
It can be found in much of sub-Saharan Africa.

While this snake is native to Asia, it has become an invasive species in Florida.Īs the name suggests, this python is native to Africa. The longest on record was around 20 feet long. This is another large member of the python family, reaching lengths of 13 feet or more. The green anaconda still gets heavier than the reticulated python. This makes it the longest snake in the world, but certainly not the most massive. The largest specimen on record was 32 feet long. This large constrictor from Southeast Asia can reach adult lengths of 20 feet or more. But there are some other large serpents in the world. The green anaconda is the world's largest snake, in terms of mass. A female may give birth to 50 or more baby snakes.

They will tangle up into a "breeding ball," sometimes staying like that for weeks. The green anaconda is often found near waterĭuring the mating season, several males will often compete for the same female. And it will also ambush animals that come in for a drink, such as deer and tapir. It will readily eat fish, caiman and other animals that dwell in the water. The anaconda also preys on animals that can be found in or near the water. Swimming in water is much easier than crawling on land, as far as gravity is concerned. If you were as large as the world's largest snake, you would probably spend a lot of time in water too. On average, a full-grown yellow anaconda will be 10 - 12 feet long.Īnother interesting fact about the green anaconda is that it spends much of its life in or near water. The lesser-known yellow anaconda ( Eunectes notaeus) does not get nearly as large as its green cousin. But there are actually two anaconda species in South America. When most people talk about "the anaconda," they are usually referring to the green anaconda, the world's largest snake. They sit (or slither) at the top of their food chain. When they are fully grown, these snakes do not have any natural predators. Here are some interesting facts about Eunectes murinus: Interesting Facts About the Green Anaconda It can weigh well over 200 pounds, with a diameter of more than 15 inches. But in terms of sheer mass and bodyweight, no other snake comes close to the green anaconda. The reticulated python can grow slightly longer than the anaconda. Nobody has claimed this prize.Īn adult anaconda cruising the riverbank for foodīut it's not the length that makes it the world's largest snake. For many years, the Wildlife Conservation Society has offered a large cash reward for anyone who can document a specimen longer than 30 feet. But there has never been a documented case of a green anaconda growing beyond 30 feet. Over the years, there have been several captive specimens (in zoos) longer than 25 feet, or 7.6 meters. So we have to take such claims with a grain of salt. But no snakes this large have ever been documented, much less donated to a zoo or museum. For example, I saw a National Geographic article that claimed the green anaconda can weigh up to 500 pounds (227 kilograms).

Just how big does this snake get? That depends on whom you ask. Photo taken by Lutz Dirksen.įirst thing's first. Picture of a green anaconda in the wild, in Brazil. In this article, I'll try to set the record straight about the world's largest snake, the green anaconda. So there's a good chance you've encountered quite a few myths and misconceptions over the years. Unless you study reptiles, most of what you know about the green anaconda probably comes from popular culture (movies, stories, legends, etc.). While the reticulated python can grow slightly longer than this, the green anaconda is clearly the world's largest snake in terms of mass. An adult green anaconda can reach lengths of 25 feet (7.6 meters) and can weigh more than 200 pounds (91 kg). This massive snake can be found throughout the northern part of South America. The world's largest snake is the green anaconda ( Eunectes murinus).

Squamata > Boidae > Green Anaconda Green Anaconda - World's Largest Snake
