger reptile in Northern Queensland. The snake overpowered the croc after tackling and constricting its body.

The battle between the snake and the crocodile at Lake Moondarra near Mount Isa was caught on camera by the locals, according to a BBC report. The snake measured approximately 10 feet and was believed to be a python.

Locals saw how the snake coiled itself around the crocodile as both creatures struggled in the water. When the crocodile finally succumbed to its death, the snake dragged its body back to land and began to eat it. The onlookers were surprised to see the snake eating the crocodile.

Local author Tiffany Corlis saw the entire incident and took photographs of the two animals battling it out. Her photos have been widely used by Australian news agencies. Ms Corlis told BBC what she saw near the lake.

She said the fight between the snake and the crocodile began in the water. Ms Corlis saw the crocodile trying to hold its head on the surface but the snake was still constricting its body. When the snake finally overpowered the crocodile, it dragged the dead body on land. She was amazed to see the snake eat the crocodile face-first.

It took the snake around 15 minutes to finish swallowing the crocodile based on the locals' estimates. The snake looked "full" after that.

According to experts, pythons can kill their prey by tightening their body or "coils" around the animal as it exhales. As the snake tightens its hold, its prey will die from suffocation or heart failure. Most snakes can swallow prey even if it's five times their size due to flexible jaws.

In 2012, a study published in Biology, a Royal Society journal, revealed that snakes have the ability to sense another animal's heartbeat. They know when to stop constricting thereby using only the necessary amount of energy.