Very Interesting monitor video...

[Red tail catking]

So do you think I was better off sticking with my 12' answer? And thanks for seting me strait.

 

[varanio]

Okay...I'm gonna argue here just a tad for arguments sake...

I've been poking around the web a little today for info on croc monitors (theres been so much talk of them lately)....and I have not seen anywhere that listed an authenticated record of a 15 ft croc mon. Its all just reports and rumors. In fact, in a few places, the largest ever recorded one was barely 10 ft. So needless to say, an 18 footer is nigh mythlogical.

Now I'm not saying its absolutely impossible for these varanids to get that large. But how Im seeing it, this is just like the proposed 30 ft anacondas that have never seem to have been captured. So I guess my point is, unless there's some bonafide evidence that indicates otherwise, I don't think anyone should be spouting off that this species will absolutely always reach a length of 15 ft.

Not every specimen of a said species will reach its maximum length. There are so many places on this planet that are yet unexplored that new species are being discovered on a somewhat regular basis. Not too many scientists will get all the way in to habitats that are part of New Guinea. Its a harsh enviornment with alot of space yet undiscovered. Same goes for giant anacondas, still alot of amazon to still be discovered. The Congo samething, forests in interior indonesia samething. A theory could be that the giants could be in these remote areas pushing smaller and less dominant animals outward. Long lives full of experience have perhaps taught these animals that humans mean danger. Playing devils advocate here, and it could hold truth until every square mile is explored and this theory can be laid to rest. There is only so much a book could tell you unless you get a little dirty and do some of the exploring yourself

 

[Red tail catking]

Not every specimen of a said species will reach its maximum length. There are so many places on this planet that are yet unexplored that new species are being discovered on a somewhat regular basis. Not too many scientists will get all the way in to habitats that are part of New Guinea. Its a harsh enviornment with alot of space yet undiscovered. Same goes for giant anacondas, still alot of amazon to still be discovered. The Congo samething, forests in interior indonesia samething. A theory could be that the giants could be in these remote areas pushing smaller and less dominant animals outward. Long lives full of experience have perhaps taught these animals that humans mean danger. Playing devils advocate here, and it could hold truth until every square mile is explored and this theory can be laid to rest. There is only so much a book could tell you unless you get a little dirty and do some of the exploring yourself

So what your saying is that there is a possibility that there could be a 15' monitor out there?

 

[koop171]

Not very impressive I don't like the vids where they are all like "oh he can do this really fast" then 1:30 later the animal did it.

Nice habitat it's got though

 

[varanio]

So what your saying is that there is a possibility that there could be a 15' monitor out there?

Possibly, but Im not making the trip to interior New Guinea to find out.

 

[Red tail catking]

I bet if Steve Irwin was still hear, he would do it.

 

[Ophiuchus]

Note that I never said it wasn't possible at all...I only implied that if it was, it would be a rare monster. If 15 footers are really as common as dirt in their native range as everyone says, why hasn't anyone caught one? If we can capture 17 ft crocodiles and find new species of frog less than an inch long....surely the means of capturing a 15 monitor is not beyond our grasp.

Anyway, Varanio kinda agreed with my point when he made this statement:

Not every specimen of a said species will reach its maximum length.

Likewise, I think the world record for the world's tallest person ever was like 11+ ft.....but how many people do you know that are even 7 ft tall? Not many, I imagine.

 

[Red tail catking]

I guess all we can do for now is just sit and wait.

 

[Ophiuchus]

Lol.....Sometimes I think I was secretly born in Missouri, aka the "show me" state. I'm so skeptical, and Im just not one to buy into fish tales. Years ago, someone came into the petstore I worked at and said they had, not one, but two 8 ft ball pythons. I was like, "hmm ya don't say?" and thinking to myself, a 6 ft BP pops up every blue moon, and this redneck comes in sayin hes got two 8 footers?

Sorry, bucko, but I'll believe it when I see it. I'll stick to what I know for now.

 

[varanio]

Note that I never said it wasn't possible at all...I only implied that if it was, it would be a rare monster. If 15 footers are really as common as dirt in their native range as everyone says, why hasn't anyone caught one? If we can capture 17 ft crocodiles and find new species of frog less than an inch long....surely the means of capturing a 15 monitor is not beyond our grasp.

Anyway, Varanio kinda agreed with my point when he made this statement:



Likewise, I think the world record for the world's tallest person ever was like 11+ ft.....but how many people do you know that are even 7 ft tall? Not many, I imagine.

I never really disagreed with you, and I never said that you pertained that a 15 footer would never happen. Genetics, diet, stress levels, all play a role in the way an animal grows, habitat is another. The more pristine all these things are the better of a chance it has at attaining these massive lengths.