Treats primarily with the anaconda (Eunectes murinus); the Indian (Python molurus); Reticulated (Python reticulata); and African (Python sebae) pythons.

Boss Snakes: Stories and Sightings of Giant Snakes in North America offers a comprehensive collection of tales involving an often overlooked folkloric creature. While recognizing that hoaxes and misidentifications exist, there are stories that might just point to larger-than-expected serpents. Includes a brief guide to our larger native species (and new invasive species) and a state-by-state listing of hundreds of historical and contemporary stories.

One of the few unquestioned greats of twentieth-century science, Linus Pauling was the only person to receive two unshared Nobel Prizes-one in chemistry, for deciphering the quantum physics of large molecules, and one in peace, for helping to end nuclear bomb testing. His brilliance was allied with a certain stubbornness, and when he died in 1994, at the age of 93, he was embroiled in controversy regarding his advocacy of vitamin C as a treatment for cancer. Based on thirty years of interviews, this masterful biography is filled with insights into the life and work of this complex, fascinating man.

Snakes, particularly exceptionally large constricting snakes, have haunted the human brain for a millennium. They appear to be responsible for our excellent vision and are providing insight into diabetes. Fascination with snakes has also drawn many to keep them as pets. This book explores what we know about the largest snakes.

"Discovery Channel junkie" meets "weekend warrior" in this true story of a terrified desk dweller who sets out to capture the world's longest snake. Out of funding, acclaimed poet Robert Twigger was surfing the Internet for poetry prizes when he came upon a cash reward being offered for the capture of a live snake in excess of thirty feet. Established in 1912 by President Roosevelt following the capture of a twenty-eight-foot reticulated python, the reward had gone unclaimed for eighty-six years, boosting the $1,000 prize to $50,000. About to be married but craving one last adventure, the scrawny Oxford poet sets off for the Far East without either hesitation or serious strategy. No matter that his closest encounter with a live snake was at the reptile house at the Howlett Zoo or that he suffers from ophicliophobia, a fear nearly universal among humans. Twigger is determined to win the moneyand to guarantee that his last escapade as a bachelor will be an unforgettable one. Part travelogue, part classic adventure, Big Snake grapples with the mythic and symbolic status of one of the world's most fascinating yet dreaded creatures, which are generally the victims of bad press. Trekking through South-East Asia with a band of headhunters, Twigger stalks pythons in the sewers of Kuala Lumpur, is forced to survive on greasy civet cat (a relative of the skunk) deep in the jungle, attempts to date the most beautiful woman in the world, encounters the cobweb hunters of Buru, and evaluates the legacy of Alfred Russel Wallace ("the true discoverer of evolution"). Ultimately, after close encounters with snakes both petite though venomous and harmless yet gargantuan, Twigger eventually comes face-to-face with the big one-but the final capture is not quite what he had in mind.

A brief description of the physical characteristics and habits of a variety of reptiles throughout the world.

