The biggest snakes in the world can be found in the boa and python families. The biggest snake is likely the green anaconda.
This snake can reach a length of 39 feet. The reticulated python is considered the second biggest snake. The Burmese python is another massive snake.
The biggest snake in North America is the Cuban boa which reaches an adult length of 12 ft. The eastern indigo snake is the largest snake in the United States and reaches a length of 7 ft.
The biggest snake in Africa is the African rock python and it reaches a length of 24.6 ft. The biggest snake in Australia is the Australian scrub python. The biggest snake in South America is the green anaconda. The biggest snake in Asia is the Burmese python.
Table of Contents
Biggest Snakes In The World
1. Green Anaconda
- Family: Boidae
- Binomial Nomenclature: Eunectes murinus
- Average Adult Length: 19.7 ft (6 m)
- Adult Length: 9.8 to 39.4 ft (3 to 12 m)
- Adult Mass: 250 kg (550.6 lb)
- Lifespan: 10 years in the wild, 30 years in captivity
- Geographic Range: Northern South America
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
- Where to Purchase Online: morphmarket.com
Green anacondas are considered the biggest snakes in the world with individuals that reach lengths of 12 meters and weights of 250 kg. The maximum length and weight of the species can be difficult to assert.
Adult females are generally larger than adult males. Females reach an average adult length of 6 meters, while males reach an average adult length of 6 meters. The size of the spurs of the cloacal region is used to determine the sex of the anaconda with males having larger spurs.
The dorsum (upper body) of the green anaconda is greenish olive and the ventrum (underside) is yellow. There are brown blotches on the dorsum. The dorsal scales are small and smooth and the ventral scales are narrow. The skin is loose and soft.
The species is endemic to South America and occurs in the Llanos, Amazonia, and east of the Andes in Columbia, Trinidad, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, the Guianas, and Venezuela.
The green anaconda is an aquatic snake.
2. Reticulated Python
- Family: Pythonidae
- Binomial Nomenclature: Malayopython reticulatus or Python reticulatus
- Average Adult Length: 10.2 ft (3.1 m)
- Adult Length: 5.3 to 29.5 ft (1.6 to 9 m)
- Average Adult Mass: 330.4 lb (150 kg)
- Adult Mass: 220.3 to 594.7 lb (100 to 270 kg)
- Lifespan: 15 to 22 years in the wild, 18 to 27 years in captivity
- Geographic Range: Southeastern Asia, Indo-Pacific islands west of New Guinea
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
- Where to Purchase Online: morphmarket.com
The reticulated python is a huge snake with an average adult length of 10.2 ft and an average adult mass of 330 lb or 150 kg. This is a massive snake with some individuals reaching lengths of 29.5 ft and weights of 595 lb. This is the largest snake endemic to Asia.
The dorsum of this python is yellow to brown. It has a reticulated net pattern on the back. This pattern gives the species its common name. On the back of the python are black x’s which repeat and create a net-like pattern.
The geographic range of the species extends through most of Southeast Asia. The range includes the Philippines, Indonesia, the Indo-Australian Archipelago, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thailand, Myanmar, and Bangladesh through the Nicobar Islands.
Reticulated pythons inhabit grasslands, woodlands, and rainforests. It is usually close to a waterbody such as a stream, river, or lake. While terrestrial, they are good swimmers and are able to swim far into the sea.
3. Burmese Python
- Family: Pythonidae (sometimes considered a subfamily of Boidae)
- Binomial Nomenclature: Python bivittatus (previously considered part of P. molurus as Python molurus bivittatus)
- Adult Length: 16 ft (5 meters)
- Adult Mass: 137 kg (high)
- Lifespan: 27 years
- Geographic Range: Southeastern Asia (lower half of Asia)
- Conservation Status: Vulnerable
- Where to Purchase Online: morphmarket.com
This is one of the biggest snakes in the world. Burmese pythons reach an average length of about 5 meters or 16 feet. Females are larger than males. They are much stockier and heavier. They are also longer.
The largest Burmese python on record, known as ‘Baby’, reached a length of 18 ft 10 inches and a weight of 182.8 kg or 403 lb. The minimum length of an adult Burmese python is 7 ft 9 inches (2.5 m). Dwarf forms exist in Sulawesi, Bali, and Java (in Indonesia). These dwarf forms reach an average adult length of 6 ft 7 in (2 meters) and a maximum length of 8 ft 2 in (2.5 meters).
