Re: Largest Rat Snake

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Posted by Kirk on August 10, 2001 at 12:01:10:

In Reply to: Re: Largest Rat Snake posted by Dave on August 05, 2001 at 00:56:05:

: : what is the longest species of ratsnake, is it the taiwan or the spilotes? Is it even either of the two I've named? Please Respond
: First of all spilotes is not a rat snake[elaphe],taiwans are up there,records of 9-11 feet,spilotes also get that big or bigger,but PTYAS is the longest,not the largest,3.5 meters in length,figure that one out![1 meter=39.37"x3.5=137.7divided by 12"[1 foot]
: =11.48,a whopping 11& half feet]

You kids crack me up with your "spilotes is not a true ratsnake". You are perpetuating "a very narrow" viewpoint. Do you honestly believe that Elaphe is latin for "feeds on rats"? This is an entire falsehood, and I've seen it stated time after time on this forum. Let's understand one thing, the difference between common names (in any language) and the latin classifications....
When you fully understand the latin, you begin to realize, and even disdain, the common names given to different, genus. They are TOTAL MISNOMERS.
That is why many TRUE biologists refuse to use common names of any sort. They realize how truly ignorant the term RATSNAKE is... Do you honestly believe that any snake could or would prey only on rats?
So let's agree to this, since there are no true ratsnakes, and we, as laypeople,(not biologists)
are limited to using "common names" when speaking of various species, that we shall henceforth include the Tiger Ratsnake in that foggy indistinct group known as Ratsnakes...
Truly, you must realize that in the broadest common sense, that both Kingsnakes and Milksnakes
are ratsnakes as well...after all they eat rats don't they??? I am sure that in they are known regionally by some common term that includes rats
or chickens or some other biodiverse prey species...
So when we continually read statements like..."THE SPILOTES PULLATUS, OR TIGER RATSNAKE, IS NOT A TRUE RATSNAKE" written by someone who wants to be considered "learned", it only serves to prove "something else".

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: : : what is the longest species of ratsnake, is it the taiwan or the spilotes? Is it even either of the two I've named? Please Respond : : First of all spilotes is not a rat snake[elaphe],taiwans are up there,records of 9-11 feet,spilotes also get that big or bigger,but PTYAS is the longest,not the largest,3.5 meters in length,figure that one out![1 meter=39.37"x3.5=137.7divided by 12"[1 foot] : : =11.48,a whopping 11& half feet] : You kids crack me up with your "spilotes is not a true ratsnake". You are perpetuating "a very narrow" viewpoint. Do you honestly believe that Elaphe is latin for "feeds on rats"? This is an entire falsehood, and I've seen it stated time after time on this forum. Let's understand one thing, the difference between common names (in any language) and the latin classifications.... : When you fully understand the latin, you begin to realize, and even disdain, the common names given to different, genus. They are TOTAL MISNOMERS. : That is why many TRUE biologists refuse to use common names of any sort. They realize how truly ignorant the term RATSNAKE is... Do you honestly believe that any snake could or would prey only on rats? : So let's agree to this, since there are no true ratsnakes, and we, as laypeople,(not biologists) : are limited to using "common names" when speaking of various species, that we shall henceforth include the Tiger Ratsnake in that foggy indistinct group known as Ratsnakes... : Truly, you must realize that in the broadest common sense, that both Kingsnakes and Milksnakes : are ratsnakes as well...after all they eat rats don't they??? I am sure that in they are known regionally by some common term that includes rats : or chickens or some other biodiverse prey species... : So when we continually read statements like..."THE SPILOTES PULLATUS, OR TIGER RATSNAKE, IS NOT A TRUE RATSNAKE" written by someone who wants to be considered "learned", it only serves to prove "something else".

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