Summary of this story: Milo, a young mammoth, begins an amazing trip through an ancient landscape with tall trees and wide grasslands. Milo, who is always looking for new things to do, follows a strange path that looks like it was made by a huge snake writhing through the ground. Milo can't resist the temptation, so he follows the trail, even though it means he has to leave his herd for a short time. As he goes deeper into the bush, the area around him gets darker and more mysterious. Milo's senses get better when he pays close attention to what's going on around him. He can hear the leaves rustling and sounds of many kinds coming from far away. In the middle of all these sounds, he hears a slow crawling that gives him chills. Milo will not let anything stop him from getting what he wants, and he is very determined. He finally gets to the end of the trail, where he finds a prehistoric giant snake curled up in the middle of the area. Milo and the snake had a brief moment when they both realized that they were still interested in the amazing things in their old world. They live as animals who know a lot about the old world in which they live. This is what keeps them together. Milo shows the snake respect by letting it go back to its curled-up state. Milo takes a few steps back and says, "Thanks," but he also realizes that the conversation went well. He has not only found an amazing new species, but he has also learned more about himself in the world of the past. He will never forget the experience, and it will always remind him of how many opportunities are out there for people who are brave enough to try new things. Milo's choice to go into the unknown and briefly leave his herd sets the stage for what happens next. Milo, the main character, goes on an adventure in the wilds of the past, followed by a huge snake. He decides to follow the trail without fear and keep going, which leads him to the scary animal in the end. The book talks about things like interest, bravery, friendship, and the bond that all living things have that can't be broken. Through Milo's adventures, the book shows how important it is to find and enjoy the world's treasures, to protect nature's fragile balance, and to remember the prehistoric realm's long past. When Milo and his herd are in trouble, they stick together to protect themselves from an old giant snake. This shows how much power can be found when people work together. As the story comes to a happy end, we learn more about Milo's place in old society. The reader is told of the treasures that are out there for those who are brave enough to look for them and of the spirit of the world that has always been there. Here's how the story starts: Once upon a time, Milo, a young mammoth, lived with his family in a place with tall trees and lots of grass. Milo was a curious mammoth who liked to explore and find out more about their ancient world. He had a wicked look in his eye and an attitude that made him want to try new things and go on adventures. Milo felt like his group was his family. They went on their journey together, eating the lush fields and drinking from the clear, cold watering holes. Milo's mother, Matilda, was a kind and smart woman who always kept a close eye on her rowdy calf. Max, Milo's dad, was a strong, protective figure who looked out for the well-being of the whole group. Even though they were safe and happy with their group, Milo was very interested in what was going on. He wanted to know everything about the world outside of where he lived. He was drawn to go into the unknown by the stories the wind told and the sounds of other animals in the distance. Milo was driving on a strange road one day when the sun made everything look golden. It was huge and twisting, like a huge snake had gone through the ground. Milo's eyes got bigger as he looked at the strange road in front of him. The long, deep footprints in the dirt looked like the path of a huge snake. As the giant got closer to the cave, its heart raced with a mix of excitement and worry. Who or what could have left such a big mark that is easy to spot? Milo stood at the side of the trail and looked at the tracks that went off into the distance. When he saw the marks, which were much bigger than any he had ever seen before, he was both amazed and scared. He knew right away that this wasn't just any animal. They could only have been made by something so big and strong that it could leave such big marks. Milo's eyes got big when he saw a huge snake with shiny scales come out of the darkness. It was twice as big as the rest of Milo's herd. It had sharp teeth and eyes that looked like they were on fire. When he saw it, the mammoth had no question that it was a huge snake from the past that had been told about. Milo's heart was racing with fear, but he kept his cool during the whole thing. He was well aware of how important it was to protect his sheep from this terrible beast. Milo blew a horn that could be heard throughout the countryside to call his herd together and tell them to get ready for battle. The sound of the trumpet could be heard all over the country. Milo's horn made an amazing sound that could be heard all over the prehistoric landscape. This made Milo's herd move quickly. The mammoths came out of the forests and grasslands one by one, their huge bodies coming together to make a single front. They knew that Milo's call gave them a limited amount of time and that there was danger ahead. Milo was surrounded by the herd, which made a barrier to protect him by raising their tusks high and standing up straight. Their cries matched the determination in their eyes and rang out with a mix of boldness and unity. They were ready to fight the prehistoric big serpent to protect their ecosystem and the people they cared about from the huge danger it posed. Milo moved forward; his eyes fixed on the huge animal that stood in front of them in the