World’s largest Snake: Finding & Caring for a Giant Reticulated Python (Bronx Zoo)

[bronxzoofrank]

Hi All,
While working at the Bronx Zoo, I had the once-in-a lifetime opportunity of helping to import and care for one of the largest snakes in captivity. While “largest snake” debates are ongoing, the massive Reticulated Python I came to know was awe-inspiring by any standard. Dubbed “Samantha”, she was captured as an adult in Borneo, and eventually reached 26 feet in length and 275 pounds in weight. The story of how she arrived in the USA involves a cash reward established by Theodore Roosevelt, the leather trade, animal dealers and other twists and turns.
Wanted: 30 Foot-Long-Snake

In 1910, Theodore Roosevelt, long involved with the Bronx Zoo, offered a reward to the first person who presented a snake of 30 feet in length; in time the reward grew to $50,000. In 1992, I and other Bronx Zoo staff heard rumors that a giant Reticulated Python that had been captured in Borneo. We did not get overly-excited… being well-seasoned, I automatically deducted 25-50% from the size of any “biggest snake-turtle-croc” stories that came my way. But then grainy photos arrived by mail, and the snake depicted was, if not the largest I’d seen, impressive. Whether by design or bad luck, the photos did not allow us to accurately gauge the animal’s length.
In those pre-internet days, it was difficult to correspond with the leather company that owned the snake, which was confined in a railroad car near Samarinda, Borneo. Then as now, importing large animals was fraught with difficulties. Therefore, we enlisted the help of a local leather company with ties in the region and a trusted animal importer.
Read article here World?s Largest Snake - Finding and Keeping a Giant Reticulated Python That Reptile Blog (http://bitly.com/Sg0lvm).
Comments and questions appreciated. As I do not place notices here each time I post a new article on That Reptile Blog, you may wish to check in periodically or subscribe; you can do so here That Reptile Blog (http://bitly.com/JJNk9h). Please also check out my posts on Twitter Twitter (http://bitly.com/JP27Nj).

Thanks, Frank
My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with That Pet Place welcomes Zoologist/Herpetologist Frank Indiviglio to That Reptile Blog | That Reptile Blog That Reptile Blog (http://bitly.com/LC8Lbp)
Face Book http://on.fb.me/KckP1m

[shaunyboy]

that was a very interesting read mate

we have a guy in the uk with a few big retics,i think his largest is just under 20ft,its an impressive example of the species

cheers shaun

[millertime89]

very cool story, thanks for sharing that.

[bronxzoofrank]

that was a very interesting read mate

we have a guy in the uk with a few big retics,i think his largest is just under 20ft,its an impressive example of the species

cheers shaun

Thanks for the kind words and info; are they commonly kept in the UK?

BTW, very impressed by the quote "Always judge a person..." , good choice, I've always felt that way, Best, Frank

[bronxzoofrank]

very cool story, thanks for sharing that.

My pleasure, Kyle, glad you enjoyed, Best, Frank

[cossiecraig]

Very interesting read Frank and something else i've learnt today ,greatly appreciate your time to share this story .

[bronxzoofrank]

Very interesting read Frank and something else i've learnt today ,greatly appreciate your time to share this story .

Thanks very much for the kind words, glad you enjoyed, will post more when possible, best, Frank

[lemon]

that was a very interesting read mate

we have a guy in the uk with a few big retics,i think his largest is just under 20ft,its an impressive example of the species

cheers shaun

I think I know the guy you speak of and his biggest is just short of 22ft and he has 3 others over 20ft and several between 18-20ft.

[lemon]

Hi All,
While working at the Bronx Zoo, I had the once-in-a lifetime opportunity of helping to import and care for one of the largest snakes in captivity. While “largest snake” debates are ongoing, the massive Reticulated Python I came to know was awe-inspiring by any standard. Dubbed “Samantha”, she was captured as an adult in Borneo, and eventually reached 26 feet in length and 275 pounds in weight. The story of how she arrived in the USA involves a cash reward established by Theodore Roosevelt, the leather trade, animal dealers and other twists and turns.
Wanted: 30 Foot-Long-Snake

