Posted on 04/12/2024 5:44:19 PM PDT by DallasBiff
9. Coachwhip — 8.5 feet
A long snake with an unusual appearance is the coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum), which is named because it looks like a braided coachwhip. The nominotypical subspecies — the eastern coachwhip — typically has a black head and neck but their color gradually lightens to tan at their tail. They are also the longest subspecies and can reach 8.5 feet long. Coachwhips live in the southern region of the US and inhabit fields, prairies, and open forests. They are diurnal and prey on a variety of birds, rodents, and lizards. They are ambush predators but are not venomous. One of the myths surrounding coachwhips is that they are rumored to chase people and whip them with their tails. Luckily, this is untrue as they prefer to flee from danger, although they may strike if they are cornered.
(Excerpt) Read more at a-z-animals.com ...
Are they ‘newcomers’?
Biggest snake I’ve personally seen that wasn’t in a zoo is a 75” Eastern Diamondback killed by my dad in NW FL.
With the exception in the US of the coral snake which kills by a neurotoxin and does not have the head shape of other venomous snakes— they are called pit vipers for the pits behind their eye ridges on the top of the head. Virtually every venomous snake in the US is a pit viper.
In Australia in terms of degrees of deadly— the top of the list is the Australian Inland Taipan, followed by the Eastern Brown Snake— these being the two top venomous snakes in the world.
A venomous snake is defined as a snake producing a toxin venom for killing prey (and/or digesting them as well). Calling them poisonous is a misnomer as poison has to be ingested by someone to be active— venom is injected, and typically by fangs (of various size).
World wide there are about 600 varieties of venomous snakes. Venom is either neuro-toxic (paralysis) or hemotoxic (blood toxins). Interestingly major human pharmaceuticals and anesthesia agents have been derived from snake venom.
Learned a lot in toxicology classes back when. Had a friend who raised and milked King Cobras (no freaking way!!).
The top 7 on this list of largest snakes in the US— are all invasive species. Not native— but they are here.
Occasionally some bozo has pet cobras, and they get loose. Not pleasant. The King Cobra is a “good” snake in the sense that it eats other snakes whenever it can, and other cobras as well.
I suppose you’d rather still have Kevin McCarthy.
Came here expecting a photo of Chuck Schumer at the top.
rat snake is the biggest i’ve ever seen in the wild
Google it. You will find pictures. Three of the four in the USA have big heads that extend cheeks past their body lines- nonpoisonous snakes have heads that do not stick out wider than the body. Coral snakes, well you just have to look at the picture then unless you spend a lot of time on memorizing what the color pattern is avoid all the black and yellow and red transverse striped snakes. Several look similar.
Look for the FDA label on the belly.
It’s meaningless.
1913 Federal Reserve and income tax
1920 19th Amendment
1965 Immigration Act
You forgot the 17th Amendment
I don’t think it’s nearly as endgame as the others.
How in the world could anyone know if he has found the biggest snake anywhere? Did sombody use sonic X-rays from outer space to locate all of the snakes in the USA and measure their lengths? It's a preposterous claim.
They have triangular heads with their poison pits. That's why they are also called Pit Vipers.
I know get mad at me, but what does invasive species actually mean?
American Bullfrogs, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, any number of species of sunfish,,,bluegill, warmouth, red-ears...were spread as the eailroads pushed west. Shad and Striped Bass were introduced into the SF area, and moved up and down the coast.
Last time he went there to work he found that the snake had bitten deeply into the customer's shoulder, and was in the process of coiling. There was blood everywhere.
Apparently the snake is extremely difficult to dislodge once it has bitten, because the teeth curve inwards. However, my bro found a cutting board in the kitchen and jammed it between the snake's mouth and the customer's arm, and was able to get the snake off him.
I'm thinking that I'm not going to be owning a pet snake any time soon.
... and then there was the time he was asked to exorcise a spirit from a house. That was one job he decided not to take!
Had a 6 foot racer fly out of the toilet hitting me right between the eyes. Yeah, yeah, I know, I was a kid at the time with my head on the seat looking in it because mom said there was a snake in it. She was right.
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