Giant Snake-Human Relationships

Abstract

Human relationships with giant snakes are complex and evolving in unusual directions. Four or five of the largest snakes are human predators. Humans, however, are predators on the snakes, hunting them for food and skins and used in the leather industry. During much, if not all, of human history, we were sympatric with several of the most massive snakes, and these animals undoubtedly were selection factors in our evolution. They preyed upon us, we killed and ate them, and they were one of our competitors for much of the same protein. Today, the relationship has evolved, while we continue to hunt snakes for skins, we also keep them as pets and most surprisingly breed them for unusual color patterns and keep them as living works of art. Unfortunately, we have allowed them to escape into North America and become invasive. They have altered the species composition of natural communities and threaten endangered species. Recently, science has realized giant snake physiology may hold the key to controlling diabetes.