This isn't really a joke... Getting eaten by massive snakes...

[FWK]

Originally Posted by Tsubaki

I can remember a whole set of pics that looked similar, that were proven to be photo-shopped. Surprised this is not one of those! Curious to see the other real ones!

The picture clearly has not been touched at all. Note the location of the lump in the snakes throat relative to the individuals shoulders. This person just happens to have an eighteen inch long neck, nothing out of the ordinary at all. (I hope my sarcasm is just as obvious.)

Large constrictors are absolutely capable of killing an adult human. But then, so were my dogs. And my dads cattle. And my Aunts horses. But I have searched high and low for but a single confirmed case of a snake consuming a human with no luck at all. Frankly, I have trouble believing that it has not happened deep in a jungle somewhere. Humans and large snakes have shared habitat in some areas of the world for thousands of years, doesn't seem likely that it has never happened. But lack of evidence seems to make it very clear such acts of predation are extraordinarily rare. Why? Perhaps, as mentioned repeatedly here already, due to how difficult it would be for a snake to swallow a human. More likely, I think, because humans are superior predators who often hunt in packs. Even if a human was to trigger the feeding response of a large constrictor, his companions would quickly kill the snake. Even the biggest of snakes is completely helpless against a group of humans with weapons. I would think this scenario has probably played out many times, only a very long time ago. Natural selection has long since taught snakes to fear humans. Interestingly, natural selection has not taught us to fear snakes. Though we condition ourselves, and others, to fear them. Often through ridiculous pictures and stories.

[McCarthy Boas]

Originally Posted by PatrickT

I dont think a constrictor snake could kill me.

1. we are not in their food sheme

2. we are too big + our shoulders are annoying for them

3. they avoid us

I have posted this a few time in other post but I will post it here for you too.

Boa Constrictor "Handling Safety"

Boas are the gentle giants but don't under estimate them. An 8 foot boa is around 8 times stronger than the average human.

One of the most important things we can do for our reptiles and ourselves is to educate ourselves on their care and proper handling of any reptile. Big constrictors are very powerful snakes. I guarantee they are stronger than most people think. I trust all my big snakes, even around my kids. But my kids and I also respect them even more than we trust them. I always thought that I would be able to pull a snake off of me if it ever tried to constrict me. After handling a couple of my large constrictors, who are only holding on to me to feel safe, I'm convinced I would never be able to pull one of them off of me, if it's intent was to kill. Animal planet reported a test that determined an 18-foot-long snake applies pressure equal to about 12 pounds per square inch. That doesn't sound like a allot per inch, but if you figure your arm is about 12 inches in circumference, and a snake that is 6 inches wide wraps around your arm once, that's 864 lbs of pressure on your arm with one coil. Assuming most snakes coil at least 3-4 times, that is 3,456 lbs of pressure do you think you could get enough people in the same room to pull it off of you? I don't have that many friends and my wife would rather collect the insurance money. LOL

Now I know boas will not get 18 feet long but a 10 foot 50 lb + boa will have about the same strength maybe a little less.
So for argument sake lets say a boa will only have .66 pounds per square inch for every foot of snake. Then a 6 foot long boa will have 3.96 pounds per square inch. Most 6 foot long boa are 4 inches wide. So if it wraps around your arm once, that's 190 lbs. of pressure on your arm with one coil. Now we all know boas wrap more than one time around when it's trying to kill something. So 190 x 4 = is 760 lbs pressure on your arm. Now just think if that was around your neck.

Take care
Tom

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by McCarthy Boas

I have posted this a few time in other post but I will post it here for you too.

Boa Constrictor "Handling Safety"

Boas are the gentle giants but don't under estimate them. An 8 foot boa is around 8 times stronger than the average human.