Burmese pythons are endemic to southeastern Asia. Its geographic range includes Indonesia (Sulawesi, Java, and Bali), Viet Nam, Thailand, Nepal, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, India (Pradesh and Arunachal), Hong Kong, Mainland China (Fujian. Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Sichuan, Yunnan), Cambodia, and Bangladesh.
The species has been introduced to Florida in the United States.
4. Central African Rock Python
- Family: Pythonidae
- Binomial Nomenclature: Python sebae
- Adult Length: 13.1 to 24.6 ft (4 to 7.5 m)
- Adult Mass: 96.9 to 200.4 lb (44 to 91 kg)
- Lifespan: 18 to 30 years
- Geographic Range: Sub-Saharan Africa
- Conservation Status: Near Threatened
- Where to Purchase Online: morphmarket.com
African rock pythons are the biggest snakes in Africa. The African rock pythons reach a length of 3 to 5 meters. The largest on record grew to a length of 7.5 meters.
African rock pythons can reach a weight of 44 to 55 kg. Although a huge python, the heads are quite small. The heads are triangular with irregular scales that are brownish-gray to black with two bands that go from the back of the head to the snout.
The dorsum is gray-green, gray-brown, or yellowish with dark-colored blotches. The underside is white with black specks. The tail tip has two dark bands. The species is more brightly marked as juveniles.
The species is endemic to northern and central sub-Saharan Africa. The range extends as far south as northern Angola to the west and northern Tanzania to the east. The northern limit was the range is Mauritania to the west and Eritrea to the east.
The species is generally found in moist open savannahs or evergreen forests. They are generally found near waterbodies such as lakes and rivers.
5. Southern African Rock Python
- Family: Pythonidae
- Binomial Nomenclature: Python natalensis
- Adult Length: 9 ft 2 in. to 13 ft 1 in. (2.8 to 4 m)
- Adult Mass: 53.4 kg (118 lb), high
- Lifespan: 30 years in captivity
- Geographic Range: Southern Africa
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
The Southern African rock is the largest snake in Southern Africa. The species generally reach a length of 4 meters although individuals are capable of reaching a length of 6 meters.
The Southern African rock python is close in appearance to the Central African rock python. Their colors and patterns are similar although duller.
The Southern African rock python is a bulky snake with small shining scales. There are two dull stripes from the nose to the back of the head. The ventrum is whitish with splotches.
The species is endemic to Southern Africa with its northern limit being south-central Kenya to southern Congo. The range extends to western South Africa.
Within its range, the species inhabits woodlands and savannahs.
6. Indian Python
- Family: Pythonidae
- Binomial Nomenclature: Python molurus
- Adult Length: 8 ft 10 in to 10 ft 10 in (2.7 to 3.3 m)
- Maximum Adult Mass: 200 lb (91 kg)
- Lifespan: 15.8 years
- Geographic Range: Mostly India
- Conservation Status: Near Threatened
This species used to include Burmese pythons. However, Burmese pythons are considered a separate species now.
Burmese pythons are larger than Indian pythons. With that said, the Indian python is still quite large with individuals reaching a maximum length of 21 ft (6.54 ft) and a maximum weight of 200 lb (91 kg).
The Indian python looks similar to the Burmese python. However, unlike the Burmese python, the Indian python has tan and light brown rectangles over a cream background. They are lighter in color.
The species is mostly endemic to India. They are also known in parts of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.
7. Amethystine Python
- Family: Pythonidae
- Binomial Nomenclature: Simalia amethistina or Morelia amethistina
- Adult Length: 20 ft (6 meters)
- Adult Mass: 60 lb (27 kg)
- Geographic Range: Northeastern Australia and Papua
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
The Australian population is considered the heaviest and longest snakes in Australia and are the largest of the amethystine pythons.
The Australian population is sometimes considered a separate species with the binomial name – Australiasis kinghorni, Morelia kinghorni, or Simalia kinghorni. The Australian population known as the Australian scrub python usually reaches a snout-to-vent length of 7.4 ft (2.3 m) for females and 4.4 ft (1.3 m) for males.
The species is endemic to Papua New Guinea, Papua in Indonesia, and the Torres Strait Islands & the Cape York Peninsula (Northeastern Queensland) in Australia.
