True length of "record" giant pythons.

[millertime89]

Minor rant:
I'm sick of seeing people quote incorrect lengths of giant pythons. NO PYTHON/ANACONDA HAS EVER BEEN ACCURATELY MEASURED AT 25+FT! You want scientific documentation? Here ya go.
http://www.vpi.com/sites/default/fil...nLengths_2.pdf

I'll talk about why its not possible in another post. I need to talk to a few people to make sure I have all the facts in order.

[moshirimon]

The link won't open for me, and I don't see another thread lol. So why is it not possible for a snake to exceed 25 feet???

[millertime89]

Originally Posted by moshirimon

The link won't open for me, and I don't see another thread lol. So why is it not possible for a snake to exceed 25 feet???

its a pdf, gotta download it.

exceed 25 feet? possible. 30? The snake's physiology and the ecosystem won't allow it.

Titanoboa is an ancient and now extinct species that lived in a world greatly different from our own. Equatorial Colombia millions of years ago.

The absence of proof/proof of absence argument, while valid, is an extremely weak one. In my opinion with the popularity of these species in captivity and the frequency of "50 foot pythons" found in the wild that if one of these snakes could reach 30 feet, it would have happened already. Now if someone brings forth irrefutable proof of one of the big 3 hitting 30 ft, I'll gladly eat my words, but until then, I'll call anyone claiming such a thing full of $4!t, especially when every claim of a larger python, when investigated by scientists, has been bunk.

[Pirarucu]

I would say that it is possible, though extremely rare, for a large snake to exceed 25 feet. Titanoboa. There you go, snakes have been bigger in the past, so it's possible. We have no proven record of a retic or what have you growing to that size, but absence of proof is not proof of absence.
I saw a picture a few months back of the severed head of a retic killed in Indonesia. Judging by the picture, it looked like the Sulawesi locality, which is known to get larger than average. Looking at the size of the eyes in comparison to the size of the overall head... That was no small retic. Can't be sure how big it was, but it was massive, no doubt about it.

[lady_bug87]

Originally Posted by Pirarucu

I would say that it is possible, though extremely rare, for a large snake to exceed 25 feet. Titanoboa. There you go, snakes have been bigger in the past, so it's possible. We have no proven record of a retic or what have you growing to that size, but absence of proof is not proof of absence.
I saw a picture a few months back of the severed head of a retic killed in Indonesia. Judging by the picture, it looked like the Sulawesi locality, which is known to get larger than average. Looking at the size of the eyes in comparison to the size of the overall head... That was no small retic. Can't be sure how big it was, but it was massive, no doubt about it.

I really enjoy reading your posts, I find them really well thought out.

[moshirimon]

is this the head?

[Wildside]

Originally Posted by moshirimon

is this the head?

Why????

[StudentoReptile]

Longest snake - ever (captivity) - Size - Explore Records - Guinness World Records

Fluffy, a reticulated python (Python reticulatus), when measured on 30 September 2009, she was found to be over 7.3 m (24 ft) long. Fluffy died at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell, Ohio, USA, on 26 Oct 2010 due to an apparent tumor. She was 18 years old and still 24 foot long.

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I certainly don't think 25 feet is out of the question. I really don't think 30 feet is completely out of the question either, although I concur very very unlikely.

30? The snake's physiology and the ecosystem won't allow it.

I think one aspect of this discussion calls for a distinction between the "average adult size" of a particular species and the "maximum/record" size of said species. Indeed, 18-20 seems to be the norm for most adult female Burms and maybe 22-24 for female retics. But I don't think its utterly inconceivable they could get larger. Certainly not on a routine basis, but just the right combination of genetics, diet, and dumb luck could result in an abnormally huge animal. And that goes for captive and wild specimens alike.

To address your question more directly, if 30 feet is impossible, what about 29 feet? 28 feet maybe? 27? see where I'm going? Yes yes, I know...the higher the number, the more unlikely the scenario, but to stick a definite number on the issue "Its IMPOSSIBLE for any snake to get 30 feet ever!" is a little premature, IMHO.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by Wildside

Why????

Food, money, possibly safety.

[Wildside]

Originally Posted by Jay

Food, money, possibly safety.

Those are forgivable reasons.

I think the scales on its head are about the size of my palm

[StudentoReptile]

Originally Posted by Wildside

Those are forgivable reasons.

