Putting together a list of the Largest Snakes in the World can be difficult as their are many variables to take into account. We chose our list based on the average adult length of the snake but their are many variables to take into account.
First of all, largest could mean longest or heaviest. Their are a number of large ‘slender’ species of snake that didn’t make the cut such as the Amethystine Python.
Another factor the list could be based on the the maximum reported size of a specimen. This isn’t a good indication of the largest species of snake in the world as a one off ‘giant’ can’t account for an entire population of snakes.
If you enjoy our list of Largest Snakes in the world, be sure to check out our list of Largest Lizards in the World here.
#1 Largest Snake in the World – Reticulated Python
Reticulated Pythons are the largest snakes in the world. They can reportedly grow to 30ft in length, but most will reach a maximum length of about 20ft with females generally growing larger than males.
They are distributed throughout much of South-East Asia and like to live in humid environments such as rainforests, woodlands and near bodies of water. They are a terrestrial snake and spend most of their time on the ground.
Despite being the largest snakes in the world, Reticulated Pythons are commonly kept in captivity. This is largely due to the striking morphs that can be produced, which is the same reason Ball Pythons are so popular.
There are two “sub-species” of Reticulated Python, the Dwarf and the Super Dwarf Reticulated Python. These “sub-species” can be found in isolated populations on South-East Asian islands.
#2 Largest Snakes in the World – Green Anaconda
Green Anaconda’s are the second largest snakes in the world in terms of overall length. However, they are the largest snakes in the world in terms of weight due to their large muscular bodies.
The Green Anaconda can be found in the tropical rainforests of South America. Their range consists of countries such as Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia and Venezuela. They are primarily found in slow moving water and they are excellent swimmers.
The Green Anaconda is perfectly adapted to effectively hunt in water. Their eyes and nostrils are on the top of their head which allows them to stay almost completely submerged. They will wait like this for prey to come to the water’s edge to take a drink.
#3 Largest Snakes in the World – Burmese Python
The Burmese Pythons are one of the largest snakes in the world. Their range extends throughout much of South and South-East Asia. These snakes look very similar to the African Rock Python and they are often confused with each other outside their native range.
They have a very large range and can be found from Eastern India to Vietnam where they thrive in a wide range of habitats. They can be found in grasslands, swamps, woodlands, marshes and jungles.
Despite being one of the largest snakes in the world, the Burmese Python is one of the most popular snakes kept in captivity. Their docile nature and the “discovery” of the albino ‘Burm’ skyrocketed the popularity of these snakes.
#4 Biggest Snakes in the World – African Rock Python
The African Rock Python is one of the largest snakes in the world. It is the largest snake in Africa and can reach lengths of up to 20 feet. This is rare however, with specimens usually topping out at around 12ft.
There are two subspecies of African Rock Python. Python Sebae Sebae is found in Western and Central Africa while Python Sebae Natalensis can be found in Southern Africa. The Southern sub-species tends to be a bit smaller and theses sub-species are known to breed together to create hybrids.
The African Rock Python can be found throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa where it thrives in a wide range of habitats. They can usually be found near water in forests, savannas, grasslands, marshes and rocky areas.
#5 Biggest Snakes in the World – Indian Python
As its name suggests, the Indian Python can be found throughout most of India. Its range also extends into neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. It can also be found on the Island of Sri Lanka.
The Indian Python generally grows to around 10ft in length and can be found in a wide range of habitats such as open forests, grasslands, marshes and rocky areas. They are almost always found near a permanent water source.
Due to their muscular bodies, they appear quite lethargic when moving along the ground. However, they are excellent swimmers and an spend a large amount of time in the water.
The mainland Indian Python is generally considered to be more docile than the specimens found in Sri Lanka but temperament can obviously vary from snake to snake.