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Posted by David L. Martin on July 09, 2002 at 12:23:45:

In Reply to: Re: Big EDB's -- Any New Info? posted by David L. Martin on July 09, 2002 at 08:11:15:

Klauber also cites Rutledge as saying "I have
carefully measured a [eastern] diamondback that
was 8 feet 11 inches long after his huge head had
been shot away." His 7 foot 9 inch specimen at
34 pounds is often assumed to be a valid weight
record for the species. There is also the 8 foot
4 inch specimen supposedly killed in the Big
Santee Swamp that weighed 40 lbs. Klauber
questioned the accuracy of this record.
Ditmars claimed to have measured an 8 foot
3 inch specimen.

When looking at large rattlesnakes, such as the
6 foot 1 inch, 12 lb atrox I picked up in Kenedy
County a few years ago, it is hard to fathom a 30
pound rattlesnake. Yet I have personally seen
enormous, captive-raised adamanteus that looked like
Burmese pythons in dim light. In a sample of about
700 adamanteus from N Fla/S Ga, Bruce Means has
perhaps 3 or 4 that exceed 6 feet. Extrapolate this to
1 million. That's over 4000 6+ foot snakes! And the
original species population of adamanteus probably
numbered tens of millions. Even if only one thousandth
of one percent of individuals were 7+ feet, that produces
many such specimens! I consider it fairly likely
that at any given time there was at least one out there
approaching 8 feet.

Follow Ups:

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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Comments:
: Klauber also cites Rutledge as saying "I have : carefully measured a [eastern] diamondback that : was 8 feet 11 inches long after his huge head had : been shot away." His 7 foot 9 inch specimen at : 34 pounds is often assumed to be a valid weight : record for the species. There is also the 8 foot : 4 inch specimen supposedly killed in the Big : Santee Swamp that weighed 40 lbs. Klauber : questioned the accuracy of this record. : Ditmars claimed to have measured an 8 foot : 3 inch specimen. : When looking at large rattlesnakes, such as the : 6 foot 1 inch, 12 lb atrox I picked up in Kenedy : County a few years ago, it is hard to fathom a 30 : pound rattlesnake. Yet I have personally seen : enormous, captive-raised adamanteus that looked like : Burmese pythons in dim light. In a sample of about : 700 adamanteus from N Fla/S Ga, Bruce Means has : perhaps 3 or 4 that exceed 6 feet. Extrapolate this to : 1 million. That's over 4000 6+ foot snakes! And the : original species population of adamanteus probably : numbered tens of millions. Even if only one thousandth : of one percent of individuals were 7+ feet, that produces : many such specimens! I consider it fairly likely : that at any given time there was at least one out there : approaching 8 feet.

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