In 1910, Theodore Roosevelt, long involved with the Bronx Zoo, offered a reward to the first person who presented a snake of 30 feet in length; in time the reward grew to $50,000. In 1992, I and other Bronx Zoo staff heard rumors that a giant Reticulated Python that had been captured in Borneo. We did not get overly-excited… being well-seasoned, I automatically deducted 25-50% from the size of any “biggest snake-turtle-croc” stories that came my way. But then grainy photos arrived by mail, and the snake depicted was, if not the largest I’d seen, impressive. Whether by design or bad luck, the photos did not allow us to accurately gauge the animal’s length.
In those pre-internet days, it was difficult to correspond with the leather company that owned the snake, which was confined in a railroad car near Samarinda, Borneo. Then as now, importing large animals was fraught with difficulties. Therefore, we enlisted the help of a local leather company with ties in the region and a trusted animal importer.
Read article here World?s Largest Snake - Finding and Keeping a Giant Reticulated Python That Reptile Blog (http://bitly.com/Sg0lvm).
Comments and questions appreciated. As I do not place notices here each time I post a new article on That Reptile Blog, you may wish to check in periodically or subscribe; you can do so here That Reptile Blog (http://bitly.com/JJNk9h). Please also check out my posts on Twitter Twitter (http://bitly.com/JP27Nj).

Thanks, Frank
My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with That Pet Place welcomes Zoologist/Herpetologist Frank Indiviglio to That Reptile Blog | That Reptile Blog That Reptile Blog (http://bitly.com/LC8Lbp)
Face Book http://on.fb.me/KckP1m


Hi,

Was Samantha actually measured? She doesn't look 26ft in the pictures. She looks a very big girl but appears a couple of feet short at around 22-23ft.

I've yet to be convinced of any snake proven over 25ft or even 23ft for that matter.

:cool:

[millertime89]

Hi,

Was Samantha actually measured? She doesn't look 26ft in the pictures. She looks a very big girl but appears a couple of feet short at around 22-23ft.

I've yet to be convinced of any snake proven over 25ft or even 23ft for that matter.

:cool:

Lol, I thought as much but didn't want to say anything.

[bronxzoofrank]

Very interesting read Frank and something else i've learnt today ,greatly appreciate your time to share this story .

My pleasure, Best, Frank

[bronxzoofrank]

I think I know the guy you speak of and his biggest is just short of 22ft and he has 3 others over 20ft and several between 18-20ft.

Thanks, Best, Frank

[bronxzoofrank]

Hi,

Was Samantha actually measured? She doesn't look 26ft in the pictures. She looks a very big girl but appears a couple of feet short at around 22-23ft.

I've yet to be convinced of any snake proven over 25ft or even 23ft for that matter.

:cool:

Hi...thanks for mentioning this - I should have noted that the photo is not of the snake when she has reached full size; but yes, I was on hand for all weights and measurements. When measuring wild anacondas, we always took 3 measurements, as we found that the nature of their musculature etc. allows for a good deal of contraction/expansion. Several snakes that we re-captures were inches shorter than when first encountered, others seemed to add far too much size given apparent age and time between captures. So we did this with the captive retic as well, but there is some room for error, even after 3 measurements.

There are well-documented cases of snakes over 23 feet; I've worked with several,

Still waiting for that 30 footer...best, Frank

[lemon]

Hi...thanks for mentioning this - I should have noted that the photo is not of the snake when she has reached full size; but yes, I was on hand for all weights and measurements. When measuring wild anacondas, we always took 3 measurements, as we found that the nature of their musculature etc. allows for a good deal of contraction/expansion. Several snakes that we re-captures were inches shorter than when first encountered, others seemed to add far too much size given apparent age and time between captures. So we did this with the captive retic as well, but there is some room for error, even after 3 measurements.

There are well-documented cases of snakes over 23 feet; I've worked with several,

Still waiting for that 30 footer...best, Frank

I think we have more chance of finding a t-rex than a 30ft snake lol :-)

A fellow snake keeper here in the uk saw Samantha and he agreed she was the longest snake he's ever seen, this was shortly before her death and he estimated her between 22-23ft.

I doubt muscle contractions would make a 3-4 foot difference.

You very lucky indeed if you have dealt with several snakes over 23 foot as the only one I've seen was on a documentary and even then the measurement of 23.5 foot didn't seem accurate.

It's the same with Fluffy being quoted at 24 foot when she was only 20 foot 1inch. To the general public they wouldn't know the difference between 20 and 24 foot but to snake keepers the size difference would be immense and hence a true 26 foot snake would be a sight to be hold.

I've seen no evidence of Samantha being massively bigger than any of the other giant snakes of modern time, 'Fragant flower' 'fluffy' the 'medusas' etc to name a few.

