Here's an interesting natural history note written by my father when he was stationed in North Queensland during World War 2, about the intact skeleton of a large Amethystine python or scrub python he found while exploring the rainforests near the Barron River on the Atherton Tablelands, North Queensland in 1943. It also had the intact skeleton of a wallaby inside its rib cage. Simalia Amethistina is the largest species of Australian snake and the legendery Australian herpetologist, Eric Worrell claimed a giant twenty-five foot specimen was found and measured by his friend, Louis Robichaux near Cairns. I have included the quote about the giant scrub python from his book ‘Song of the Snake’ below. Following is a typed up version of my father’s note on the naturally articulated intact skeleton of the scub python.
Note by Richard F. Hardcastle Large Python on Atherton Tablelands
“I think it was about 1943. I was in the army and camped near the Barron River, on the Atherton Tablelands. While exploring the local rainforest, I came upon a python skeleton lying on an old timber track. It was completely intact, with the ribs lying open about 15 inchers across. With curves in the skeleton the length would have been almost 18 feet. Between the ribs was a complete wallaby skeleton.
R.Hardcastle”
R.Hardcastle”
''The largest reliable record is one measured by my friend Louis Robichaux. Louis taped this monster near Cairns at twenty-five feet. It was as thick as a man's thigh." - Eric Worrell
Photo of Richard F. Hardcastle during world war two and his note on the large Python on Atherton Tablelands
Old photo of a large 'scrub' python from Newspaper article
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