Page 117 - (DK) I Can’t Believe It! 2

IT CAN’T BE TRUE! 115

Titanoboa’s coloring is
unknown. The pattern on
this illustration is based
on the anaconda, one of the
biggest snakes alive today.

The middle of the trunk
was much wider than
the ends of the snake.
At its widest, it was
3 ft (90 cm) in diameter.

The
thickest part
of Titanoboa’s
body was half
the height of
a man.

FAST FACTS
The longest snakes alive today are little
more than half the length of Titanoboa.
Titanoboa weighed more than
1 tonne (1 ton)—as much as a King cobra 18 ft (5.5 m)
small family car and big enough to
tackle giant turtles and crocodiles. Indian python 21 ft (6.4 m)
Experts have argued that it grew
so big because the world was
warmer 60 million years ago, and Green anaconda 29 ft (9 m)
reptiles today are usually bigger
in warmer climates. Reticulated python 33 ft (10 m)

US_114_115_309600_ICBT_Titanoboa.indd 115 19/12/17 2:35 pm