For many years Guinness recognized the Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) as the longest living snake with a record length of 42.5 feet. This record was based an unconfirmed measurement. The snake was shot, measured, then regained consciousness and escaped. In the early 1990's Guinness dropped this record and began to recognize the Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus) as the longest living snake with a record length 32' 9". The record snake was shoot near a mining camp on the north coast of Celebes, Indonesia in 1912. It was measuring by civil engineers using a surveying tape. There is only one other Guinness recognized case of a snake specimen exceeding 30 feet. A specimen of the African Rock Python (Python sabae) has been documented at 32'2". This specimen was shoot near a school on the Ivory Coast of Africa in 1932. This animal doubled the average length of adult Rock Pythons. Fossil records have indicated Rock Pythons in Africa that were over 50' long. This sub species is believed to be extinct, however, the 1932 specimen may well have been the last of the its kind or possibly a hybrid from the ancient monster and the Rock Pythons of today