I for one would love Samantha to have been over 26 foot but I haven't seen any evidence of this unfortunately, as much as I never saw evidence that 'Baby the burmese' was over 27 foot nor the magical '33 foot retic that was shot nearly 100 years ago.

I have seen only retics around the 21-22 foot mark and these snakes really are the rarest of the rare. Samantha is definitley within good company with these snakes and may have been even a bit bigger..........but theres no way in the pictures I've seen nor the evidence provided by another fellow giant snake keeper in the uk that she's over 3 foot bigger than the likes of 'Fragant Flower'.

Also she was measured on a documentary at around 23 foot and she was already fullly grown by then.

I agree she was a 1 in a million snake and the biggest of the big but I think we'll be very very lucky to find a true snake over 25 foot never mind 30 foot.

All the best

Neil :-)

[lemon]

Lol, I thought as much but didn't want to say anything.

Yea lol.

I think she's one of if not the biggest snake of modern time. But to say she's greatly bigger then the likes of 'Fragant Flower' just isn't possible.

[Aaron_S]

Hi,

Was Samantha actually measured? She doesn't look 26ft in the pictures. She looks a very big girl but appears a couple of feet short at around 22-23ft.

I've yet to be convinced of any snake proven over 25ft or even 23ft for that matter.

:cool:

Where did you see pics of Samantha?

[bronxzoofrank]

Hi All,

Estimates via viewing or photo are notoriously unreliable. I can only repeat that I was on hand for the measurements, and have been in zoo/field research for 30+ years. But the figures and individual snakes mentioned have been tossed about and argued over for far too long, so I'll leave it at that, and post any new info as it becomes available.

Pope's classic Giant Snakes is a very interesting read on the subject; much anecdotal, but very good as a historical perspective. The natural history notes sections of Herpetologica, Copeia and Herpetological Review are very good sources of accurate info re size, but unfortunately are often not available at libraries and rather expensive. Best, Frank

[millertime89]

I'm unfamiliar with Fragant Flower, how long ago was she around?

[lemon]

I'm unfamiliar with Fragant Flower, how long ago was she around?

'Fragant Flower' is the retic quoted as being 49 foot long and over a 1000lbs in an Indonesian Zoo. When measured by 3 independant sources her average lenght was 22 foot 9 inches. So still the biggest currently known in captivity today but way off 49 foot lol.

:-)

[lemon]

Where did you see pics of Samantha?

They are photos taken by a fellow giant snake keeper when he visited her many years ago.

[lemon]

Hi All,

Estimates via viewing or photo are notoriously unreliable. I can only repeat that I was on hand for the measurements, and have been in zoo/field research for 30+ years. But the figures and individual snakes mentioned have been tossed about and argued over for far too long, so I'll leave it at that, and post any new info as it becomes available.

Pope's classic Giant Snakes is a very interesting read on the subject; much anecdotal, but very good as a historical perspective. The natural history notes sections of Herpetologica, Copeia and Herpetological Review are very good sources of accurate info re size, but unfortunately are often not available at libraries and rather expensive. Best, Frank

Hi,

I have footage of Samantha being measured in 1999.

I'm not sure if this link will work outside of the uk but here it is.

Big Snake - 4oD - Channel 4 (http://www.channel4.com/programmes/big-snake/4od)

Samantha was obtained by the zoo in 1993 after being captured as an adult in 1992.

When she was measured in 1999 she had been at the zoo for 6-7 years and would have been between 15-20 years of age.

Retics do not grow after this age and they certainley don't grow another 3 foot in as many years as Samantha sadly died 3 years later in 2002.

On the documentary they we're trying to find a 30 foot plus snake and so were not in the habbit of downsizing snakes. They measured Samantha and the average was just below 23 foot. Still an absolutley massive snake and probably the biggest in captivity but if you google 'Fragant flower' who is confirmed at 22 foot 9 inches you'll know that Samantha wasn't a whole 3 foot longer.

I have two 6 year old adult retics , one at 16 foot and one at just over 19 foot. The difference in size with these 2 snakes is immense, Samantha would need to have the same immense size difference compared to 'Fragant Flower' and the other giants of our time. Samantha was very long and very well fed but unfortunaely I've yet to see evidence of her being 26 foot.

I hope the link works as at the end they find a very skinny 23.5 foot long retic that if genuinley that size would be the longest ever recorded. I have doubts though as they dont show the measuring as such and unfortunately they kill and eat her in a very unhumane manner.

Best,

Neil

[bronxzoofrank]

Hi,

I have footage of Samantha being measured in 1999.

I'm not sure if this link will work outside of the uk but here it is.

