A decade ago, Alex Bentley, a young American scientist, traveled to the small Ecuadorean town of Mera to study an elusive species of snake known as the “X.” During his visit, a local park ranger mentioned an old man who had an extraordinary collection of snakes. Arriving at a shack on the old man’s property, Bentley was greeted by a sign announcing admission prices of $1 for adults and 50 cents for children. Anthurium flowers and tropical evergreen plants lined the outside. He paid the dollar