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RE: Need help identifying a snake
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by Snakeman1982 on December 15, 2004
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The species is definitely Porthidium arcosae. A species with a relatively small distribution (comletely confined to western Ecuador) and little known natural history.
Snakes don't chase and kill people. The guide going out of his way to kill a snake put you all at a greater risk than if you would have left it alone. There is not a snake in the world that can outrun a human so if you see one then walk away from it and you will be fine. Your group had a 100% guarantee of not getting bit until they started killing them.
Everyone knows what a snake looks like. If you aren't knowledgable enough to identify the dangerous species then stay far away enough from all of them. And I take hundreds of photographs of venomous snakes, you don't have to kill them to get a good shot. In fact, venomous viper species are probably the easiest to photograph.
That is sad that your guide who should be showing you the local wildlife doesn't care or know enough about the animals to appreciate them. I think that it should be required for these guides to understand the concepts of ecosystem health rather than tourist dollars. He said it was "deadly" because he wanted to excite you. If he is so smart about snakes then how come he didn't tell you what species it was? Although not impossible, it would have been difficult for that snake to kill a person, though he certainly put you all in that potential danger zone.
Archeology is an interesting profession and one that I admire. But as a scientist we should all draw our conclusions from facts and not local hearsay. As a scientist you should know basic things around you. One being that animals are not as horrible as everyone claims they are. Sharks don't actively seek out humans to eat nor are gorillas viscious killers of the jungle. Unrealistic talltales should be quickly overlooked by scientists (or people with common sense) and should not be believed. We live in a time where science has disproved so many things, and there is plenty of research done on snakes to disprove anything that guide believes.
I am going to the jungles of South America in two days (I'll be there for almost a month conducting field research). I would be a fool to think that the animals there should just stay out of my way while I am there, except the ones I go there to see. The rainforest isn't your house, it is theirs. Every species has its part in the ecosystem and they all belong there. If you go on an ecotour, research trip, or a camping trip in the U.S. you should go there to experience everything in those ecosystems, including the venomous snakes, not just the things you think are beautiful. Missing anything in a forest is tragic.
If a dangerous animal is in your house then you have a decent reason to kill it but if you are in the forest then you should enjoy it and walk away. And it should have good reason to kill you because you don't belong there. I am going to a region with one of the highest known densities of Jaguars and I would be a fool to shoot each one that I see to avoid the chance of being bitten. Fear is not something that people should make decisions with, nor should you defend someone who is making those decisions for you. You would be surprised at how much you can change someones mind who is trying to kill something for fun.
Since that species is almost endemic to that particular national park in Ecuador, I am sure that what the guide did was illegal. I hope someone reports him.
Good luck with archeology,
Robert
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RE: Need help identifying a snake
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by timberrattlesnake89 on December 15, 2004
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Al,
Jermey was just saying that just to be cute.
I personally agree we should not attack him. But like Chuck said it was very poor jugment. I think it is like killing a rabbit just to show others how cute it is. I am aganist any senseless killing of animals. I think that it would of been smarter to just show the first picture only and not tell the fate of the animals.
I think Thomas is right. People should deffinately not be threatening anyone what so ever or making up fables.
What kills me is when humans go out in the wilderness and see a snake and kill it for no reason. The animal did not come to you. You came to it. That is why I have said to my mother if I get kill by a bear or something not to get it killed. I know the danger of the wilderness and I will take it. If I get bit by anything I never take it out on the animal. I was asking for it and it was my fault. If I die doing something I love then so be it. I will also would die to save wildlife which is my passion. I love animals ten times more than any person.
Phillip
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RE: Need help identifying a snake
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by bush_viper17 on December 15, 2004
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I agree. If I got killed by an animal I would much rather have people laugh at me than go out of there way to give the animals bad names. I just got upset seeing the snakes with a stick poked through there heads. I bet that would hurt having a stick jammed through your head.
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RE: Need help identifying a snake
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by biff on December 15, 2004
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At the risk of prolonging this thread, which is NOT what I'm trying to do...
I personally believe the original poster had no malicious intentions, but sincerely wanted to know the type of snake involved...though his methodology may have been less than magspifalous (a made up word)...
let's face it, if he were a troll or looking for trouble he would have come here, posted the pictures, and given us the verbal finger...like has occurred on other threads since deleted...and then vanished or just taunted...
my opinion,
Steve
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RE: Need help identifying a snake
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Anonymous post on December 17, 2004
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Well Belryan, What did you expect??
~Mr.Drama~ sorry, im not beating around the bush.
Never stand up for what you believe. I mean never.
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