Big Snake - 4oD - Channel 4 (http://www.channel4.com/programmes/big-snake/4od)

Samantha was obtained by the zoo in 1993 after being captured as an adult in 1992.

When she was measured in 1999 she had been at the zoo for 6-7 years and would have been between 15-20 years of age.

Retics do not grow after this age and they certainley don't grow another 3 foot in as many years as Samantha sadly died 3 years later in 2002.

On the documentary they we're trying to find a 30 foot plus snake and so were not in the habbit of downsizing snakes. They measured Samantha and the average was just below 23 foot. Still an absolutley massive snake and probably the biggest in captivity but if you google 'Fragant flower' who is confirmed at 22 foot 9 inches you'll know that Samantha wasn't a whole 3 foot longer.

I have two 6 year old adult retics , one at 16 foot and one at just over 19 foot. The difference in size with these 2 snakes is immense, Samantha would need to have the same immense size difference compared to 'Fragant Flower' and the other giants of our time. Samantha was very long and very well fed but unfortunaely I've yet to see evidence of her being 26 foot.

I hope the link works as at the end they find a very skinny 23.5 foot long retic that if genuinley that size would be the longest ever recorded. I have doubts though as they dont show the measuring as such and unfortunately they kill and eat her in a very unhumane manner.

Best,

Neil


Can't see link, do not recall being in a documentary in "99 (zoo very reluctant to participate as most so poorly done); nothing further to add, good luck with all, Frank

[lemon]

Can't see link, do not recall being in a documentary in "99 (zoo very reluctant to participate as most so poorly done); nothing further to add, good luck with all, Frank

The documentary is of a guy called 'Robert Twigger' and meets the guy in charge of the reptile house called 'John Behler'.

She was measured at just under 23 feet. Mr Behler then says they find it diffucult to measure her and they sometimes get her between 23 and 25 foot. This isn't only not 26 foot but also the guy is speaking absolute rubbish.

I measure my snakes on my own, in the footage their are about 10 people holding her down and they are using string. The measurement would never ever by 2 foot different when you have that many people handling her. In the footage she is being pinned down and you would only get a few cm's difference on each measurement.

She was a very beautiful big snake, but she wasn't 26 foot as proved in the footage.

She is unfortunately just another exaggaration like all the rest.

All the best,

Neil

[bronxzoofrank]

Yikes..the "guy in charge, John Behler" speaking rubbish! You may want to brush up on your herpetologists a bit...

I'll post any new info that comes up, Best, Frank

[lemon]

Yikes..the "guy in charge, John Behler" speaking rubbish! You may want to brush up on your herpetologists a bit...

I'll post any new info that comes up, Best, Frank

Hi Frank,

Please don't twist my words.

My statement clearly stated that John Behler was talking 'rubbish' in reference to the fact the snake was very hard to measure and it is easy to be 2 or more feet out when measuring her. The only reason he said this was because she was measured 3 feet smaller than what they claimed. I can measure snakes on my own and only be a few inches out at most when being re-measured with help. Samantha was treated quite roughly when she was being measured probably due to her being a very defensive wild caught snake rather than a more placid captive born specimen. She was being pinned down by around 10 members of staff and didn't move once throughout any of the measurements. The measurements done would be almost exact. It doesn't matter how many letters you have after your name or how long you have been working in a particular field of expertise, the statement he made is false and to be honest I'd be very surprised if he believed what he said. Also if your mesuring skills are that bad and unprecise then you can't really make a claim of 26 foot as a zoo because you are unable to measure a snake properly.

When Bob clark was quesitoned about a year ago on a uk forum he answered pretty much like a politician when confronted on the size of Fluffy.

Fluffy was sold to a zoo for $35,000 and was meant to be 24 foot long, which guiness records also backed. The zoo then did a tv show and measured her themselves. She came up as 20 ft 1 inch, a near 4 feet short of what she was said to be. Samantha was never a full 6 foot longer than fluffy unfortunatley, I wish she was as I've been waiting for a genuine retic over 25 foot all my life.

I have lost count of many reptile experts that are very very good at their job but have no idea when it comes to snake sizes. I personally just don't know if it's possible for any snake species alive today to get over 25 foot.

[millertime89]

Hey Neil, think you could rip that video and email it to me? There's a firefox plug in that allows you to do that. I would like to watch it but it looks like you have to be in the UK to watch it.

