Giant 17 Ft Burmese Python Carrying a Record 87 Eggs
Researchers at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the University of Florida campus examine the internal anatomy of the largest Burmese python found in Florida to date. The 17-foot-7-inch snake weighed 164 pounds and carried 87 eggs in its oviducts, a state record. Photo: University of Florida photo by Kristen Grace / Florida Museum of Natural History

A 17-feet and 7-inch long female Burmese python carrying a record 87 eggs was found in Florida Everglades, making it the largest snake ever found in the state. 

According to the University of Florida, scientists at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the campus examined the internal anatomy of 74.5 kilogram (164.5-pound) snake on Friday as a part of their long-term government research project.

"This thing is monstrous, it's about a foot wide," said Florida Museum herpetology collection manager Kenneth Krysko. "It means these snakes are surviving a long time in the wild, there's nothing stopping them and the native wildlife are in trouble."

The giant python was found out in Everglades National Park and was brought to the museum as a part of a project for managing the state's invasive Burmese python problem.

Following a scientific investigation, the reptile will be sent for display at the museum for about five years, after which the snake will be returned for display at the national park, the University said.

According to Krysko, the snake was in very good health when discovered and its stomach consisted of some feathers that will be sent to ornithologists for identification. These pythons are known for killing and eating native birds, deer, bobcats and other large animals.

"A 17.5-foot snake could eat anything it wants. By learning what this animal has been eating and its reproductive status, it will hopefully give us insight into how to potentially manage other wild Burmese pythons in the future. It also highlights the actual problem, which is invasive species," Krysko said.

Giant 17 Ft Burmese Python Carrying a Record 87 Eggs
Researchers at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the University of Florida campus prepare to examine the internal anatomy of a 17-foot-7-inch Burmese python, the largest found in Florida to date, on Aug. 10, 2012. The more than 164-pound snake carried a state record 87 eggs in its oviducts. The Burmese python is native to Southeast Asia and has been established and reproducing as an invasive species in Florida since 2000. Photo: University of Florida photo by Kristen Grace / Florida Museum of Natural History

Keeping in mind the rapid increase in population, the state government recently made laws prohibiting people from owning these pythons as pets or transporting them across other states without any federal permit.

However, the state residents have been given permission to hunt pythons in certain wildlife management areas during established seasons, but they should have a required permit and hunting license for that.

"They were here 25 years ago, but in very low numbers and it was difficult to find one because of their cryptic behavior," Krysko said. "Now, you can go out to the Everglades nearly any day of the week and find a Burmese python. We've found 14 in a single day."

Giant 17 Ft Burmese Python Carrying a Record 87 Eggs
University of Florida herpetologist Kenneth Krysko displays eggs found in the largest Burmese python from Florida to date. Florida Museum of Natural History researchers examined the internal anatomy of the 17-foot-7-inch snake Friday and found a state record 87 eggs in the python’s oviducts. Photo: University of Florida photo by Kristen Grace/Florida Museum of Natural History

According to a park wildlife biologist, Skip Snow, the study of the snake's biology is very important and crucial for understanding how to limit the future spread of invasive species.

"I think one of the important facts about this animal is its reproductive capability," Snow said. "There are not many records of how many eggs a large female snake carries in the wild. This shows they're a really reproductive animal, which aids in their invasiveness."

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