Scientists Discover New Cell in Snakes That Allows Them to Digest Bones
When carnivores hunt and consume their prey, they often leave behind the hard bones that are difficult to digest. However, snakes have a unique ability to swallow their meals whole, including the bones, without regurgitating them.
Researchers have recently identified a previously unknown type of cell in the intestines of Burmese pythons that enables them to absorb the skeletons of their prey efficiently. These cells play a crucial role in processing high amounts of calcium and phosphorus from the bones.
Biologist Jehan-Hervé Lignot from the University of Montpellier in France describes these specialized cells as having unique morphological features that are not seen in other vertebrates. The cells have a narrow structure, short microvilli, and an apical fold that forms a crypt.
Only a few animal species engage in osteophagy, the deliberate consumption of bones, to obtain essential nutrients like calcium and phosphorus. For snakes, skeletons are a vital component of their diet, and without them, they may develop calcium deficiencies.
The researchers used microscopy techniques to study the enterocytes of Burmese pythons and found a specialized cell type that facilitates bone digestion and metabolism. These cells contain particles rich in calcium, phosphorus, and iron, which help in the absorption process.
The researchers observed that these cells have empty crypts when the snakes are fasting, but when fed boneless prey or supplemented with calcium, the crypts fill up with particles. This process allows the snakes to completely digest the skeletons of their prey without leaving any bone fragments in their feces.
Similar cells were also identified in other reptiles like boas, anacondas, and pythons, as well as the Gila monster lizard. This suggests that the evolution of these specialized cells may have occurred before these species diverged or evolved independently multiple times in different animals.
Further research is needed to explore how other bone-eating animals manage the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from bones. The findings of this study have been published in the Journal of Experimental Biology and presented at the Society for Experimental Biology Annual Conference.
