The ball python is a constrictor. It holds its prey with its teeth while coiling its long body around it and squeezing until the animal dies.
The ball python can open its mouth extremely wide because its jaws are not fused together like ours. It also lacks a breastbone, allowing its ribs to expand greatly. This means it can swallow its prey whole — something that’s easy to see after it has eaten a rat or a mouse.
When threatened, the ball python curls up into a tight ball with its head tucked safely in the middle. In this position, it can even be rolled gently along the ground — which is how it got its name.
You can see the ball python in Darwin’s House when it is open to visitors.