[bronxzoofrank]

Hello,

I did not twist any words as far as I can see, sorry if you see it that way; and, as I lack detailed information, I'm obviously not going to speculate as to what a deceased colleague had in mind when he spoke, the veracity of what he said, the relative value of his or others achievements, your expertise as a snake-measurer, or the value of your opinions on "snake experts". And I cannot comment on a video that I did not see (as an attorney, formerly practicing in Manhattan, I'm actually afraid to say anything about anyone!...sorry, just an instinct, based on the nature of life here in litigation-happy NYC).

I'll not be able to go through my notes, or to stop by the zoo and check files there, anytime soon. But further info may be on the way, although it will take time. While poking around some old stored material at the AM Mus of Natural History last year, I and a friend came across an interesting anaconda vertebrae. My friend is actively involved in related research, and may look into the size of the bone, it's origin, and what it may indicate, if anything, re the size of the snake. In the course of doing so he may investigate other large snakes as well. Grant availability will determine how all will go, but I'll keep abreast of any developments.

Best, Frank

[lemon]

Hey Neil, think you could rip that video and email it to me? There's a firefox plug in that allows you to do that. I would like to watch it but it looks like you have to be in the UK to watch it.

Hi,

I'll give it a try. :cool:

[lemon]

Hello,

I did not twist any words as far as I can see, sorry if you see it that way; and, as I lack detailed information, I'm obviously not going to speculate as to what a deceased colleague had in mind when he spoke, the veracity of what he said, the relative value of his or others achievements, your expertise as a snake-measurer, or the value of your opinions on "snake experts". And I cannot comment on a video that I did not see (as an attorney, formerly practicing in Manhattan, I'm actually afraid to say anything about anyone!...sorry, just an instinct, based on the nature of life here in litigation-happy NYC).

I'll not be able to go through my notes, or to stop by the zoo and check files there, anytime soon. But further info may be on the way, although it will take time. While poking around some old stored material at the AM Mus of Natural History last year, I and a friend came across an interesting anaconda vertebrae. My friend is actively involved in related research, and may look into the size of the bone, it's origin, and what it may indicate, if anything, re the size of the snake. In the course of doing so he may investigate other large snakes as well. Grant availability will determine how all will go, but I'll keep abreast of any developments.

Best, Frank


Sorry to hear that John is no longer with us.

Look forward to any further updates on the Anaconda.

Can you shed any further light on how old you estimated Samantha at Frank?

The zoo are quoted on many sources that she died aged 29-35 years of age.

It's just out of a pool of over 200 retics I have never come aross one that has grown beyond the age of 13 years and the majority stopped well before their tenth birthday.

If samantha died in 2002 at aged 29-35 she would have been aged 20-26 years when the zoo aquired her in 1993. So then wouldn't have grown an inch since the zoo owned her in that 9 year period and the zoo themselves confirm she was 22-23 foot when they first got her.

It's not that I'm trying to prove you wrong on her size it's just I love finding the real truth in life and one of my pasisons is giant snakes and unfortunatley about 99.9% of snake sizes are over estimated or pure lies.

If Samantha did in fact grow 3 foot from 1999-2002 then there is something that doesnt add up with the facts provided by the zoo as she could have only grown such a large amount if she was a very young snake in 1999 and she would have needed to be a baby not an adult when the zoo bought her in 1993. So it just isn't possible.

I would like to add though that I believe Samantha is one of if not the longest snake in recent captivity and I would have given my right arm to have owned her :cool:

[bronxzoofrank]

Sorry to hear that John is no longer with us.

Look forward to any further updates on the Anaconda.

Can you shed any further light on how old you estimated Samantha at Frank?

Hello,

John Behler passed in early 2006; Here is Peter Pritchard's eulogy (http://chelonianri.org/2009/09/04/john-behler-reminiscences/). He arrived at the age estimation, I imagine after consultation with colleagues and/or the literature; I was not involved.

Best, Frank

[CMRetics]

Every large "24+ snake" measured has been beyond badly measured. I've seen pictures of samantha, fragrant flower, medusa, fluffy, none of them are likely in all reality past 22' long. Is 19-20 foot common for some big girls? Sure thing, but even that extra 2 foot is a huge noticeable difference, to add 2 more, or 4 more feet onto that, you'd have to be blind to mistake it.

[lemon]

Every large "24+ snake" measured has been beyond badly measured. I've seen pictures of samantha, fragrant flower, medusa, fluffy, none of them are likely in all reality past 22' long. Is 19-20 foot common for some big girls? Sure thing, but even that extra 2 foot is a huge noticeable difference, to add 2 more, or 4 more feet onto that, you'd have to be blind to mistake it.

