Columbus Zoo gets daughter of late longest snake

COLUMBUS (AP) — An Ohio zoo says a new resident has big snakeskin shoes to fill.

Weeks after announcing the death of the longest snake in captivity, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium said today it has acquired the python's smaller daughter.

The 24-foot, 18-year-old snake named Fluffy died Oct. 27 of an apparent tumor. The zoo's new snake is 12 years old, and 6 feet shorter than her mother.

The zoo says in a statement that the daughter arrived Tuesday from the same private breeder who sold Fluffy to the zoo in 2007.

Fluffy was about the length of a moving van and had held the Guinness World Record as the longest snake living in captivity. She also drew large crowds.

The zoo says it plans to ask the public to help name the new snake.