From the Castle: Big Snakes
Scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute publish their amazing find of Titanoboa, the world's largest snake
- By G. Wayne Clough
- Smithsonian magazine, May 2009, Subscribe
The world's largest snake—42 feet long and weighing 2,500 pounds—turned up in a Colombian jungle. Jason Bourque / University of Florida
Video Gallery
Discovering Titanoboa, the world's largest snake
Fossils found in Colombia indicate that the world’s largest snake lived 60 million years ago.
I was thrilled to be on hand at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama when staff scientist Carlos Jaramillo and others published their amazing find of the world's largest snake—42 feet long and weighing 2,500 pounds (previous records were 33 feet and 403 pounds). Actually, 28 of these giant snakes have been found.
Since I am a geological engineer, it was even more interesting for me to tour Jaramillo's most recent project at the Panama Canal. Massive new excavations to allow the world's biggest ships to pass through via a third, larger set of locks have exposed geological formations that date back 17 million years and given Jaramillo an opportunity to help solve a puzzle: how and when the land bridge connecting North and South America formed. Jaramillo's group collects newly uncovered fossils and compares them with fossils found in North America from the same time period. The comparisons should shed light on the formation of the Isthmus of Panama, which began about 20 million years ago; the closure of that isthmus some three million years ago launched two of our planet's great experiments in biodiversity. The first, the Great American Interchange, began when the fauna and flora of North America invaded South America and vice versa across the newly formed land bridge. The second began when the isthmus formed a barrier, dividing marine organisms into Caribbean and eastern Pacific populations.
During my visit to STRI, I also took in the cacophonous whoops of howler monkeys and rode high above the forest canopy in a research gondola held aloft by a construction crane; I observed butterfly aerobatics and working ant colonies. STRI's focus is Barro Colorado Island, located in the canal's Gatun Lake; its 1,316 plant species, 381 bird species and 115 mammal species are among the world's most intensively studied. Institute scientists are illuminating how forests capture carbon from the atmosphere, studying the health of coral reefs and documenting invasive species. This and other STRI science will inform exhibits at the Smithsonian-affiliated Museum of Biodiversity (BioMuseo) next to STRI labs at the Pacific end of the canal. Designed by Frank Gehry, the new museum will open next year, just in time to celebrate the Smithsonian's 100-year partnership with Panama.
Those among you less interested in geology might still be wondering about the snakes. Not to worry. They preferred eating crocodiles and giant turtles. And the discovery was of snake fossils (mostly backbones) in the remote jungles of Colombia; the snakes, called Titanoboas, lived some 60 million years ago.
G. Wayne Clough is Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
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Comments (8)
I love snakes- dont get me wrong, I have a ball python- but that one was huge. I dont see why people keep big snakes as pets? I see if you dont have kids, it'll be fine, but really? thank god that thing isint here today-- but if it was, it would be any herpetologist's dream.
Posted by sabrina on August 10,2010 | 06:17 PM
I love snakes, but I don't get to see large ones around. I am a Nigeria.I have seen a snake as large as 22 feet.I want you people to come and explore Nigeria, of such beautiful and large snakes as the ones you display on your websites.
here, we don't pay much attention to our wild life as much as you people do i your country.
our species are endangered. I tell you, we may have larger snakes.
Posted by charles on April 27,2010 | 10:36 AM
Titanboa Lives Thier is a snake this Large living on what used to be called Fort Davis, Thier is a Microwave Antanna at the top of the Main Road that enters the jungle area toward Lake Gatun about 50 meters past the dirt road that provides access to the antenna is a jungle game trail while searching the area for a remote place to catch fish I saw a HUGE SNAKE crossing the game trail at least 1 meter round I could not see the head or tail but what I initially thought was a fallen tree turned out to be the biggest snake I have seen anywhere. It must have been a giant Anaconda or one of these Titian Boas. Gatun Lake hold some of the Largest crocks on earth as well. I have spent more time in the jungle than most and I have seen Black Panthers as well in the Jungles of Panama they exist and could easily be migrating North someone needs to really explore this are known as the French cut jungle area in Panama...
Posted by CARL SPIVEY on January 18,2010 | 04:30 PM
In the recently published book, Lost City of Z, author David Grann points out that Colonel Percy Fawcett's Amzaon explorations in the 1920'sencountered a 68 foot snakee/probably a python or anacondoa, which the author mused was probably closer to 42 feet.
Posted by bruce birchman on May 5,2009 | 12:33 PM
The picture you are speaking of that was supposedly of a giant snake in the river of Borneo, is false. It was figured out a few weeks after that the entire picture was photo shopped. As for this article, very informative. Thank you.
Posted by Amanda on April 27,2009 | 03:44 PM
iwant to compare between an article that told me the biggest monster on youtube was split the water of the river at borneo a few months a go, is that true, thanks....
Posted by jemi on April 25,2009 | 12:53 AM
I really enjoyed this article very informative. Clough stated that there were "28 giant snakes found", this makes me wonder if there's more and will they continue searching for them. I'm not a big fan when it comes to snakes at all I've always been interested in the discovery of new thing.
Posted by Tam on April 23,2009 | 10:48 AM
this wa a very interesting article i never knew that snakes grew that big the author of this article should do more articles on interesting wildlife it was very fun
Posted by Alex Springer on April 21,2009 | 01:27 PM