Examining the length claims of some legendary giant pythons.

[millertime89]

The actual length of some legendary giants.
http://vpi.com/sites/default/files/Barker-et-al_CorrectPythonLengths_2.pdf

Someone dug up a bunch of the old reports and quoted the fun parts, if I remember I'll look for the reports and post them here, but here's the excerpts in one nice easy place.
Serpent Research: Size Records for Giant Snakes (http://squamates.blogspot.com/p/sizerecords.html)

Since its a personal pet peeve of mine when people state ridiculous claims. I would also like to point out that several zoos have rewards for snakes over 30ft in length and none have been claimed. The Reptile Gardens I know is one.

[Amadeus]

Are you insinuating with these "true records" that certain species cannot attain lengths of 30+ feet?

Preposterous.

[smy_749]

you use that word alot lol maybe they cant....

[Aaron_S]

I thought the rewards were no longer out there?

I do know nobody got them but I thought I had heard they stopped that. I could be wrong though.

[millertime89]

Are you insinuating with these "true records" that certain species cannot attain lengths of 30+ feet?

Preposterous.

Having spoken with several scientists including Dr. Jason Head, one of the co-discoverers of Titanoboa, I believe and they agree that its not possible. Between evolution and the current environmental conditions its just not possible. There's a lot of factors that go into making a giant, giant, and I just can't see it happening.

I thought the rewards were no longer out there?

I do know nobody got them but I thought I had heard they stopped that. I could be wrong though.

I know the Reptile Gardens' reward is still valid, at least it was last time I spoke with the curator about it and its still easily viewable on their main page (under bounty hunt I'm not sure about the other zoos but now that you mention I think I remember hearing something along those lines from other institutions. When I spoke with Terry (at the RGs) he said they somewhat regularly field calls about the rattlesnake reward but nobody has claimed it. That one seems the most plausible IMO, closely followed by the 16 ft gator and 19 ft king cobra ones.

Even by people selectively breeding the largest sulas (or tigers or albinos as those seem to be the ones that get the biggest) I can't see one getting much over 25 ft if they even attain that size. If it happens and someone manages to get a legit 30+ft python/anaconda I'll happily eat my words, but I just don't see it happening.

[millertime89]

Here's the RG page. I do love the disclaimer at the bottom.
Giant Snakes | Biggest Crocodile on Earth | Reward (http://www.reptilegardens.com/reptiles/rewards.php)

[lemon]

Nothing is totally impossible but a 30ft snake is equal to a 10ft human.

Even a 25ft snake is equal to a 9ft human.

I'll eat my words if anyone shows me proof of a 25ft snake never mind a 30ft snake. Also 25ft snakes aren't 20-22ft snakes that are pretending to be 25ft like, Medusa and the alike.

I would love to see a snake over 24foot, hopefully one does exist out there but I've not seen any proof of one that is still a species of snake alive today.

[Amadeus]

Nothing is totally impossible but a 30ft snake is equal to a 10ft human.

Even a 25ft snake is equal to a 9ft human.

I'll eat my words if anyone shows me proof of a 25ft snake never mind a 30ft snake. Also 25ft snakes aren't 20-22ft snakes that are pretending to be 25ft like, Medusa and the alike.

I would love to see a snake over 24foot, hopefully one does exist out there but I've not seen any proof of one that is still a species of snake alive today.

That analogy is flawed.....

By your insane logic medusa is equivalent to 8 to 8 and one half foot human which is impossible. Think about you analogies before putting them on others.

[Donnie]

That analogy is flawed.....

By your insane logic medusa is equivalent to 8 to 8 and one half foot human which is impossible. Think about you analogies before putting them on others.

Tallest man in history Robert Wadlow @ 8' 11", not so impossible :p

[smy_749]

Tallest man in history Robert Wadlow @ 8' 11", not so impossible :p

You beat me too it lol Had an issue with his pituitary gland making him go through puberty growth basically until he died.

[Amadeus]

Tallest man in history Robert Wadlow @ 8' 11", not so impossible :p

Well that furthered my argument. That statement proves that a 25ft snake is possible.

[Donnie]

Well that furthered my argument. That statement proves that a 25ft snake is possible.

No it didn't further your argument it just proved your statement about humans was wrong as is your disbelief of a 25ft snake. A 25ft snake is possible, here is the bit you must have missed from Serpent Research: Size Records for Giant Snakes (http://squamates.blogspot.co.uk/p/sizerecords.html)

The Largest Well Documented Snake

The largest know snake that can be verified was documented by Barton and Allen (1961) and what makes this record unique is that they have several data points because it was a captive snake measured several times. Colossus, a female Reticulated Python (Broghammerus reticulatus) housed in the Pittsburgh Zoo from August 10, 1949 until its death. When the snake was obtained by the zoo it was 22 feet (6.7 m), on June 4, 1951 it was 23 feet 3 inches (7.1 m) (growing 15 inches or 0.38 m in 22 months). She weighed 295 pounds (133.8 kg) in February of 1954 after fasting for 4.5 months at a measured length of 27 feet, 2 inches (8.28 m). This was 47 inches (1.2 m) of growth in 32.5 months (or a growth rate of 36.6 mm per month). On November 15, 1956 she was measured at 28 feet 6 inches (8.7 m), growing 16 inches (0.4 m) in 33 months. Her average growth rate was 10.75 inches (0.27 m) per year well after she had sexually matured. Colossus would eat only pigs (refusing rabbits, chickens and ducks) and during her 11 years of captivity she ate 1991 pounds (903 kg) of pork.