huge gap. Fear and energy were pumping through his body, making his heartbeat fast and hard in his chest. He knew that the fight that was coming would test their bravery and resolve, but he was determined to keep his herd safe no matter what. The huge prehistoric snake slithered forward. Its moves were graceful, but their power was scary. Its scales shone in the sun, which showed how bad the situation was. Milo's spine tingled when he saw the creature's fiery red eyes and sharp teeth, but he kept his cool and drew strength from his herd's steady support. The mammoths rushed forward with a loud roar, shaking the ground fiercely as their huge bodies moved forward. They blew huge horns and lifted their trunks into the air to make a rallying call that could be heard all over the countryside. It showed that they were sure they wanted to keep their family and home safe. During the fight, the old great serpent moved incredibly fast. Its sharp teeth stuck out in front of it, ready to tear the thick hides of the mammoths. The group, on the other hand, stood their ground and relied on their size and strength to win. Their huge tusks turned into dangerous weapons, which helped them fight off the snake's attack. Milo went to fight against the huge snake, sure that he would win. The battlefield was filled with the sound of his tusks hitting the snake's teeth. The mammoth's huge size and overwhelming strength met the snake's attack, and each blow showed the mammoth's determination and unwavering will to win. Over time, the fight turned into a dance of strength and strategy. The mammoths fought bravely and in unison, and their movements made it impossible for the enemies to get through. They charged, blew horns, and hit, not flinching in the face of the huge snake's relentless attack. On the other hand, the snake turned out to be a very scary enemy because it was smart and quick. It curled up and moved slowly before hitting with great accuracy and speed. The mammoths knew that their opponent was much stronger than them, but they still wouldn't give up. They fought hard and didn't give up. Their friendship as herders gave them the strength to keep going when things got hard. As the most important part of the battle got closer, Milo's drive grew stronger. He ran forward with all his heart, aiming his tusks at the weak spot in the snake's middle. When he struck the prehistoric giant snake, he yelled in pain and anger. Milo's huge blow slowed the snake down and made it back away. When the chance came, the other mammoths got together and attacked the huge creature in an organized way. As they swung their trunks and hit their tusks against each other, the earth shook from the weight of their fight. The prehistoric giant snake fought with a fierceness that came from nature, but the mammoths fought just as hard and were just as determined to win. Milo took the lead and moved forward because he wanted to protect his group. He tried to break down the snake's defenses with each hit of his big tusks. As he hit him with punch after punch, the ground started to shake. Every step he took showed how strong his desire was. On the other hand, the huge snake from ancient times was a dangerous foe. It responded by twisting and swirling its body in a beautiful dance of speed and strength. Its sharp teeth barely got through the thick hides of the mammoths, but the fact that they did shows how deadly it was. As the war seemed to last for days, the sun and the moon took turns watching the epic fight. Every second that went by, the huge prehistoric snake got weaker, and its hits, which were once very powerful, became less so. The mammoths stayed strong and didn't give up because they loved their surroundings and each other. Milo used all of the strength he still had to finally hit the snake hard. On the battlefield, people were determined and never gave up. The mammoths fought nonstop, and because they were so big and had strong wills, they were a terrible opponent for the huge ancient snake. They were sure that they would protect not only their country but also each other. As the fight went on, the prehistoric huge snake, which had been strong and dangerous, started to show signs of weariness. Its blows were not as strong or accurate as they used to be. As the snake moved more slowly and slowly, its sharp teeth started to lose their deadly edge. As soon as the mammoths learned they were in charge, they moved faster. Milo, the strong head of the herd, woke them up with a loud trumpet call. The scream resounded all around us like a trumpet call, strong and sure. It served as a rallying cry, getting his friends fired up and pushing them to keep going and win.

Robert Twigger goes to the Far East in search of the world's longest snake - 'echoes of Gerald Durrell's trips crossed with Redmond O'Hanlon's foray into the heart of Borneo . . . a fantastic book' DAILY MAIL About to be married, Robert Twigger decides on his last great adventure as a bachelor. Surfing the net, he discovers the Roosevelt Prize - worth $50,000 - for the capture of a live 30 foot python. Armed only with a tin of High Toast Snuff (deadly if sniffed by a snake), Twigger sets off into the remote jungles of Indonesia in search of his prey. Along the way, he investigates the legendarily beautiful women of Sulawesi, treads in Nabokov's footsteps, looks for giant snakes beneath the sewers of Kuala Lumpur, and spends time with a variety of snake catchers and cults. After being caught up in anti-Chinese riots and surviving on greasy civet cat in the jungle, Twigger finally comes face to face with the big one; but the final capture is not quite what he had in mind.

An illustrated manual describing various species of snakes and how they may be successfully kept as pets.

This book describes a number of giant snakes, including boas and pythons, where they live, what they eat, and how they hunt. See More Readers Level 2.