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preface
How big is the world's largest python? Legend has it that there was a giant python "as wide as the mountain" in the Qinling Mountains, and it is said that this giant python not only gave birth to a human face, but also called the wind and rain.
So does this legendary creature really exist? And how big is the world's largest python?
Monty Python legend
When it comes to snakes, some people think that this is a very spiritual animal, while others are afraid of this creature.
Since ancient times, the legend of various snakes has been filled with our lives and become the talk of people after tea, so we will often hear where giant pythons appear again, and how powerful and magical these giant pythons are.
In the ancient folk culture of the mainland, the snake is also a symbol of beauty and auspiciousness, so many people regard it as the prototype of the dragon and call it "little dragon", which shows that the snake was very worshipped in ancient times on the mainland.
As early as the ancient book "Classic of Mountains and Seas" in the pre-Qin period on the mainland, a magical giant snake was depicted:
"The god of the bell mountain, known as the candle yin, sees the day, the blind as the night, the blow as winter, the breath as summer, and the breath as the wind. Don't drink, don't eat, don't stop. Thousands of miles long, in the east of the unenlightened. It's a thing. The human-faced snake is red, and it lives under the bell mountain. ”
It is said that in the Qinling Mountain Range, there is a huge snake with a body that stretches thousands of miles from the Qinling Mountains to the Kunlun Mountains. This giant snake has a human face and is all red, and is a mountain god who guards the mountains, and is known as the candle dragon.
It is said that this candle dragon's eyes are so bright that when it opens its eyes, the whole mountain is as bright as day, and when it closes, it becomes night. Its sound transforms into the wind and waves of the mountains, and between one breath and one inhale, spring, summer, autumn and winter alternate.
The candle dragon sleepless day and night, without food and water, silently guarded under Zhongshan and became the guardian god of the mountain range.
Of course, such a magical giant snake should not exist in reality, so some experts and scholars have verified that the candle dragon described in the Mountain and Sea Scripture is probably a natural phenomenon such as aurora or volcano.
In 2009, a giant snake was also found in Borneo, Malaysia, which is said to be nearly 100 feet long, its head is very similar to ancient Chinese dragons, and it has seven nostrils.
Known locally as Nabau, the giant snake is said to have been spotted by a Malaysian river monitor.
On this day, the Pale River in Borneo, Malaysia, suddenly flooded, the monitor took a helicopter to check the river flood, he looked into the river, there was a 30-meter-long object, winding in the water.
The staff immediately took out a camera to photograph it, and then posted it online, and the legend of the giant snake spread in Malaysia, and local residents said that it was probably a walking moth or a prehistoric python.
However, some people do not believe that this creature exists, they think that the giant object in the photo may be made of wood, or some rattan entangled, so it looks a little similar to a snake.
Later, after people's research and verification, it was found that the giant snake in this photo was most likely drawn through PS, so this rumor was self-defeating.
In Western Greek mythology, there have also been some mythical stories of giant pythons, and legend has it that on the Greek island of Minos, there is a giant python that feeds exclusively on humans.
This python is up to 50 feet long and weighs more than a ton. The whole body is covered with black and dark green scales, and the appearance is eerie and creepy.
And this giant python has a huge head, its eyes are dark and hideous, making people look away, and it also has sharp teeth and a long tongue, which can devour humans in an instant.
Legend has it that this python once ate many of the population of Minos, seriously threatening the lives of local residents. The main god Zeus saw this and sent his bravest son, Achilles, to kill the python.
In order not to let the python continue to be a scourge, Achilles accepted the task without hesitation, and successfully killed the monster and successfully protected the people of Minos.
Of course, the python in the Greek story does not exist in reality, so how big is the largest python that has ever existed?
The world's largest python
First of all, there used to be a giant snake called the titan python in the world, and this snake is probably the largest snake in the world.
In 2011, the journal Nature wrote an article "Neotropical Paleocene Finds Giant Python Suggesting Hotter at the Equator in the Past" said:
Scientists have found a huge snake fossil in the Guasila Peninsula in South America, which is more than 15 meters long and weighs more than a ton, so it is named the titan python.
Later, after the research and analysis of scientists, it was found that this titan python appeared 58 million years ago and lived in the tropical rainforest environment at that time.
Because of their huge size, scientists speculate that the pythons usually live in water because buoyancy in the water can reduce the stress on their size.
Therefore, titan pythons usually feed on large fish or aquatic animals, and some scholars believe that this python mainly feeds on giant crocodiles, because of the advantage of size, titan pythons can swallow a crocodile.
Later, with the advent of the ice age, the climate became more and more unsuitable for the survival of titan pythons, so these behemoths gradually became extinct, and today, we have only found a small number of titan python fossils.
Among the pythons that currently exist in the world, there is a Myanmar that is the most huge, usually they can grow to about 7 meters, the weight can reach more than 120 kilograms, the heaviest Burmese python in the world, can reach 183 kilograms.
Usually living in the tropics, this python is a non-venomous giant python that is usually fed as small to medium-sized mammals, but also attacks some large wild boars and elk when particularly hungry.
In addition, there is a snake called the reticulated python, their body is more slender than the Burmese python, the longest can grow to more than ten meters, the longest snake in the world.