Indeed. Its easy to be judgmental of those in other countries who simply do not share our views of these animals. There's such a big picture to see that so many fail to.

[Pirarucu]

Originally Posted by moshirimon

is this the head?

No, the one I saw was taken directly from the side. It could be the same snake, but I don't remember it being as damaged, especially not the big slash on top of the head. I could be wrong though.

I stand by what I said. Titanoboa once existed. Snakes have grown bigger than 30 feet in the past. I believe it is certainly possible for a snake to grow to gargantuan sizes and larger. Extremely rare and we haven't seen it yet, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. We just found a monstrous croc in the Philippines, you would think that it would serve as a reminder that nature is capable of things we would never believe until we see them. It is ridiculous to say that the environment could not support an individual that big. The needs of one thirty foot snake are nothing. The environment will supply that with ease. I also think it's ridiculous to think that not one giant could exist when entire species of giant animals have existed throughout the paleontological record. A record is only a record until we find something bigger.

As far as your assumption that 24-25 footers are the result of luck, genetics, and diet... How many humans do you see that are over six feet tall, or maybe close to seven? Not exactly a huge percentage. If I had to estimate, that percentage is about the same as the percentage of retics over 20'. But look, the tallest human was almost nine feet tall, which is unbelievable. Look at how small of a percentage people that tall make up. Now consider that people stop growing sooner or later. Pythons don't.
Fluffy was eighteen years old and twenty-four feet long. Only eighteen. Pythons can live a lot longer than that, so how big would she be if she lived to a grand old age of thirty or forty? Just food for thought.

[lemon]

The longest ever Retic with proof was 23.5 foot and that really was a one in a million snake.

fluffy was quoted as 24foot but measured at 20 foot 1inch by the zoo that paid a lot of money for her from Bob.

Female burmese do not get to 18-20ft on average, baby the burmses again was quoted as 27 foot but measured shortly after her death at 18 foot 10unches and that at the moment is the known record for a burmese.

Most people dont appreicate how much bigger an 18 foot retic is compared to an average 15-`16 footer. i have a 15-16 ft 6 year old female retic and she is dwarfed by 18 footers both in lengh and girth. very few female retics get over 18 foot, i have two wild caught sumatran retics and hopefully as they are the biggest locale will reach over 18 foot but even then theres only a small chance.

[millertime89]

Originally Posted by lemon

The longest ever Retic with proof was 23.5 foot and that really was a one in a million snake.

fluffy was quoted as 24foot but measured at 20 foot 1inch by the zoo that paid a lot of money for her from Bob.

Female burmese do not get to 18-20ft on average, baby the burmses again was quoted as 27 foot but measured shortly after her death at 18 foot 10unches and that at the moment is the known record for a burmese.

Most people dont appreicate how much bigger an 18 foot retic is compared to an average 15-`16 footer. i have a 15-16 ft 6 year old female retic and she is dwarfed by 18 footers both in lengh and girth. very few female retics get over 18 foot, i have two wild caught sumatran retics and hopefully as they are the biggest locale will reach over 18 foot but even then theres only a small chance.

Sumatran or Sulawesi? Everyone I've spoken with said Salus get bigger. Regardless do you have pictures of yours? I would love to see them. Got a source for your claim that fluffy was only about 20? I know of 3 retics currently that IMO need to get measured because all three look very close to the 24 ft mark if not over.

I agree with everything else you said though, did you have a chance to read the article in the first thread?

[lemon]

Originally Posted by millertime89

Sumatran or Sulawesi? Everyone I've spoken with said Salus get bigger. Regardless do you have pictures of yours? I would love to see them. Got a source for your claim that fluffy was only about 20? I know of 3 retics currently that IMO need to get measured because all three look very close to the 24 ft mark if not over.

I agree with everything else you said though, did you have a chance to read the article in the first thread?

It's on youtube Fluffy being measured. I'll try and fnd it after work.

I would be very surprised if there are any known snaks at the moment over 24 foot, The biggest I know of is Fragant flower at 22ft 9 inches.

There was also a documentary on where they unfortunatley caught and killed a 23.5 foot retic and thats the longest proven so far.

I know Twinkie and Medusa are claimed as 22-24ft retics but the really dont look much over 20ft to be honest.

I really do hope there is a true 24/25ft snake but ive yet to see it.

Not had chance to read the article in the 1st thread mate :-)