One of the most important things we can do for our reptiles and ourselves is to educate ourselves on their care and proper handling of any reptile. Big constrictors are very powerful snakes. I guarantee they are stronger than most people think. I trust all my big snakes, even around my kids. But my kids and I also respect them even more than we trust them. I always thought that I would be able to pull a snake off of me if it ever tried to constrict me. After handling a couple of my large constrictors, who are only holding on to me to feel safe, I'm convinced I would never be able to pull one of them off of me, if it's intent was to kill. Animal planet reported a test that determined an 18-foot-long snake applies pressure equal to about 12 pounds per square inch. That doesn't sound like a allot per inch, but if you figure your arm is about 12 inches in circumference, and a snake that is 6 inches wide wraps around your arm once, that's 864 lbs of pressure on your arm with one coil. Assuming most snakes coil at least 3-4 times, that is 3,456 lbs of pressure do you think you could get enough people in the same room to pull it off of you? I don't have that many friends and my wife would rather collect the insurance money. LOL

Now I know boas will not get 18 feet long but a 10 foot 50 lb + boa will have about the same strength maybe a little less.
So for argument sake lets say a boa will only have .66 pounds per square inch for every foot of snake. Then a 6 foot long boa will have 3.96 pounds per square inch. Most 6 foot long boa are 4 inches wide. So if it wraps around your arm once, that's 190 lbs. of pressure on your arm with one coil. Now we all know boas wrap more than one time around when it's trying to kill something. So 190 x 4 = is 760 lbs pressure on your arm. Now just think if that was around your neck.

Take care
Tom

Do you mind if I keep this for future use and I'll reference you?

[sirtalis]

Originally Posted by McCarthy Boas

I have posted this a few time in other post but I will post it here for you too.

Boa Constrictor "Handling Safety"

Boas are the gentle giants but don't under estimate them. An 8 foot boa is around 8 times stronger than the average human.

One of the most important things we can do for our reptiles and ourselves is to educate ourselves on their care and proper handling of any reptile. Big constrictors are very powerful snakes. I guarantee they are stronger than most people think. I trust all my big snakes, even around my kids. But my kids and I also respect them even more than we trust them. I always thought that I would be able to pull a snake off of me if it ever tried to constrict me. After handling a couple of my large constrictors, who are only holding on to me to feel safe, I'm convinced I would never be able to pull one of them off of me, if it's intent was to kill. Animal planet reported a test that determined an 18-foot-long snake applies pressure equal to about 12 pounds per square inch. That doesn't sound like a allot per inch, but if you figure your arm is about 12 inches in circumference, and a snake that is 6 inches wide wraps around your arm once, that's 864 lbs of pressure on your arm with one coil. Assuming most snakes coil at least 3-4 times, that is 3,456 lbs of pressure do you think you could get enough people in the same room to pull it off of you? I don't have that many friends and my wife would rather collect the insurance money. LOL

Now I know boas will not get 18 feet long but a 10 foot 50 lb + boa will have about the same strength maybe a little less.
So for argument sake lets say a boa will only have .66 pounds per square inch for every foot of snake. Then a 6 foot long boa will have 3.96 pounds per square inch. Most 6 foot long boa are 4 inches wide. So if it wraps around your arm once, that's 190 lbs. of pressure on your arm with one coil. Now we all know boas wrap more than one time around when it's trying to kill something. So 190 x 4 = is 760 lbs pressure on your arm. Now just think if that was around your neck.

Take care
Tom

wow... that was interesting, thanks for sharing

[sirtalis]

Originally Posted by Tsubaki

I can remember a whole set of pics that looked similar, that were proven to be photo-shopped. Surprised this is not one of those! Curious to see the other real ones!

Ill go to the library at some point this week so I try to get it

[McCarthy Boas]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Do you mind if I keep this for future use and I'll reference you?

Yes you can use it and you don’t have to reference me unless you want to.

Originally Posted by sirtalis

wow... that was interesting, thanks for sharing

Your welcome glad you liked it.

Take care both of you.
Tom

[Nightflight99]

A couple of comments on the physiology of constriction that you might find useful when mentioning the above information: constriction pressure in snakes is a function of the diameter of the snake and number of loops it has coiled around the prey. Depending on the resulting constriction force, the snake can kill by either producing circulatory and cardiac arrest (high constriction pressure--quick death), spinal injury (extremely high constriction pressure--quick death), or suffocation (low constriction pressure--slow death). The published data from measuring constriction pressure in various species indicate that large green anacondas and reticulated pythons may be able to constrict with pressures of around 130 psi (as opposed to 25 psi in some of the B. constrictor that have been measured).

If you really want to connect to your inner nerd, there is a mathematical way to estimate the minimum peak constriction pressure in kilopascal (kpa): 30.3 x snake diameter in cm - 1.1 x (snake diameter in cm)^2 - 32. Then, to convert the kpa value to psi, multiply the kpa value by .14503773773020923. Riveting, right...?

[/nerd]

[dannybgoode]

Originally Posted by McCarthy Boas

I have posted this a few time in other post but I will post it here for you too.

Boa Constrictor "Handling Safety"

Boas are the gentle giants but don't under estimate them. An 8 foot boa is around 8 times stronger than the average human.

One of the most important things we can do for our reptiles and ourselves is to educate ourselves on their care and proper handling of any reptile. Big constrictors are very powerful snakes. I guarantee they are stronger than most people think. I trust all my big snakes, even around my kids. But my kids and I also respect them even more than we trust them. I always thought that I would be able to pull a snake off of me if it ever tried to constrict me. After handling a couple of my large constrictors, who are only holding on to me to feel safe, I'm convinced I would never be able to pull one of them off of me, if it's intent was to kill. Animal planet reported a test that determined an 18-foot-long snake applies pressure equal to about 12 pounds per square inch. That doesn't sound like a allot per inch, but if you figure your arm is about 12 inches in circumference, and a snake that is 6 inches wide wraps around your arm once, that's 864 lbs of pressure on your arm with one coil. Assuming most snakes coil at least 3-4 times, that is 3,456 lbs of pressure do you think you could get enough people in the same room to pull it off of you? I don't have that many friends and my wife would rather collect the insurance money. LOL

Now I know boas will not get 18 feet long but a 10 foot 50 lb + boa will have about the same strength maybe a little less.
So for argument sake lets say a boa will only have .66 pounds per square inch for every foot of snake. Then a 6 foot long boa will have 3.96 pounds per square inch. Most 6 foot long boa are 4 inches wide. So if it wraps around your arm once, that's 190 lbs. of pressure on your arm with one coil. Now we all know boas wrap more than one time around when it's trying to kill something. So 190 x 4 = is 760 lbs pressure on your arm. Now just think if that was around your neck.

Take care
Tom

There's a reason why they say if you're handling / feeding / cleaning / otherwise interacting with a snake over 6ft then you should have someone with you and then another person every 4ft of snake over 10ft.

Its one of the reasons I won't be getting a giant any time soon. My wife doesn't particularly like snakes so I would have no one to help me with them.

I propose Tom's post become a sticky outside of this thread that a lot of people will not read...

[prairiepanda]

Originally Posted by sirtalis

Lol its not, Its in a 20ish year old book, next time I go to the library ill get it to show you guys, they have a few other equally graphic pictures lol

Erm...are you saying that nobody modified photos 20 years ago, or that physical books always contain truth? Or both?

Strange how the person is not being compressed at all while being constricted(s/he's pretty much a plank) and has a mega long neck...and white space connecting the snake's mouth to the body?? Maybe all these things are normal and I'm mistaken?

[sam]

You could always ask this frog!: https://youtu.be/l5a9WvDj7oo?t=20

Feel for that hognose though.

[macandchz]

wouldn't it crush every vital organ you have? and then if it got you in it's stomach wouldn't the hydrochloric acid in it's stomach dissolve you? why are we asking this question in the first place?

[sam]

Originally Posted by macandchz

wouldn't it crush every vital organ you have? and then if it got you in it's stomach wouldn't the hydrochloric acid in it's stomach dissolve you? why are we asking this question in the first place?

Good question, I think OP is trolling... haha.