Giant Caribbean Snake Sighted

Alsophis antiguae (pictured above) is a harmless grey-brown four-foot long snake, found only on Antigua, a small Caribbean island, thus it carries the common name the Antigua Racer Snake. It is considered the rarest snake in the world, with approximately 200 existing on a small island off the coast of Antigua.

But is there a bigger unknown snake on a nearby island?

Breaking news seems to indicate as much:

The Department of Environment [on the Caribbean’s Cayman Islands] said it was called to investigate a report of a large snake in the vicinity of Newlands recently after a resident said they had seen a snake that appeared to be some ten feet in length. (My emphasis – LC.)

However, the sighting was made during the night and they were unable to make out any distinctive markings on the animal.

A visit to the area yielded no sign of the mysterious creature, however, the Department remains on alert for any future sightings.

“We have had several reports of large exotic snakes over the years, they have invariably turned out to be our local Racer,” said Dr Mat Cottam, Terrestrial Ecologist with the Department of Environment.

“Racers can reach a length of four or five feet, but like all of our local snakes, they do not present any danger to people. Nonetheless, pet snakes have escaped in the past, and there is always a first time for something new to appear. We will continue to take this report seriously until further information becomes available.”

When asked whether such a snake might pose a threat to children in the area, Dr Cottam responded that this was a difficult question to answer in light of the fact that the size and species of the snake had not been confirmed.

“Until we are able to determine for sure what this creature is, and how large it is, it would be wise to err on the side of caution. Snakes do not generally go out of their way to attack people, and are best left alone. No snake should be approached, unless you are absolutely familiar with the species,” he warned.

Source: Saturday, November 4, 2006 "Newlands snake sighting remains a mystery " Cayman Net News Cayman Islands

Loren Coleman About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct). Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015. Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.

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