8. Yellow Anaconda
- Family: Boidae
- Binomial Nomenclature: Eunectes notaeus
- Adult Length: 7.9 to 15.1 ft (2.4 to 4.6 m)
- Adult Mass: 66.1 to 88.1 lb (30 to 40 kg)
- Lifespan: 15 to 23 years
- Geographic Range: southern South America
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
- Where to Purchase Online: morphmarket.com
The yellow anaconda is the second largest anaconda there is. Only the green anaconda is larger.
The yellow anaconda can reach a length of 15 ft. the average length is actually 12.1 ft. The average weight of this anaconda is 30 kg or 66 lb although individuals can reach 88 lb or 40 kg. As with other anacondas, the females are larger than the males.
The yellow anaconda is yellowish-green in color with large dark blotches or dark bands over its body. It derives its common name from its color. The coloration of the yellow anaconda allows it to hide in forest vegetation and in murky waterbodies.
The species is endemic to Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, and Argentina. It is semiaquatic.
9. Boa Constrictor
- Family: Boidae
- Binomial Nomenclature: Boa constrictor
- Adult Length: 3.3 to 13.1 ft (1 to 4 m)
- Adult Mass: 60 pounds
- Lifespan: 25 to 35 years
- Geographic Range: South America
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
- Where to Purchase Online: morphmarket.com
The boa constrictor is quite a large snake. It may be smaller than anacondas but it can reach a length of 13 ft. The boa constrictor also reaches a weight of 60 pounds, although there are individuals that can weigh more than 100 pounds. The boa comes in a wide variety of colorations and patterns. Individuals can be yellow, red, green, or tan with cryptic patterns of circles, diamonds, ovals, and jagged lines.
The boa constrictor is endemic to most of South America. The only South American countries that it is absent from are Uruguay and Chile. The species also occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.
10. Cuban Tree Boa
- Family: Boidae
- Binomial Nomenclature: Chilabothrus angulifer
- Adult Length: 12 ft (3.7 m)
- Adult Mass: 66 lb (30 kg)
- Lifespan: 30 years
- Geographic Range: Cuba
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
The Cuban boa is the largest snake in Cuba and the West Indies. The Cuban boa can reach lengths of 16 ft and weights of over 66 pounds. The largest Cuban boa on record measured 88 pounds and 18.5 ft. On average, the length of the Cuban boa is 12 ft.
The background color of the species is tan to yellow. There are several dark markings on the dorsum.
The Cuban boa occurs in Cuba. it occurs in all the Cuban provinces but Las Tunas. The Cuban boa is a semi-arboreal snake and is a fairly good climber.
It inhabits thorn forests, coastal scrub, semi-deciduous forests, and evergreen forests.
11. Beni Anaconda
- Family: Boidae
- Binomial Nomenclature: Eunectes beniensis
- Adult Length: 11 to 14 ft (3.3 to 4.4 meters)
- Adult Mass: 77 lb (35 kg)
- Geographic Range: northeastern Bolivia
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
The Beni anaconda reaches a length of 14 ft and a weight of 77 pounds. While originally thought to be a hybrid of yellow anaconda and green anaconda, the Beni anaconda is a distinct species.
The Beni anaconda occurs in northeastern Bolivia in Pando, Santa Cruz, and Beni. Beni anaconda may also be endemic to Brazil. The species inhibit Amazonian rainforests and flooded savannas.
12. Dark-Spotted Anaconda
- Family: Boidae
- Binomial Nomenclature: Eunectes deschauenseei
- Adult Female Snout-to-Vent Length: 47 to 91 inches (1.2 to 2.3 m)
- Adult Male Snout-to-Vent Length: 51 to 83 inches (1.3 to 2.1 m)
- Geographic Range: French Guiana, Brazil (Pará and Amapá)
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
The dark-spotted anaconda reaches a snout-to-vent length of about 47 to 91 inches. Females are generally larger than males.
The dark-spotted anaconda occurs in Brazil (Pará and Amapá) and French Guiana. The dark-spotted anaconda lives in swampy and marshy areas of the Amazonian savannah.
13. Papuan Olive Python
- Family: Pythonidae
- Binomial Nomenclature: Apodora papuana
- Adult Length: 13 ft (4 m)
- Adult Mass: 50 lb (22.5 kilograms)
- Geographic Range: Papua New Guinea, Indonesia (Papua)
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
The Papuan olive python grows to an average length of 13 ft although they are capable of reaching a length of 16 ft. They aren’t as heavy as other pythons on this list.
