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Large Snakes

Sharon Hill said:
I don't see the information about how this snake was measured and weighed. It does not seem to have been captured.
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Possibly a guesstimate. When he swims along the snake's length, you can see how large it is compared to his height. Then estimate the weight based on size in comparison to other large snakes.:dunno:
 
Sharon Hill said:
I don't see the information about how this snake was measured and weighed. It does not seem to have been captured.
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I should imagine they know how tall the guy swimming with it and measured it against him. Usually involves a number of people stretching the snake out, a length of string being placed on it head to tail and the string being measured. This is done three times and an average taken. It's fairly easy with captive snakes used to handling not so much with big wild ones.
 
Sharon Hill said:
I’m not satisfied with guesstimates, they are sloppy. Hence, my comment.
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That's a fair point to make - I guess that they only came to those numbers by working out roughly how long, and how heavy by guessing at it's girth and length when comparing with the diver as the measure. i.e. Probably a 'best guess' as the articles I've looked at on it do not seem to mention anything about how they actually arrived at those figures.
Maybe they should have used the set length of a ladder instead? :)
 
lordmongrove said:
I should imagine they know how tall the guy swimming with it and measured it against him. Usually involves a number of people stretching the snake out, a length of string being placed on it head to tail and the string being measured. This is done three times and an average taken. It's fairly easy with captive snakes used to handling not so much with big wild ones.
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Especially underwater, as you then have to add measurements to take into account all the bends along the length of the snakes body! :thought: In fact, if the measure of 26 feet was a guestimate comparing it's length to that of the diver alongside it, then it might well be quite a bit longer than 26 feet if it's loops are factored into it's measure!
 
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"Gigantic" new Anaconda species found in Amazon.

"A team from the University of Queensland traveled to the Ecuadorian Amazon to search for the previously undocumented northern green anaconda (Eunectes akayima), following an invitation from the Waorani people to observe anacondas “rumoured to be the largest in existence,” according to the scientists."

"Green anacondas are the world’s heaviest snakes, according to the UK’s Natural History Museum, which noted that the heaviest individual ever recorded weighed 227 kilograms (500 pounds). It measured 8.43 meters long (27.7 feet) and 1.11 meters (3.6 feet) wide."

"But experts studying the creatures discovered that the newly identified northern green anaconda species diverged from the southern green anaconda almost 10 million years ago, and they differ genetically by 5.5%."


Don't know much about large snakes. Is this significant or a lot of hype? Full article here.


https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/23/americas/worlds-biggest-snake-amazon-intl-scli-scn/index.html
 
kesavaross said:
I'm not unduly worried by snakes, or moths, but I wouldn't get near one that size. I once came face to face with a python in Malaysia. I didn't know my reflexes were that quick or that I could run that fast.
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Yes, I came across a rattlesnake in the Mexican semi-desert in Oaxaca state many years ago. I heard the rattle and I swear I teleported 10 yards back down the trail! I have been roundly told off by American friends for running away, because you can run straight over another one, but there was no conscious thought, I heard the rattle and was gone! My first and only encounter with a wild rattlesnake. I didn't even see it.
 
Tunn11 said:
But experts studying the creatures discovered that the newly identified northern green anaconda species diverged from the southern green anaconda almost 10 million years ago, and they differ genetically by 5.5%."


Don't know much about large snakes. Is this significant or a lot of hype? Full article here.


https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/23/americas/worlds-biggest-snake-amazon-intl-scli-scn/index.html
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My understanding is, yes it is significant. Human DNA is only 1% from chimpanzee. So 5.5% is a huge difference in comparison.
 
Maybe the chickens were left as food for the snakes but they all died?

17ft snake among dozens dumped at roadside in Wales​

The RSPCA is appealing for information after 27 snakes and four chickens were discovered dumped at the side of a road in boxes, bin bags and pillowcases

17ft snake among dozens dumped at roadside in Wales

The snakes were found in Waterston, Pembrokeshire (RSPCA/PA)

More than two dozen snakes, including one which is 17ft (5.2m) long, have been found dead in rural Wales.

The RSPCA is appealing for information after 27 snakes and four chickens were discovered dumped at the side of a road in boxes, bin bags and pillowcases.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-41351350.html
 
I listened to the Dark Histories podcast about Percy Fawcett and the lost city of Z last night.

https://www.darkhistories.com/percy-fawcett-the-lost-city-of-z/

His claim to have shot a 60 ft anaconda was based on it being more than double the length of the expedition's boats which, presumably, were just under 30ft in length.
This somewhat fanciful illustration depicts the incident although, in the original description, the snake was swimming in the river alongside the boat, rather than climbing a tree.

percy2.jpg


This report from construction workers in Brazil purports to show a curiously flattened 33ft anaconda:

https://www.animalsaroundtheglobe.com/largest-anaconda-ever-13-61835/
 
Woman eaten by 20 foot long python

Mum-of-four Farida, who’s surname hasn’t been made public, disappeared while walking to her local market in Kalempang, Indonesia, on Thursday.

Her husband Noni raised the alarm when she didn’t return home that evening, launching a search party alongside other locals.

The party found a 20ft long python in the undergrowth on Friday with a huge bulge in its stomach – and fearing the worst, they cut through the reptile’s stomach with a machete.
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Giant Serpent India
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Source:The Providence Gazette and Country Journal (Providence, Rhode Island) Vol.XXVII, Nº37, September 11, 1790, p.1​
 
Sharon Hill said:
Here are two non-tabloid articles on this story.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/python-swallows-woman-whole-indonesia/

https://www.thejakartapost.com/indo...n-swallows-woman-whole-in-south-sulawesi.html
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I find it difficult to vision how the woman was caught by the snake. I am going under the assumption that she was away from home at the time because of the articles' wording and, therefore awake. I know snakes have squeezed people when the person has been sleeping, but how would a person be caught if awake? Is it possible?
 
brownmane said:
I find it difficult to vision how the woman was caught by the snake. I am going under the assumption that she was away from home at the time because of the articles' wording and, therefore awake. I know snakes have squeezed people when the person has been sleeping, but how would a person be caught if awake? Is it possible?
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It's hard to tell for sure because there were no witnesses but pythons capture prey by ambush. Reticulated pythons also climb trees. They can strike quickly and bite, then constrict. They can catch large 4-legged animals so slower people wouldn't be too difficult.
 
brownmane said:
I find it difficult to vision how the woman was caught by the snake. I am going under the assumption that she was away from home at the time because of the articles' wording and, therefore awake. I know snakes have squeezed people when the person has been sleeping, but how would a person be caught if awake? Is it possible?
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Constricting snakes are often in tree branches above trails and drop down onto their victims to snag them in their jaws, then loop their coils around them. They have been known to take goats and deer. I am sure that @lordmongrove can give more accurate info.
 
SimonBurchell said:
Constricting snakes are often in tree branches above trails and drop down onto their victims to snag them in their jaws, then loop their coils around them. They have been known to take goats and deer.
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Are you sure you aren't thinking of Drop Bears?????? ;)
 
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