Snakes World

So what is the biggest snake ever recorded? It depends on whether you are asking what is the heaviest snake or the longest snake. The heaviest snake is the anaconda. The longest snake is the reticulated python. And then there is the incredible snake found in Indonesia recently.So that brings us to the question of the day. What is the largest snake ever recorded in captivity. The answer is the amazing reticulated python found in Java, Indonesia. It is an astounding 49 feet long. It is not thin either. It weighs nearly 900 pounds. Think about those numbers for a minute. Fifty feet is longer than many people’s homes. Nine hundred pounds is nearly a half ton. You must see this snake to believe it. Take a look at this amazing video footage of the longest snake ever recorded.

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If you ever see a dead rattlesnake, be careful. Yes, even if the head has been severed, there is still a risk. Most people and even many snake enthusiasts, do not realize that even after a rattlesnake has been beheaded, the head can still bite for awhile afterwards. It is estimated that the head can still see and bite for at least one hour after. It is not at all uncommon to see a rattlesnake head with a flickering tongue. There have been cases where an attempt to pick up the head is made, and the rattlesnake has bitten the hand. And yes, it can also still inject deadly venom as well. This may sound like something from a horror movie, but it is true. For more fascinating information on rattlesnakes, go to our rattlesnakes page.

For new snake hobbyists, one of the essential learning points is recognizing what venomous snakes look like. How can you tell poisonous and non-poisonous snakes apart? There are several different ways to make the distinction. Complicating matters somewhat is the fact that some types of non-poisonous snakes have evolved so that they resemble the venomous snakes.

A good rule of thumb is do not take any chances. You should error on the side of caution if you are not sure. As a general rule, poisonous snakes have heads shaped a little like a diamond or even a triangle. The harmless counterparts have rounded heads.

Additionally, the dangerous ones have eyes that are the shape of an ellipse. This is similar to a cat’s eye as opposed to being round. You may have heard or seen Pit vipers before. They have a characteristic pit between their eyes and the mouth. This pit is an organ that senses heat. It enables the snake to accurately launch itself at a warm-blooded animal even if the snake can’t see their victim.

Did you know that some rattlesnakes do not sound their rattle to warn a potential victim. Some rattlesnake species have evolved with no rattle. Although this should not be your only determining factor, remember to look closely at the shape of the snake’s head and eyes to help you determine if it is a poisonous snake.

A beautiful but venomous Egyptian cobra is back in the Bronx Zoo. In case you missed it, she went missing from the zoo several weeks ago. The magnificent reptile was found a week ago in a dark corner of the reptile house. I guess she just wanted a little privacy. Can’t blame her for that.

This story of the missing snake had caught the attention of many people. The cobra is 24-inches in length. Once found and placed back in the display area, many visitors lined up to get a glimpse through the glass cage.

An astounding 60,000 people voted on five final choices to give her a name. Drum roll please. The winning name is quite appropriately “Mia” (for “Missing in action”). “Cleopatra” and “Amaunet,” an ancient Egyptian goddess whose name means “the female hidden one, were also popular choices.

Not to be outdone, someone pretending to be the snake on Twitter now has more than 200,000 followers. Too bad there isn’t a way to get the snake to post herself to her Twitter account. I’d be curious to see what she thinks about all this.

The brown snake is one of the most poisonous reptiles on the planet. Her poison can kill a person in mere minutes. So which hand do you use to pick up a lethal snake? Why, someone else’s of course.

In spite of all the fanfare and hype, there were still many observers who were quite frightened. One onlooker was heard saying, “I’m scared of snakes. I took pictures and then ran out!” Well at least she is back where she belongs.