Big EDB's -- Any New Info?

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Posted by Byron Larkin on July 09, 2002 at 06:37:17:

I'm curious if any new information has come to light since my original post about three years ago?

Posted by Byron Larkin on September 17, 1999:

I know we've "plowed this ground before", but while perusing my back issues of Reptile & Amphibian Magazine, I came across an interesting, yet controversial article titled "Big Reptiles, Big Lies". The article was in issue #51, and was written by the out-spoken adventurer, famed inventor, and renowned reptile collector, Arthur Jones. As the title implies, Jones discredits a host of claims concerning the maximum size of several notable species, including the EDB. According to Jones, despite the accepted belief of many "armchair" experts, and innumerable accounts by all sorts of people, no one has ever documented a live (or dead) EDB that was even close to being 8 feet long. In fact, the largest EDB out of tens of thousands collected by Jones and other notables over the years, including Ross Allen, failed to measure a full 7 feet in length. According to Jones, claims of 8 foot and longer EDB's are exaggerations, fabrications, or are based upon stretched skins.

Although I'm not quite as convinced as Jones is about the subject, I suspect that he may be correct. Over the past 40 years, I have probably seen several thousand EDB's myself at various zoos, roadside exhibits, rattlesnake round-ups, and in the wild. And, although I'm not proud of it, in my younger days I collected a number of them for the trade. The vast majority of specimens that I ever encountered, captive or otherwise, were between 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 feet long. Probably fewer than a dozen were over 5 1/2 feet long. And, the longest that I ever personally measured was a fresh road-kill near Okeechobee, Florida in 1968 that was 6 feet, 3 inches long, including the rattle. This immense, impressive, and terrifying-even-while-dead specimen was, by far, the largest EDB I've ever seen, anywhere, at anytime. I'd be interested in hearing everyone's perspective on this issue, and I would certainly like to know it there are any verifiable records out there of a 8 foot or longer EDB. By the way, Jones says the WDB is the larger of the two species, and claims to have measured one that was 7 feet 8 1/4 inches long.

Follow Ups:

Speaking of big rattlesnakes.... David L. Martin 07/10/02 (0)
Re: Big EDB's -- Any New Info? David L. Martin 07/09/02 (40)
- follow-up David L. Martin 07/09/02 (39)
  - However... Byron Larkin 07/09/02 (38)
    - Your point is well taken David L. Martin 07/09/02 (37)
      - Back to your earlier post.... Byron Larkin 07/10/02 (36)
        
        I disagree David L. Martin 07/11/02 (28)
        
        EDB size Chris Harper 07/17/02 (0)
        
        Back to you, Sir Byron Larkin 07/12/02 (26)
        
        Re: Back to you, Sir David L. Martin 07/13/02 (22)
        
        Apples to apples Byron Larkin 07/14/02 (21)
        
        I'm afraid you lost me, friend David L. Martin 07/15/02 (20)
        
        A Guiding Light Byron Larkin 07/16/02 (19)
        
        Now I'm really lost, friend David L. Martin 07/16/02 (18)
        
        Come now, this is not that hard Byron Larkin 07/16/02 (17)
        
        David, I think he's right steve jones 07/16/02 (16)
        
        Fair enough, Steve David L. Martin 07/17/02 (15)
        
        Am I missing something here? steve jones 07/17/02 (14)
        
        I think we're makin progress, Steve David L. Martin 07/18/02 (13)
        
        More Heat than Light Byron Larkin 07/18/02 (12)
        
        Johnny flame off David L. Martin 07/18/02 (11)
        
        Oh No! Byron larkin 07/18/02 (10)
        
        By all means David L. Martin 07/18/02 (9)
        
        I think he just did! steve jones 07/18/02 (8)
        
        Yup David L. Martin 07/18/02 (7)
        
        Not Texas but..... Rich G. 07/19/02 (1)
        
        Me like data David L. Martin 07/19/02 (0)
        
        I can tell you joe 07/18/02 (4)
        
        Re: I can tell you I hear it all the time Buzz 07/18/02 (3)
        
        hehehe buzzzz coming out of the woodwork joe 07/18/02 (2)
        
        Re: hehehe buzzzz coming out of the woodwork Buzz 07/18/02 (1)
        
        back then all I drank was coca cola, joe 07/19/02 (0)
        
        Points of discussion Todd Evans 07/13/02 (2)
        
        Re: Points of discussion David L. Martin 07/14/02 (0)
        
        The Importance of Critical Thinking Byron Larkin 07/13/02 (0)
        
        just a thought mirabelasunshine 07/11/02 (2)
        
        Re: just a thought David L. Martin 07/12/02 (1)
        
        Re: just a thought Holmes 07/12/02 (0)
        
        Whow !!! steve jones 07/10/02 (3)
        
        Re: Wow !!! I agree Greg Longhurst 07/12/02 (2)
        
        OK. here goes..... Rich G. 07/13/02 (1)
        
        Re: OK. here goes..... Greg Longhurst 07/13/02 (0)

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: I'm curious if any new information has come to light since my original post about three years ago? : Posted by Byron Larkin on September 17, 1999: : I know we've "plowed this ground before", but while perusing my back issues of Reptile & Amphibian Magazine, I came across an interesting, yet controversial article titled "Big Reptiles, Big Lies". The article was in issue #51, and was written by the out-spoken adventurer, famed inventor, and renowned reptile collector, Arthur Jones. As the title implies, Jones discredits a host of claims concerning the maximum size of several notable species, including the EDB. According to Jones, despite the accepted belief of many "armchair" experts, and innumerable accounts by all sorts of people, no one has ever documented a live (or dead) EDB that was even close to being 8 feet long. In fact, the largest EDB out of tens of thousands collected by Jones and other notables over the years, including Ross Allen, failed to measure a full 7 feet in length. According to Jones, claims of 8 foot and longer EDB's are exaggerations, fabrications, or are based upon stretched skins. : Although I'm not quite as convinced as Jones is about the subject, I suspect that he may be correct. Over the past 40 years, I have probably seen several thousand EDB's myself at various zoos, roadside exhibits, rattlesnake round-ups, and in the wild. And, although I'm not proud of it, in my younger days I collected a number of them for the trade. The vast majority of specimens that I ever encountered, captive or otherwise, were between 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 feet long. Probably fewer than a dozen were over 5 1/2 feet long. And, the longest that I ever personally measured was a fresh road-kill near Okeechobee, Florida in 1968 that was 6 feet, 3 inches long, including the rattle. This immense, impressive, and terrifying-even-while-dead specimen was, by far, the largest EDB I've ever seen, anywhere, at anytime. I'd be interested in hearing everyone's perspective on this issue, and I would certainly like to know it there are any verifiable records out there of a 8 foot or longer EDB. By the way, Jones says the WDB is the larger of the two species, and claims to have measured one that was 7 feet 8 1/4 inches long.

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Big EDB's -- Any New Info?

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