[Amadeus]

No it didn't further your argument it just proved your statement about humans was wrong as is your disbelief of a 25ft snake. A 25ft snake is possible, here is the bit you must have missed from Serpent Research: Size Records for Giant Snakes (http://squamates.blogspot.co.uk/p/sizerecords.html)

You misread my original post. You thought I was trying to say that a 25ft snake is impossible but I was actually stating that Lemon's comparison between humans and pythons. So yes you did further my argument.

Do you happen to know what Colossus's length was at death? I need this to make that arrogant Millertime eat his words like he said he would.

[Donnie]

You misread my original post. You thought I was trying to say that a 25ft snake is impossible but I was actually stating that Lemon's comparison between humans and pythons. So yes you did further my argument.

Do you happen to know what Colossus's length was at death? I need this to make that arrogant Millertime eat his words like he said he would.

This is the part where I eat my words, it seems there is also conflicting evidence regarding the length of Colossus and another source states that the skin was measured after death at 23' 11" and the skeleton at 20' 10". Another site supports this but states the hide has been lost and doesn't record it's length.
Even what was widely accepted as the largest ever "accurately" measured snake, that being Colossus, a male kept at the Highland Park Zoo (now Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during the 1950s and early 1960s, with a peak reported length of 8.7 m (29 ft), recently turned out to be wrong. When Colossus died, April 14, 1963, its body was deposited in the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. At that time its skeleton was measured and found to be 20 ft 10 in (6.35 m) in total length, significantly shorter than the measurements previously published by Barton and Allen. Apparently, they had been adding a few extra feet to the measurements to compensate for "kinks", since it is virtually impossible to completely straighten an extremely large live python. Too large to be preserved with formaldehyde and then stored in alcohol, the specimen was instead prepared as a dis-articulated skeleton. The hide was sent to a laboratory to be tanned, and unfortunately it was either lost or destroyed.

It's late for me now but I will be doing some more reading on it tomorrow to see what else I can find (or you can find it and post the links for me :D).

[Amadeus]

This is the part where I eat my words, it seems there is also conflicting evidence regarding the length of Colossus and another source states that the skin was measured after death at 23' 11" and the skeleton at 20' 10". Another site supports this but states the hide has been lost and doesn't record it's length.


It's late for me now but I will be doing some more reading on it tomorrow to see what else I can find (or you can find it and post the links for me :D).

I'm trying as we text. =]

[lemon]

That analogy is flawed.....

By your insane logic medusa is equivalent to 8 to 8 and one half foot human which is impossible. Think about you analogies before putting them on others.

Check all your facts before being a smart *** :-)

[Snake_daddy]

I have personally seen a snake this big before. Nothing is totally impossible but a 30ft snake is equal to a 10ft human.

Even a 25ft snake is equal to a 9ft human.

I'll eat my words if anyone shows me proof of a 25ft snake never mind a 30ft snake. Also 25ft snakes aren't 20-22ft snakes that are pretending to be 25ft like, Medusa and the alike.

I would love to see a snake over 24foot, hopefully one does exist out there but I've not seen any proof of one that is still a species of snake alive today.

[lemon]

Cassius was also quoted as 27.5ft.

Here is a picture of Cassius at the supposed 27.5ft and one of my retics (this one being measured last time at 19ft 3 inches) you can clearly see there isn't over 8 foot difference in their lengths.

[millertime89]

This is the part where I eat my words, it seems there is also conflicting evidence regarding the length of Colossus and another source states that the skin was measured after death at 23' 11" and the skeleton at 20' 10". Another site supports this but states the hide has been lost and doesn't record it's length.


It's late for me now but I will be doing some more reading on it tomorrow to see what else I can find (or you can find it and post the links for me :D).

Measuring skin after death is a flawed tactic as skin can stretch, measure your snake's shed next time, its not that different in concept but the length is going to be a fair bit off. Skeletal length is the appropriate way to measure a deceased snake's length.

[Amadeus]

Measuring skin after death is a flawed tactic as skin can stretch, measure your snake's shed next time, its not that different in concept but the length is going to be a fair bit off. Skeletal length is the appropriate way to measure a deceased snake's length.

Is that all you can say?

[lemon]

I have personally seen a snake this big before.

In what respect? 25 or 30ft?

If you have then your a lucky person as you've seen the largest known snake ever.

[Amadeus]

In what respect? 25 or 30ft?

If you have then your a lucky person as you've seen the largest known snake ever.

Lol guess you forgot about titaniboa. BAhhhhhhahahahhaahahahahhahahaha

[pdomensis]

I was thinking about the claim in one of the articles that snakes will shrink posthumously. I think it's rubbish, but I also think it would be a fun study to test. Capture several snakes in the everglades that would otherwise be killed. Anesthetize them and measure them, then kill and remeasure.

I miss grad school!