Conversation that got me wondering...

[xFenrir]

I was talking to one of the band members that plays at my work (on the weekends we have a jazz band that plays ) and we got to talking about my snakes. He said that he was down in Panama back in the '50's, when his group/platoon/something came across a giant snake, about 11-13 feet long and about as big around as a football. Neither of us had any idea what kind of snake it could've been, especially since he's forgotten what the snake's pattern looked like.

Any theories on what snake it could've been? Just from the size I thought maybe Burmese but I don't believe there are Burms in Panama. xD In fact I have no idea what large snake species live there. Red Tail Boa perhaps?

[purplemuffin]

I can tell you from experience, most 11 foot long monster snakes people say they found turn out to be maybe 3 ft TOPS!! LOL, just saying! But it could be a RTB or something

[Jonas@Balls2TheWall]

There are several species of boa's that live in Panama. There is also the bushmaster which grows very large. Without a pattern or even color it would be hard to tell what he saw.

[xFenrir]

I highly doubt it was a bushmaster, as he said they picked it up. Pretty sure he'd remember what it was because the chance of someone getting bitten probably would've been pretty high.
I showed him a picture of my BCI and he said that it "kinda looked like that". He doesn't remember a "red tail" though.

[Jonas@Balls2TheWall]

Yea picking up a bushmaster would not end good.

[mkeller13]

I know Anacondas are native to Central America. Maybe yellow or green anaconda?

[purplemuffin]

A lot of the wild BCIs down there have very black tails, it could have just been a very wild looking normal one.

[Skiploder]

I know Anacondas are native to Central America. Maybe yellow or green anaconda?

I thought Anacondas were South American - Venezuela/Trinidad being about as north as they go.

[Ezekiel285]

I thought Anacondas were South American - Venezuela/Trinidad being about as north as they go.

That's what i thought too, didn't know how far north they went though. But yea I don't think they are in central america.

[xFenrir]

I've ruled out Rectics, African Rocks and any sort of venomous snake, and I really doubt it was an anaconda so I'm guessing either it was a nice-sized, unusually colored BCC or possibly a Burmese that got away. It would be possible wouldn't it, since they thrive in Florida, if a Burm got loose in Central America it should fare pretty well?