Dec. 30, 2003 — A primitive zoo in Indonesia is housing a reticulated python that, if its vital statistics are confirmed, will be both the longest and heaviest snake ever captured, a report said Monday.
The reptile measures 14.85 meters (49 feet) and weighs in at 447 kilograms (983 pounds), the Suara Merdeka regional newspaper reported.
The serpent was found in a forest in Jambi on the island of Sumatra. According to its captor, the snake was originally 19 meters (62 feet) long, but part of its tail was amputated when a deer carcass was found rotting inside.
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The snake was recently put on display at Curug Sewu Park in Kendal, Indonesia, where it has been feeding on about four full-grown dogs every month. Park staff have christened the behemoth "Kembang Wangi," which means "fragrant flower."
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the longest snake ever captured was a 10-meter (33-foot) long reticulated python, which was shot in Celebes Indonesia in 1912.
The heaviest living snake, according to the book, is a 183-kilogram (403-pound) Burmese python named "Baby," which is being held at the Serpent Safari Park in Gurnee, Ill.
Researchers from the Institute of Sciences of Indonesia, Gajah Mada University and the Institute of Agriculture at Bogor were called in to examine the reptile to determine its weight and length, the report said. If their numbers are confirmed, the snake will break two world's records for size.
The reticulated python is indigenous to Southeast Asia and regularly tops 20 feet in length. Its diet consists of a variety of birds and mammals, including pigs and large deer. It even attacks humans.
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Name: Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus)
Primary Classification: Henophidia (Boas, Pythons and Relatives) Location: Southeast Asia. Habitat: Tropical rainforests and woodlands near small rivers, lakes and ponds. Also agricultural areas. Diet: Warmblooded prey such as nesting birds, waterfowl and mammals, including dogs, large deer, pigs and occasionally humans. Size: Up to 33 ft in length and 440 lbs in weight. Description: Yellow or tan body with interlocking black marks; orange eyes; thin, dark line from eye to jaw; big head, wider than neck; heat pits along jaw; very long, relatively slender body; smooth scales. Cool Facts: It is known to be an excellent swimmer. When tackling prey with large antlers, it will break the cumbersome structures so that they lie flat before engulfing the animal headfirst. Conservation Status: Common |
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