Giant Rattlesnake Photograph

Outline:
Email claims that a 9 foot, 1 inch rattlesnake that weighed 97 lbs. was caught in the American state of Missouri


Status:
Unsubstantiated

Detailed Analysis:
According to this email, an attached photograph of a very large rattlesnake was taken in the American state of Missouri. The message claims that the giant rattler weighed in at a whopping 97 lbs and was 9 feet 1 inch in length. The message even comes with a handy recipe for deep-fried rattlesnake.

Like a number of other email forwards that feature exceptionably large or unusual animals, this one has mutated a number of times as subsequent recipients have altered the location details to claim regional ownership of the beast. While this version is set in Missouri, alternative versions have been set in various parts of Texas, North Dakota and other areas of the US.

In reality, the true origin of the photograph is currently unclear. There is no reason to doubt the authenticity of the photograph itself, but exactly where and under what circumstances the photograph was taken is perhaps known only to those who were there at the time.

Furthermore, the description of the snake most probably exaggerates the vital statistics of the critter. The snake in the photograph appears to be a Western Diamondback rattlesnake. These snakes are known to grow to more than 7 feet in length, but a 9 foot, 1 inch specimen would be exceedingly rare. Moreover, even if it was over 9 feet in length it is difficult to believe that it would weigh as much as 97 lbs. In his well-respected book about the life and habits of rattlesnakes, Laurence Monroe Klauber notes:

By the length-weight relationship (useful only for rattlers in the wild) a seven-foot rattler would weigh about fifteen pounds, and an eight-footer about 23 pounds.

Thus, even a nine-footer would be unlikely to reach 97 pounds. Also, it seems difficult to believe that the man in the photograph could so easily lift a 97 pound object on the end of a pole.

Finally, like the famous Camel Spiders in Iraq photographs, the critter’s closer proximity to the camera in relation to the man holding it up skews the perspective and most probably makes it appear significantly larger than it really is.

In spite of these probable exaggerations, the snake in the photograph is still one massive rattler!

Last updated: 24th September 2007
First published: 24th September 2007
By Brett M. Christensen
About Hoax-Slayer

References
WESTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE
Rattlesnakes: Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind
Camel Spiders in Iraq Hoax Email