But for some reptiles like the Burmese python (Python bivittatus), calcium-rich skeletons aren’t a digestive concern—they’re a necessity. Now, researchers believe they have identified an explanation hidden inside the “crypts” of specialized cells. Specifically, the particles resided in what Lignot described as a “crypt” inside these narrow, specialized cells—but it wasn’t initially clear what these cells were programmed to do. As for how many bones an average python in the wild can digest, Lignot isn’t quite sure—but he did offer a quick estimate. “[It’s a] tough question… snakes can grab a prey that can be more than 30 percent of [its] body mass,” he said.