Here are the 10 largest snakes alive on Earth, ranked by length and weight:
1. Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus)
- Length: Can grow up to 33 feet (10 meters), although most are around 20 feet (6 meters).
- Weight: Can exceed 350 pounds (160 kg).
- Habitat: Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Indonesia, and parts of Malaysia.
The reticulated python is the longest snake in the world and can be found in forests, grasslands, and near water sources.
2. Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus)
- Length: Can grow up to 30 feet (9 meters), though 20-25 feet (6-7.5 meters) is more typical.
- Weight: Can weigh over 500 pounds (227 kg).
- Habitat: South America, mainly in the Amazon and Orinoco basins.
The green anaconda is the heaviest snake on Earth, known for its immense girth and aquatic lifestyle.
3. Burmese Python (Python bivittatus)
- Length: Can reach lengths of up to 23 feet (7 meters).
- Weight: Can weigh over 200 pounds (90 kg).
- Habitat: Native to Southeast Asia, particularly Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, and parts of India.
Burmese pythons are one of the largest constrictors, commonly kept as exotic pets, though they can be dangerous due to their size.
4. Indian Python (Python molurus)
- Length: Typically around 20 feet (6 meters).
- Weight: Can weigh up to 200 pounds (90 kg).
- Habitat: Found in India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Southeast Asia.
Indian pythons are closely related to Burmese pythons but are generally a little smaller.
5. African Rock Python (Python sebae)
- Length: Can grow up to 20 feet (6 meters).
- Weight: Can reach up to 250 pounds (113 kg).
- Habitat: Found throughout sub-Saharan Africa in savannas, forests, and grasslands.
The African rock python is one of Africa’s largest snakes, known for its powerful constriction abilities.
6. Amethystine Python (Morelia amethistina)
- Length: Can reach lengths of up to 30 feet (9 meters), though 16-20 feet (5-6 meters) is more common.
- Weight: Can weigh up to 100 pounds (45 kg).
- Habitat: Found in Northern Australia, New Guinea, and surrounding islands.
The amethystine python is the longest species of snake in Australia and is known for its distinctive purple and blue coloration.
7. Angolan Python (Python anchietae)
- Length: Can grow up to 13 feet (4 meters).
- Weight: Can weigh around 100 pounds (45 kg).
- Habitat: Found in Angola, southwestern Africa.
The Angolan python is a lesser-known species but is still sizable and a formidable constrictor.
8. King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)
- Length: Can reach up to 18 feet (5.5 meters).
- Weight: Typically about 20 pounds (9 kg).
- Habitat: Found in South and Southeast Asia, including India, Thailand, and Indonesia.
While not the longest snake, the king cobra is the longest venomous snake in the world, and it’s feared for its potent neurotoxic venom.
9. Reticulated Python (Andaman Islands Subspecies) (Malayopython reticulatus)
- Length: These snakes can reach up to 25 feet (7.6 meters).
- Weight: Generally lighter than mainland reticulated pythons, around 150 pounds (68 kg).
- Habitat: Found specifically in the Andaman Islands.
A variation of the reticulated python, this subspecies is similarly large but generally smaller than those on the mainland.
10. Timor Python (Python timoriensis)
- Length: Typically reaches around 10 feet (3 meters).
- Weight: Can weigh up to 50 pounds (23 kg).
- Habitat: Native to the islands of Timor, Indonesia.
While not as large as some of the other pythons, the Timor python is still a large and powerful constrictor compared to other snakes in its region.
These massive snakes are awe-inspiring due to their size, strength, and sometimes their dangerous potential in the wild. They mainly use constriction to subdue their prey, though some species, like the king cobra, rely on venom.