This reticulated python is usually not as large as the Burmese python, which can only grow to about 100 kilograms, but this python is stronger than the Burmese python, and they are also very brutal, and there are records of attacking and devouring humans.
The above are the giant pythons that currently exist in the world, so what are the differences between pythons? What kind of habits do they have?
Classification and habits of pythons
Python vipers are a large class of reptiles that can usually reach a length of more than 3 meters. They are also widely distributed and are now found in rivers, lakes, swamps, forests and fields in tropical and subtropical regions.
Python is a carnivore, their diet is mainly fish, birds, mammals and other reptiles, while some aquatic pythons also eat some fish.
According to the different ways of reproduction of pythons, they can be divided into the family Cerambycidae and the Anaconidae, of which the Anaconidae mainly include aquatic pythons such as leeches and forest worms, which mainly live in water and use fish as their main food.
The python family includes terrestrial pythons such as pythons, African pythons and American pythons, which live mainly on land and feed on mammals and birds.
According to the description in the article "Monty Python and Forest Cockroach" in the journal "Biology Teaching" of East China Normal University.
The reproductive habits of pythons are very different from those of the python family, among which the snakes of the python family are mostly spawning and reproduction, they usually produce snake eggs in a high temperature and humid environment, and hatch them for two to three months before the young pythons break out of their shells.
The reproduction of snakes is usually ovoviviparous, they do not directly excrete the eggs after mating, but leave the eggs in the female snake to hatch, and when these eggs hatch in the body, then discharge the juveniles, which is somewhat similar to viviparous.
It should be noted that the classification system of the python family may vary depending on the views of different researchers, and now there may be newer classification methods and structures as the research progresses.
In addition, the phylogenetic relationship of pythons has not been fully established. Studies in recent years have suggested that the python family may be closely related to the African python family, and that it is likely to merge into the same family later.
When studying the taxonomy of pythons, it is necessary to combine a variety of data and methods, such as morphology, genetics, molecular biology, etc. Through continuous in-depth research, it helps us better understand the evolutionary history and biodiversity of pythons.
Python vipers are a very important part of the ecosystem, and they are also one of the human threats. Because they may enter human settlements and prey on domestic animals, some pythons may cause economic losses to humans.
At the same time, pythons are also important ornamental animals, especially in zoos and aquariums, we can often see some huge pythons, which also allows us to deepen our understanding of such animals.
In addition, pythons are also very popular pets, especially large pythons such as pythons, African pythons and American pythons.
However, raising pythons is not an easy task, and owners not only need to have enough knowledge and experience to provide them with appropriate breeding environment and food to ensure their health, but also take measures to prevent pythons from escaping so as not to affect others.
Finally, pythons are also important in culture and religion. In some tribes, pythons are considered a symbol of strength and wisdom, so pythons have an important place in many ancient civilizations.
The author's opinion
In short, pythons are an important and complex animal, and their existence not only poses a certain threat to other creatures, but also maintains the balance of natural ecology. So in order to protect the diversity of pythons and other species, we need to manage and protect them effectively.
So such a huge snake, if we accidentally encounter us, how should we deal with it?
What to do if you encounter a python?
When encountering a python in the wild first, the most important thing is to stay calm and sane. Because although pythons may pose a threat to humans, most pythons do not actively attack humans.
So if you can avoid contact, the best way is not to provoke them and let them leave on their own. If contact cannot be avoided, we should take the following measures to protect ourselves.
First of all, try to keep a distance from the python, do not actively approach the python, which may provoke them, at this time do not make threatening movements or sounds to the python, because this may make them panic and attack.
Also do not use your hands or other objects to drive away pythons, as this may also make them feel uneasy and pose a danger to us.
At this time, it is necessary to maintain a certain vigilance, carefully observe the movement of the python, and understand its location and direction, so as to find an opportunity to escape, or take action if necessary.
To build a residence in an area where pythons are frequented, be sure to take certain measures near the house to prevent pythons from entering the house.
First of all, it is necessary to exclude as many animals that pythons may prey, such as rats and mosquitoes, as well as places where pythons may live, such as wet and shady places.
Before going out, make sure that the doors and windows in the home are closed to prevent pythons from entering the room. At the same time, you can also spray snake repellent or place snake repellent lights in your home, these tools can effectively repel pythons.
If you spot a python near your home, contact a wildlife protection professional and ask them to help catch the python and move it to a wildlife sanctuary.
Do not touch any pythons unless necessary, and you should pay attention to your own safety to ensure that you are not harmed by them. If you are unfortunately bitten by a python, you should seek medical help immediately.
At the same time, when handling pythons, do not try to catch or kill all pythons, as pythons are an important ecological balancing force. Unless they really pose a threat, you should try to avoid killing them.
Also do not rush to use poison or other harmful chemicals to kill pythons, as this may cause pollution and harm to nearby plants and animals.
Do not release captured pythons to unfamiliar places, as this may disrupt the local ecological balance. When handling pythons, you should follow local laws and regulations and seek professional help.
In conclusion, when encountering a python, you should first remain calm and sane, and you can take appropriate measures to protect yourself and those around you while ensuring that you will not be harmed.
At the same time, we should also respect the life of pythons and avoid causing unnecessary harm to them. If you can't handle it on your own, you should seek the help of a professional to solve the problem.
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