PHOTO: Viper Dogfish Caught off Coast of Taiwan

Viper Dogfish - Sputnik, Int'l.

First discovered in 1986 and not revealed to the public until 1990, the Viper Dogfish (or Trigonognathus kabeyai) is a rare, deep-sea shark rarely seen by Man.  Not much is known about the species, but it reportedly poses little threat to humans despite its fearsome appearance, as crustaceans and bony fishes comprise its diet.

Earth Touch News revealed the find on January 13^th, 2018, and the report was picked-up by Sputnik International.  Specimen have been acquired off the coasts of Japan and Hawaii, as well.

© The Weirding, 2018

Things What Done Fell from the Sky: Shower of Serpents

The southern part of Memphis, TN was covered by a shower of living snakes measuring from 12-18" in length one day in early 1877. While the official explanation was that the snakes had been lifted into the air and later dropped by hurricane winds, experts admitted they had no idea where such an abundance of serpents would be found in one place.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Floridians Fear "Super-Serpent"

Recently, authorities say five African rock pythons were seen in a three-day period, leading experts to wonder if the species has established itself in the area, and stirring local fears of a "super-snake." The African rock python is known to eat goats and even children! One of the captured pythons was 14' long and another was 31" in circumference! Of the five, two escaped and one was bearing eggs (however, I do not know if it was one of those captured).

Florida already has a breeding population of several thousand Burmese pythons, which also grow to incredible lengths - males grow to 21' or more. Authorities fear the two could interbreed, creating a "super snake." However, the African rock python is more aggressive and "meaner" than the Burmese python and both are predators. While crocodiles and alligators may pursue the species, African rock pythons are known to stalk and eat even those!

While fears of a "super snake" may be a little overblown, pythons are a keystone species, just like the crocodile.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Giant Snake Hoax

According to police, a man who "discovered" a 14' python actually owns the snake and made-up the story; they have charged Justin Matthews for non-emergency 911 calls and "maintaining captive wildlife in an unsafe manner." Matthews, a professional trapper, said he pulled the stunt to heighten awareness of irresponsible pet ownership. Isn't that ironic? Don't ya think?

Matthews stuck his big, white python in the tight drain after purchasing it from a pet dealer. Residents reported seeing the snake over the following months. Justin Matthews called 911 and requested help, then "captured" the 14' snake, telling onlookers he was performing a "public service." The drain was a few feet away from an elementary school.

Florida has developed a serious issue with large, non-native snakes. The climate is conducive to the reptiles, and so many have been released into the region by irresponsible pet owners, that hunters are now legally allowed to trap them.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Trouser Snake

A man in Taipei felt a sharp pain in his groin after sitting down on the toilet. He looked down to see a long, black and yellow snake attached to his penis! While experts identified the snake as a rat snake - a non-poisonous variety - the man was still hospitalized for minor injuries. Once doctors are certain his wounds are not infected ("A snake's mouth isn't always clean," the unidentified doctor overseeing the case told reporters), he will be released.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Man Bites Snake - Now This is News!

A Kenyan man bit the tail of a python to escape its deadly grasp, but there's oh so much more to this wonderful story:

Ben Nyaumbe said he "stepped on a spongy thing" and was suddenly in a fight for his life. The python, which he surmised had been preying on livestock, coiled around his leg, starting what would be a three-hour fight between man and snake.

Nyaumbe's tenacity and quick-thinking are all that saved him: he put his shirt over the serpent's head to keep it from swallowing him and got to his cellphone when the python released its grip at some point. When police arrived, they wanted to shoot the snake, but were afraid of injuring Nyaumbe.

Finally, Nyaumbe's boss and several villagers tied a rope to the snake and brought both serpent and entangled victim crashing to the ground. There, they managed to help Ben Nyaumbe free himself.

The single most interesting thing about this case is that the python dragged Ben Nyaumbe into a tree! Time and again, eyewitnesses have made claims to pythons swallowing children, even adults, as well as to the fact that truly large serpents exist. "Experts" have dismissed all such stories and explained-away most photographic evidence as trickery or illusion. According to most Western world "experts," no python grows large enough to swallow a man whole, regardless of the persistence of such stories, regardless of photographic evidence.

The Superintendent of the Malindi District where this occurred, Peter Katam, told the BBC, "If it wasn't for the villagers and officers who helped him, he would have been swallowed by the snake over the Easter holiday.

"It's very mysterious, this ability to lift the man onto the tree. I've never heard of this before."

Police took the python to a sanctuary, but it escaped. The village is now in fear of the beast, for which they say they "are still seriously looking." Supt. Katam added, "We want to arrest the snake."

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

All These Em-Effin' Snakes on This Em-Effin' Plane!

In a scene straight out of a cheesy horror movie, an Australian flight was grounded when a shipment of baby pythons got loose in the cargo bay.  The snakes, just 6" long, can grow up to a yard in length.  They were being shipped to Melbourne in an aerated plastic bag inside a foam container with holes punched in it.  No one knows how they escaped.

Passengers were put on other flights and the plane was fumigated.  The bodies of the pythons have yet to be found...

(I smell a sequel!)

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Vodka With a Bite!

A Texan rancher has been arrested for selling vodka spiked with rattlesnake!

"Bayou Bob" Popplewell has run Brazos River Rattlesnake Ranch for over 20 years. He raises and sells rattlesnakes and turtles and has never had a problem. But his latest business endeavor, consisting of a rattlesnake bottled in the cheapest vodka available -- which he refers to as "an ancient Asian elixir" -- has landed him in court.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission found 429 bottles of "snake vodka," and one bottle of "snake tequila." Selling at nearly $25.00/bottle, that's nearly $10k worth of booze! Unfortunately, Bayou Bob forgot to get his liquor license. He contends the drinks, which he says are super-sweet and comparable to cough syrup, are actually a medicinal mixture which many Asians regard as "almost a spiritual thing." And an Asian studies lecturer agrees.

Apparently, the "real" version of snake liquor involves only the snake's bladder, and is thought to improve eyesight and sexual performance -- "the ancient version of Viagra," according to the lecturer.

But the Texas ABC says, "He knows what he's doing." Bayou Bob faces up to one year in jail and a hefty fine. 

Being in Texas, however, if Bayou Bob is found to be functionally retarded, he will be executed.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008