The Giant Congo Snake

The Giant Congo Snake was photographed in 1959 by a colonel in the Belgian air force. While it looks like any ordinary snake found in Congo, the photograph was actually taken from the air. According to Colonel Remy Van Lierde, the snake was at least 50 feet in length, which would make it the largest snake ever discovered anywhere. However, we have no concrete reason to believe that such a snake even exists, as it would likely crumble under its own weight and eventually die out.

It’s still not entirely out of the realm of possibility, though, as the largest snakes – anacondas – can grow to be as long as 30 feet, which isn’t as far off. Furthermore, we frequently find new species that were assumed to be extinct. While some have speculated that the snake may not have been as massive as it appears in the photograph, especially in comparison to the surrounding trees, others have suggested that the colonel may have simply underestimated the size of a gigantic African rock python or something.

• Year: 1959