Longest and largest

[Tigergenesis]

What is the longest colubrid species?
What is the largest (heaviest) colubrid species?

Someone asked this on another forum. Noone has answered yet and it's bugging me. That person is guessing the Tiger Ratsnake is the longest - is this right? I'm also wondering what the largest/heaviest colubrid is - the only thing that comes to mind is the Eastern Indigo...but then I don't know them all!

[Vanan]

The longest is the Dhaman (Ptyas mucosus). Dunno about the heaviest but from what I've seen, I'd think Taiwan beauties would be the heaviest.

[crimsonking]

Well Vanan, how about giving us some data??? Don't leave us hanging like that! There are some brutes out there. Any from the Americas??
:Mark

[Vanan]

Fine fine! lol! Ok, here's what I found so far. According to BGF, Ptyas carinatus (Ridge-backed ratsnake) is the longest and the heavyweight title goes to Hydrodynastes gigas (FWC's). Hope that answers that question. :)

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

Alright, Here is some info for ya'll to much on:

The Dharman Ratsnake can reach up to 12 or so feet. I would assume that the Ridge-Backed Rat snake could reach about half to a foot or so more?

If we stretched the question to the longest member of the family Colubridae, I would assume that the longest and largest would be the king cobra capable(though rare) of attaining 18 feet.

HTH.

C.

[Invictus]

Last I checked, King Cobras are NOT Colubridae. The are Elapidae.

[Scales Zoo]

Any idea what the heaviest Fals Water Cobra was Vanan? It would be cool to have as a baseline.

I'd have guessed Indigo's, I've seen some really big, heavy bodied ones in pictures.

And then there was that really heavy Bull that Jonothan found last year, I'll have to look to see what it weighed.

Ryan

[Vanan]

Have no clue. Was quoting BGF from "the other forum". Maybe he might have more details as to why he thinks FWC's are the heaviest. Althought, personally having seen indigos, bulls and FWC's, FWC's do have a thicker girth compared to their length.

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

Woops! My bad, I was looking at the wrong thing in my book! Thanks Ken!

C.

[Invictus]

I would have thought Indigos as well, but those are just the largest snake north of the Mexican border, apparently. FWC's are rear-fanged venomous, correct?

[Vanan]

The longest known Texas Indigo (not eastern) is an 8' 4"-er. But I think the easterns get longer. Can't seem to find data on the weight of cribos though. Funny, but in Texas, the longest snakes recorded was a bull at 9ft.

[JimmyDavid]

Around my area (Portugal) folks talk about huge rear-fanged snakes sometimes found in the woods. They describe them as very fast snakes, big and agressive, that can stand up and act intimidating. reported sizes range from 10' to 14' and ocasionally 16'. But it's obvious that these people are talking "big fish" most of the times. The only species that fit has got to be Malpolon monspessulanus and i've seen some 10 to 11 footers myself around here, still impressive.
If there are as big as reported will remain a mistery to me, but i doubt.

[McCarthy Boas]

Here is some info I found in the " Living Snakes of the World" book on long Colubrids.


#1:
Tropical Chicken Snake
( Spilotes Pullatus Pullatus )
Average size is 6 to 7 feet long.
10 and 12 footers have been recorded.

#2:
Bullsnake
( Pituophis Melanoleulus Sayi )
Average size is 5 to 6 feet long.
9 footers have been recorded.

#3:
Cribo
( Drymarchon Corais Corais )
Average size is 6 feet long.
8 footers have been recorded.

#4:
Indigo
( Drymarchon Corais Couperi )
Average size is 5 to 6 feet long.
9 footers have been recorded.

#5:
Black Ratsnake / Pilot Snake
( Elaphe Obsoleta Obsoleta
Average size 6 feet long.
9 footers have been recorded.

#6:
Taiwan Beauty
Average size is 8 to 9 feet long.

Take care,
Tom

[LdyDrgn]

The record spilotes was 14'. Our male has to be at least 9'.... the female is 7' or 8'

[Scales Zoo]

A 14' spilotes? Really?

Tom, are you sure Taiwan beauty says average 8-9? If it does, it should be at #1 for averages.

I like that top 6 list. I just realized, that except for the cribo's - we've bred, or have pairs or trios and intend to breed everything on that list.

Giant colubrids Rock!!!! Northern pinesnakes should be on that list too damnit.

Ryan

[McCarthy Boas]

Hi Ryan,

The list I made is in no order of size, just as I found the info on them.

The Taiwan beauty is the only one that was not in my book so I found the info on line.
Here are some of the links I found on them.
http://www.zooregon.org/Cards/Ed_Program/snake_taiwan_beauty.htm

http://www.snakemuseum.com/ratsnake.htm

Here you go Ryan
#7:
The Northern Pine Snake
Average size is 7 feet long.

Southern Pine Snake
The record is 90 inches = 7' 6"
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/FL-GUIDE/Pituophismmugitus.htm

Take care,
Tom