Shaunnia Hare was found with bite marks on her head and the snake lying on top of her in her bedroom in Florida.

The snake was owned by Shaunnia's mother's boyfriend Charles Jason Darnell, who reportedly did not have a permit for the animal.

Mr Darnell discovered the python missing from its home terrarium in the morning and found the snake on top of the girl.

He reportedly stabbed the snake and pried it away from the child.

In a recording of the emergency 911 call, a person can be heard screaming: "The baby's dead!"

"Our stupid snake got out in the middle of the night and strangled the baby."

"She got out of the cage last night and got into the baby's crib and strangled her to death."

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman Joy Hill said the snake would be placed with someone who has a snake permit while an investigation into the girl's death was carried out.

At least 12 people have been killed in the US by pet pythons since 1980, including five children.

Burmese pythons can reach a length of eight metres and weigh more than 90kg.