Giant snakes

Giant snakes include those specimens large enough to swallow an adult human, and are rare, worldwide. Giant snakes are the oldest individuals of certain constrictor species, such as pythons, anacondas and boas, that are capable of growing to great size. The term is an informal one that has gained use among wildlife enthusiasts. Because giant snakes do pose a danger to humans there are regulations and guidelines for keeping such animals in captivity (reference: Moritz, J. Requirements for the keeping of dangerous exotic animals. [German] Deutsche Tierarztliche Wochenschrift. Verlag M. & H. Schaper, Alfeld (Leine), Germany: 2003. 110: 5, 224-226. 7 ref..)

Snakes that are long and heavy enough to take human sized prey are not only restricted in species, but must have a habitat with a climate and prey supply that enables a long life with resources to support body growth. Most of these animals, in the wild, are said to be found near large bodies of water and this may be because when the buoyancy of that water supports their body weight the very large and heavy snake is not handicapped by its size.

Reports of snakes weighing tons and spanning lengths of 50 to nearly 100 feet can be found in writings from explorers and adventurers of the tropical world in the Nineteenth and first part of the Twentieth century, but these stories may be no more than tales. There is no doubt, however, that the green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) can grow to 30 feet in length (9 meters) and 1200 pounds in weight (550 kilograms). "Jesús Rivas, along with a team of revolving graduate students and volunteers, has captured and released about 800 green anacondas which live in the Venezuela llanos ecosystem." (reference for quote:National Geographic News [1]

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Further reading:

Tales of Giant Snakes: A Historical Natural History of Anacondas and Pythons by John C. Murphy and Robert W. Henderson, Krieger publishing, 1997