Fluffy was measured on tv and it was very still and it looked a very good measurement and your right she only came up at 20 foot 1inch. Fragant flower has been measured several times by reporters and they all get her over 22 foot. Their was some footage of her being measured at 22 foot 9 inches. I have a friend who owns a 21 foot 8 inch retic and Fragant flower definitley looks longer than her.

You are right in the fact that less than 1% of retics reach over 20 foot and to find the extra 1-2 foot is even less and after years of searhing can only find a handful of retics genuinley over this size. For a snake to be over 25 foot it really would be the only one of it's kind I would imagine just like the tallest guy in the world being 8 foot 3 inches.

In all the pictures of Samantha I have seen, both from friends and on the web plus the footage of her being measured in 1999 she was definitley not over 26foot. I doubt she was over 23 foot BUT this shouldn't take away what a magnificant and extremley large snake she was. With all these false measurements flying around she doesnt sem that impressive when shes just short of 23 foot but in reality I'm not sure I'll see a bigger snake in my lifetime and I'm quite young lol.

[CMRetics]

I don't doubt that 21-22' foot snakes exist are they extremely rare yes. Is fragrant possibly over 22'? Maybe, I'd be willing to put her more in the 21' range in all reality, but I haven't spent as much time looking at her as fluffy/medusa ETC.

[lemon]

Hey Neil, think you could rip that video and email it to me? There's a firefox plug in that allows you to do that. I would like to watch it but it looks like you have to be in the UK to watch it.

Hi,

Try this.

Hopefully it'll work :)

Big Snake - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYWN5HgoYcY)

[CMRetics]

Hi,

Try this.

Hopefully it'll work :)

Big Snake - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYWN5HgoYcY)
Won't let me watch.. hmm

[lemon]

Won't let me watch.. hmm

I also have footage of Brady Barr measuring a 22 foot 9 inch retic but I doubt that'll work neither then unfortunately.

[millertime89]

The vid of Dr. Barr is available in the US if it was for his tv show.

[millertime89]

Won't let me watch.. hmm

Nor I, lemon could you rip the file and.just email it to me?

[CMRetics]

Directions to view on firefox:
Options > options > advanced > settings > use a proxy.
146.255.9.124 3128

That's the UK proxy I used last night. It works, and frankly the video showed snakes that were probably 20'-21' certainly Samantha was only around 21... The last retic they measured at 23.5 foot was stretched and mutilated and hardly counted for anything. Pretty awful video/disgusting IMO

[lemon]

Directions to view on firefox:
Options > options > advanced > settings > use a proxy.
146.255.9.124 3128

That's the UK proxy I used last night. It works, and frankly the video showed snakes that were probably 20'-21' certainly Samantha was only around 21... The last retic they measured at 23.5 foot was stretched and mutilated and hardly counted for anything. Pretty awful video/disgusting IMO

I agree, though my estimation of Samantha was around 22 foot and not 21 foot.

[CMRetics]

I agree, though my estimation of Samantha was around 22 foot and not 21 foot.
Her head seemed mighty small for a 22 foot snake. While I have yet to see a 22' snake in person, I have seen a few 20' snakes, and have an 18' snake myself. I would imagine even that extra foot to have a substantially larger head. It's pretty amazing how much bigger they get even at 1 foot.

[lemon]

Her head seemed mighty small for a 22 foot snake. While I have yet to see a 22' snake in person, I have seen a few 20' snakes, and have an 18' snake myself. I would imagine even that extra foot to have a substantially larger head. It's pretty amazing how much bigger they get even at 1 foot.

Her head looked pretty big to me,

I have a 16 footer and a 19 footer. The 16 footer has a wider head and the 19 footer has a longer head.

The biggest retic head I've heard of is 7.5 inches. I know a near 22 foot snake with a 6.5 inch head and my 19 footer has a 6 inch head and my 16 footer a 5 inch head. Theres only 1.5 inch difference between my 16 footer and a 22 footer. I also know of a 19 foot 10 inch snake that has a head bigger than a 20 foot 6 inch snake(both owned by the same guy).

[bronxzoofrank]

Hi All,

A number of researchers have correlated head length and perhaps width to body length in several crocodilians, but not, as far as I know, in pythons. Best, Frank

[CMRetics]

I've noticed it in many retics I've visited, maybe a coincidence, but samantha certainly was nowhere near 26 foot, or 23 for that matter, nor was the one at the end of that video =/