Raymond Ditmars: The Man Who Hunted the World's Largest Viper

Raymond Lee Ditmars (June 22, 1876 – November 12, 1942) was an American herpetologist and author best known for his work with snakes, including the hunt for the world's largest viper, the king cobra.

Early Life and Career

Ditmars was born in Newark, New Jersey, and developed an interest in reptiles and amphibians at a young age. He began collecting snakes and other reptiles as a child, and by the age of 12, he had a collection of over 100 specimens.

Bushmaster: Raymond Ditmars and the Hunt for the World's Largest Viper

by Dan Eatherley

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In 1894, Ditmars joined the staff of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the museum's curator of reptiles and amphibians in 1906.

The Hunt for the King Cobra

In 1912, Ditmars embarked on an expedition to Southeast Asia in search of the king cobra, the world's largest venomous snake. The king cobra is a shy and elusive snake, and Ditmars spent months searching for a specimen.

Finally, in 1913, Ditmars found a king cobra in the jungles of Malaysia. The snake was over 18 feet long and weighed over 20 pounds. Ditmars captured the snake and brought it back to the American Museum of Natural History, where it became a major attraction.

Later Career

Ditmars continued to work at the American Museum of Natural History until his death in 1942. During his career, he published over 30 books and articles on reptiles and amphibians. He also gave numerous lectures and presentations on his work.

Ditmars was a pioneer in the field of herpetology. His work helped to increase public awareness of reptiles and amphibians, and he played a major role in the development of modern herpetology.

Legacy

Raymond Ditmars is considered one of the greatest herpetologists of all time. His work has had a lasting impact on the field of herpetology, and he continues to inspire herpetologists around the world.

The Raymond Ditmars Memorial Fund was established in 1943 to support herpetological research. The fund has provided grants to support a wide range of herpetological research projects, including studies on the king cobra.

Image Alt Attributes

* **Raymond Ditmars (1):** A black-and-white photo of Raymond Ditmars holding a large snake. * **Raymond Ditmars (2):** A color photo of Raymond Ditmars standing next to a king cobra. * **King Cobra:** A photo of a king cobra coiled up on a tree branch.

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Raymond Ditmars: The Man Who Hunted the World's Largest Viper and Revolutionized Herpetology

Bushmaster: Raymond Ditmars and the Hunt for the World's Largest Viper

by Dan Eatherley

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	8963 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	312 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE