Tales of Giant Snakes: A Historical Natural History of Anacondas and Pythons (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Robert W. Henderson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Murphy (Field Museum, Chicago) and Henderson (curator of herpetology, Milwaukee Museum) scrutinize hundreds of published encounters between large snakes and humans in an attempt to learn more about how these animals live in their natural habitat. Comparing what is known about captive pythons and anacondas with the information reported, the authors strive to separate truth from exaggeration. Excerpted accounts fill the pages and include newspaper articles, adventure writings, and reports of early explorers. Through these accounts, the reader shares the wonder and terror of wild encounters with these tremendous reptiles. One's reaction is not diminished by the authors' correcting of inaccuracies and exaggerations. They make clear that large snakes are interesting in a zoo but awesome in their native environment. Highly recommended for general collections.?Frank Reiser, Nassau Community Coll., Garden City, N.Y.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Tales of Giant Snakes, examines the natural history of four species of snakes known to exceed 20 feet in length. Based on the writings of explorers, missionaries, scientists, and adventurers over the past 200 years, the authors have pieced together exciting and informative glimpses into the lives of these legless giants. Included are chapters on where they are found (often around human habitations), what they eat (includes crocodiles, deer, and cows), how big do they really get (a controversial subject), attacks on humans (rare), exploitation by humans for their skins, and conservation. The book is illustrated with photos, historical lithographs, maps, and graphs.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 221 pages
• Publisher: Krieger Pub. Co. (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0894649957
• ISBN-13: 978-0894649950
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #954,486 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A delightful debunking of the myths about the biggest snakes, July 12, 1999

By	Vince Tolve ([e-mail]) (Chicago, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

Hollywood has not been kind to the long constrictor. In its view, they drop out of trees or rise up out of rivers, big as buses and determined to squeeze the guts out of that hapless human being who has wandered within reach of their treacherous or lecherous (depending upon the sex of the victim) coils. Though big snakes have, in fact, never been much interested in people, people have always been fascinated by them. Sensational stories of villagers squashed and gobbled up by monstrous serpents fill the accounts of explorers and early "naturalists." For all the satisfying fear they engender in far removed readers, such stories do the snakes injustice and divert attention from their remarkable morphology and living habits. These authors are scientists, but they are also literate and obviously snake enthusiasts. So while they stick to the facts, they write clearly and engagingly in defense of remarkable animals who, when it comes to encounters with humans, are much more sinned against than sinning. There are chapters about feeding and breeding of course. But there is also a serious review of the extraordinary stories that impute lengths of sixty or more feet to anacondas and pythons. By the time the myths have been detonated, the terrified lay reader is ready for an honest answer to the question, "How long can a snake grow?" Read the book to find out. But I will say it is longer than some buses.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Facts and Nothing But the Facts, May 27, 1998

By A Customer

I purchased this book on a whim, knowing of the authors' credibility. When I got in to it, I realized it was going to be more than I expected. This work discredits one by one all the ridiculous length claims on snakes from around the world. Instead of these (sometimes outrageous) claims, the authors provide you with THE FACTS AND NOTHING BUT THE FACTS!

It is about time herpers spread the honest truth about these species to the general public, rather than the typical "My python should hit thirty-five feet because that's the maximum size!".

This book is an educational experience for ANYONE with an interest in these species or herps in general. I wholeheartedly recommend it!

The human attack accounts are pretty eye-opening, too!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Tales!, August 6, 2009

By	Craig Keen "PalmMan" (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I purchased this book for my son and he has enjoyed it just as much as he thought he would.