They weigh about 50 lb or 22.5 kg. There is little information on the Papuan olive python. They are known to be able to change color although this phenomenon is not fully completed.
The Papuan olive python is usually olive green in color, and although their color ranges from mustard yellow to black, they are dark olive when older. The ventrum of the species is lighter in color.
The Papuan olive python is endemic to Papua New Guinea and Indonesian New Guinea. In Indonesia, they are endemic to Misool in West Papua and Biak in Papua Province. In Papua New Guinea, they are endemic to Fergusson Island and Karkar Island in Milne Bay Province.
The Papuan olive python occurs in savanna woodlands, lowland rainforests, and lowland monsoons.
Biggest Snakes By Family
Family Boidae
15. Green Anaconda
- Family: Boidae
- Binomial Nomenclature: Eunectes murinus
- Average Adult Length: 19.7 ft (6 m)
- Adult Length: 9.8 to 39.4 ft (3 to 12 m)
- Adult Mass: 250 kg (550.6 lb)
- Lifespan: 10 years in the wild, 30 years in captivity
- Geographic Range: Northern South America
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
This is the largest snake in the world. This is also the largest snake in the Family Boidae. (Refer to the section on Green Anaconda.)
Family Colubridae
15. Keeled Rat Snake
- Binomial Nomenclature: Ptyas carinata
- Adult Length: 4 to 9 inches
- Geographic Range: central Viet Nam to Indonesia
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
This is probably the biggest colubrid snake in the world. The keeled rat snake reaches a length of 9 inches although the recorded maximum length is 13 ft.
The keeled rat snake is endemic to southeastern Asia from central Vietnam, and Thailand through Cambodia southward through Indonesia to the Philippines.
Within its geographic range, the keeled rat snake occurs in moist forests, montane forests, dry forests, forest edges, scrublands, rice paddies, plantations, and other cultivated areas.
16. Eastern Indigo Snake
- Binomial Nomenclature: Drymarchon couperi
- Adult Length: 60 to 84 inches (152.4 to 213.4 cm)
- Adult Mass: 0.49 to 1.06 oz (14 to 30 g)
- Lifespan: 16 to 25 years
- Geographic Range: southeastern United States
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
This is the second largest colubrid and the largest snake in the United States. This snake reaches a length of 60 to 84 inches (5 to 7 ft).
The longest eastern indigo snake on record is 9.2 ft (280.4 cm). The average length is 68.78 inches. The eastern indigo snake reaches a weight of 0.49 to 1.06 oz (14 to 30 g). The average weight is 0.85 oz.
They are black with cream or red areas on the throat, chin, and occasionally the cheek.
The eastern indigo snake has an average longevity of 23 years in captivity and 17 years in the wild. The typical lifespan in captivity is 16 to 25 years and 15 to 21 years in the wild.
The eastern indigo snake is endemic to Florida, Georgia, southeastern Mississippi, southern South Carolina, and southern Alabama.
Family Elapidae
17. King Cobra
- Binomial Nomenclature: Ophiophagus hannah
- Adult Length: 10.4 to 13.1 ft (3.18 to 4 m)
- Adult Mass: 11 lb to 22 lb (5 to10 kg)
- Lifespan: 17.1 years in captivity
- Geographic Range: South and Southeast Asia
- Conservation Status: Vulnerable
The king cobra is one of the biggest snakes in the world and the biggest cobra. It is the biggest snake of the Family Elapidae.
Males reach a weight of 22 lb (10 kg) and females reach a weight of 11 lb (5 kg). Males reach a length of 12.3 ft and females reach a length of 9 ft. The largest recorded king cobra was 18 ft 4 in (5.59 m).
The species is endemic to South to Southeastern Asia from Nepal and India through south China, the Philippines, and Indonesia to Malaysia and Borneo.
The species mostly occur in pristine forests.
Family Leptotyphlopidae
18. Giant Blind Snake
- Binomial Nomenclature: Rena maxima
- Adult Snout to Vent Length: 13 inches (33 cm)
- Geographic Range: central Mexico
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
The giant blind snake is the largest slender blind snake. These snakes are tiny and among the world’s smallest snakes.
