Python's homing trick stuns scientists

[The Straight Story]

Paris (AFP) - The Burmese python has a built-in compass that allows it to slither home in a near-straight line even if released dozens of kilometres away, researchers said Wednesday.

Capable of growing over five metres (16 feet) long, pythons are among the world's largest snakes. Although native to South and Southeast Asia, the snakes have taken up residence in South Florida's Everglades National Park, possibly after being released as unwanted pets.

They have adapted so well to their new habitat that they now pose a serious threat to several species which they hunt as prey.

Scientists captured six of the pythons in the Everglades, placed them in sealed, plastic containers, and drove them to locations between 21 and 36 kilometres (13-22 miles) away.

They implanted radio trackers in the animals and followed their movements with GPS readings from a small fixed-wing plane -- measuring their direction and speed.

http://news.yahoo.com/pythons-homing-trick-stuns-scientists-004128172.html

[OnyxCollie]

1. Homing pythons feed on homing pigeons.

[Sunlei]

2. that's one way to clear out the florida swamp people!

[yuiyoshida]

3. A Python that does tricks should be named....

Monty.. just sayin

[pinboy3niner]

4. !!! "It's...

...only a flesh wound."

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. He was clearly pinin' for the Everglades!

[countryjake]

6. That's not a Python, it's a homeboa...

[countryjake]

7. Here's a much better report on these homing snakes...

USGS scientists holding up one really big snake. Credit: Catherine Puckett , USGS

http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2014/03/19/homing-pythons-re-enact-homeward-bound/

[deaniac21]

8. I'm guessing that the line might be more squiggly than straight.

[idendoit]

9. Would those be Montie's pythons?

[Baclava]

10. I've always wanted one of those magnetic-north vibrating belts - the Haptic compass

feelSpace - The Magnetic Perception Group


This belt is equipped with a set of vibrators controlled by an electronic compass: the element pointing north is always slightly vibrating. That way, the person wearing the belt gets permanent input about his heading relative to the earth's magnetic field.

Through a battery of experiments before and after the training period, we are able to measure physiological, behavioural, perceptual and subjective changes induced by the feelSpace belt.

This study will contribute greatly to our understanding of how humans learn to use their "built-in" sensors and actuators: eyes and ears, fingers and legs - questions which could previously only be answered by studies with infants. And whats more: through sophisticated interview techniques we also gain insight into the subjective quality of this new sensory experienc


http://feelspace.cogsci.uni-osnabrueck.de/