Titanoboa, New York Displays Huge Monster Snake, World's Largest
New York City's Grand Central Station has agreed to host a replica of the world's largest snake to ever live - the titanoboa.
The 48-foot-long, 2,500-pound replica is about the size of a school bus, and arrives at the commuter hub Thursday. The reptile display is a part of the promotion of the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
Smithsonian spokesperson Randall Kremer said the titanoboa will "scare the daylights out of people" as part of an effort to "communicate science to a lot of people."
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The snake id thought to have lived alongside the dinosaurs. The titanoboa's remains were discovered in a Columbian coal mine in 2005. The snake is related to the boa constrictor but lived in water and hunted like an anaconda, experts claim. The giant snakes are likely to have preyed on fish, other titanoboas, and crocodiles.
A Paleocene scientist Jonathan Bloch revealed that the titanoboa was actually larger than the snake in the film "Anaconda," while speaking with Yahoo News.
"This is really an example where reality and the past have exceeded the imaginations of Hollywood."
For many years, researchers believed the 20-foot python was the largest snake known to man.
If the snake slithered by you today it would be waist-high.
The D.C. exhibit opens March 30, and will make its way around the country beginning Fall 2013. A two-hour television special, "Titanoboa: Monster Snake," will air on the Smithsonian Channel April 1.
On Twitter, Grand Central commuters are already commenting on the station's newest addition.
"The snake from 'Anaconda' is not even close to the size of the Titanboa…THANK GOD IT'S DEAD," wrote Joey.
Twitter user Greg joked, "Titanoboa! see where 'titan' & 'boa' fit in. The 'o' must be short for OMGaHugeFreakinSnakeAtGrandCentrail!"
"Coolness," posted Todd. "Giant snake verified. Sorry nature, but I'm glad this doesn't exist anymore."