The giant blind snake isn’t very large when compared to other snakes but it is large for a slender blind snake. It reaches a length of 13 inches from snout to vent.
Family Lamprophiidae
19. Cape File Snake
- Binomial Nomenclature: Limaformosa capensis
- Adult Length: 3 ft 11 in (120 cm)
- Geographic Range: Central to Southern Africa
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
This is the biggest snake of the family Lamprophiidae. It is dark in color from brownish-grey to grey with the occasional purple-brown to dark olive.
The underside is cream in color. This snake reaches an average length of about 3 ft 11 inches although the maximum length on record is 5 ft 5 inches (165 cm).
The species is endemic to central to southern Africa from Cameroon and Somalia to South Africa.
Family Viperidae
20. Gaboon Viper
- Binomial Nomenclature: Bitis gabonica
- Adult Length: 4 to 5 ft (125 to 155 cm)
- Adult Mass: 19 lb (8.5 kg)
- Geographic Range: Central Africa
- Conservation Status: Vulnerable
The gaboon viper is the heaviest venomous snake in Africa and probably the largest viper in the world. This snake reaches a length of 4 to 5 ft and a weight of 19 lb. There are individuals with lengths of 5.9 ft and weights of 25 lb.
The gaboon viper is highly venomous and is considered to have the highest venom yield of all snakes.
This snake is endemic to Central Africa, from Nigeria to DR Congo.
21. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
- Binomial Nomenclature: Crotalus adamanteus
- Adult Length: 3.3 to 7.9 ft (1 to 2.4 m)
- Adult Mass: 4.9 to 15.4 lb (2.2 to 7 kg)
- Lifespan: 15 to 20 years
- Geographic Range: southeast United States
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest rattlesnake there is. This rattlesnake reaches a weight of 15.4 lb and a length of 7.9 ft. The species is black, brown, or olive-brown in color and spot diamond-shaped scale outlines which gives the rattlesnake its common name. The underside of the species is yellow with dark bands closer to its tail.
This massive rattlesnake has a lifespan of 15 to 20 years in the wild and an average lifespan of 19 years in captivity. The oldest eastern diamondback rattlesnake on record lived to 22.75 years.
The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is endemic to the Coastal Plain of the southeastern US from eastern Louisiana through Florida to southern North Carolina.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest snake in the world?
Determining the biggest snake in the world can be difficult as several huge snakes grow to about the same length and size.
The biggest snake in the world is likely the green anaconda or the reticulated python.
The green anaconda reaches an average length of 19.7 feet and is capable of reaching a length of 39.4 ft. It reaches a weight of 550.6 lb. The green anaconda is usually shorter than the reticulated snake but it is bulkier.
The reticulated snake reaches a length of 5 to 29.5 ft and a weight of 220.3 to 594.7 lb.
What is the heaviest snake in the world?
The heaviest snake is generally considered the green anaconda. The heaviest specimens reach a weight anywhere between 300 to 550.7 lb according to several sources such as Animal Diversity and National Geographic.
What is the biggest snake in the US?
The largest snake in the US is the eastern indigo snake. This snake reaches a length of 9.2 ft.
Is it safe to keep big snakes as pets?
With the proper care and education, it is safe to keep large snakes as pets. Large snakes can be tough to care for as they require a lot of room and attention. They require the right temperatures, humidity, and environment. The expenses can add up as well. Big snakes are costly to keep.
The commitment and cost of caring for snakes led some snake keepers to release their pet snakes into the wild. If the ecology of the locale is conducive, the released pet can thrive and become an invasive species. Invasive species can be detrimental to the local ecosystems. It is imperative not to release pet snakes into the wild.
What are the biggest snakes commonly kept as pets?
Some large snakes kept as pets include the reticulated python, Burmese python, rock pythons, green and yellow anacondas, and boa constrictors.
Conclusion
These are the biggest snakes in the world. These include the green and yellow anacondas, the reticulated python, the Burmese python, and several others.
The biggest snakes on each continent include the Cuban boa and eastern indigo snake in North America, the African rock python in Africa, the Burmese python in Asia, the Australian scrub python in Australia, the green anaconda in South America, and the Caspian whipsnake in Europe.
If you wish to keep huge snakes as pets you need to ensure that you are prepared for the costs and commitment that comes along with keeping giant reptiles as pets.