What are the Largest Snakes in the World?

The longest snakes in the world are the Reticulated Python, a medium-build python that lives in the rainforests of Southeast Asia, and the Green Anaconda of the Amazon. One source (Oliver 1958 and Gilmore and Murphy 1993) reported a Green Anaconda with a length of 11.5 meters (37.7 ft), but its validity has been questioned and the value is impossible to verify. Some biologists dispute this, putting the maximum anaconda length at 9.5 meters (31.1 ft). Either way, the Green Anaconda is still probably the heaviest of the world's snakes, with the largest known specimens weighing over 50 kg (110 lb).

All reports of anacondas larger than 10 meters in length should be regarded with caution. Anaconda snakes of as long as 15-18 m (50-60 ft) were reported sporadically since the colonization of South America by Europeans, but these claims are highly uncertain. Since the early 20th century, the Wildlife Conservation Society has offered a $50,000 USD (US Dollars) award for any anaconda over 9.1 meters (30 ft) in length, but this prize has never been collected. Still, the prospect of giant snakes has fueled the public imagination for decades, as evidenced by movies such as Anaconda.

The longest well-documented snake is the Reticulated Python from Southeast Asia. The longest specimen was 10.7 meters (35.1 ft), and this value is agreed upon by biologists. This is the only snake absolutely confirmed to be over 10 meters in length. Large reticulated pythons are voracious predators. As a rule of thumb, these snakes can swallow anything less than 1/4 their own length, and up to their own weight. As such, some reticulated pythons have been observed eating viverrids (e.g., civets and binturongs), primates, and even one relatively sickly 43 kg (95 lb) Sun Bear, which took two and a half months to digest.

The Green Anaconda holds the title for the largest snake in the world by mass. Native to South America, it can grow up to 30 feet in length and weigh as much as 550 pounds, although average sizes tend to be smaller. These formidable constrictors are found in swamps, marshes, and slow-moving streams, primarily in the Amazon and Orinoco basins.

The Reticulated Python is the world's longest snake species. Specimens have been known to reach lengths of over 20 feet, with the longest ever recorded being 32 feet, according to the Guinness World Records. However, such extreme lengths are rare, and most reticulated pythons are much shorter, with average lengths of 10 to 20 feet.

Large snakes like anacondas and pythons can be dangerous due to their size and strength, particularly in their natural habitat. However, attacks on humans are rare. These snakes typically avoid human interaction and are not venomous. Fatalities are uncommon and usually result from improper handling or encroachment into the snake's territory.

The largest snakes in the world, such as the Green Anaconda and the Reticulated Python, are found in tropical regions. Anacondas inhabit South America's Amazon and Orinoco basins, while Reticulated Pythons are native to Southeast Asia, including countries like Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines. They thrive in warm, humid environments close to water sources.

The diet of the world's largest snakes consists mainly of large prey due to their size. Green Anacondas feed on wild pigs, deer, birds, turtles, capybaras, caimans, and even jaguars. Reticulated Pythons consume similarly sized animals, including pigs, primates, and occasionally deer. They are ambush predators, using their immense power to constrict and suffocate their prey before consumption.

Researchers measure large snakes using a combination of methods, including direct measurement for smaller specimens and estimation techniques for larger, more dangerous individuals. They often sedate the snakes or use safe handling techniques to ensure accurate measurements. Verification comes from peer-reviewed scientific studies or credible organizations like the Guinness World Records for exceptional cases.