The anacondas and python reticulatus are the largest amongst all snakes in the world. Zoological name of the anaconda is Eunectes murinus. These snakes are known to have a length ranging from 20-25 feet. Green Anaconda is amongst the largest snakes in the world with an average weight of 500 lbs. The facts regarding longest snake in the world and reports of new discoveries of longer snakes being found surface on the Internet every now and then.
Which is the Largest Snake in the World?
The longest anaconda ever measured was 32 feet in length; the 'Guinness Book of World Records' has approved the 32 feet snake to be the longest. Weight of this snake is 402 lbs. Therefore, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, largest snake in the world (2010) should be the one mentioned above. However, according to an online sources, a 49 feet python has been found in a village of Indonesia. Going by the length, this 49 feet python can be deemed as the largest snake ever found. The estimated weight of this python snake is 990 lbs.
Large Snakes of Earlier Times
The information given above, presents before us the facts about living snakes. However, there are many reports of the fossils of large snakes being found in the world. In the Cerrejon coal mine of northeastern Colombia, fossil of a 13 meter (around 42 feet) snake were found. Estimated weight of the snake is 1135 kg (i.e. around 2500 lbs); it can thus, be termed as the biggest snake in the world found dead. The zoological name of this snake is Titanoboa cerrejonensis. Earlier, the Gigantophis garstini was known as the largest snake. Length of the snake varied from 36-38 feet. 'Gigantophis garstini' was found in the region of North Africa, some 40 million years ago.
Features of the Anaconda
Anacondas are the largest snakes in the world. It would be interesting to find out more about the characteristics of these snakes. Such is the strength and size of anacondas that animals as big as human beings can be swallowed by these snakes. The average life of anacondas range between 10-30 years. These snakes are mainly found in the region of South and Central America. Rivers and marshy lakes are places which these reptiles prefer the most. Apart from the Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus), the largest snake species, other important snakes are 'Yellow anaconda' (Eunectes notaeus) and 'Dark Spotted anaconda' (Eunectes deschauenseei).
An interesting feature about the word anaconda is about its 'Sinhalese' (a Sri Lankan language) origin. The Sinhalese word, henakandaya is said to be the original word. However, according to few other sources, an extinct species called 'Constrictor' was referred to, with this name.
Python Characteristics
Python snakes are classified under the family, 'Pythonidae'. This family consists of 8 genera of pythons classified in 26 species and which are found in different parts of Asia, Africa and Australia. One of the characteristic feature of the pythons is that they feed by preying with the ambush technique. A camouflaged position is preferred by the snake and which is also one of the most comfortable for preying.
Constriction: The technique of constriction is used by pythons in killing the prey. In this technique, the snake coils around the prey and tries to suffocate it. Process of inhalation of the prey is stopped as a result of constriction and it dies eventually.
Features of python snakes which are considered to be the second largest snakes after anacondas, too are presented in the article. The information should therefore be useful.
Which is the Largest Snake in the World?
The longest anaconda ever measured was 32 feet in length; the 'Guinness Book of World Records' has approved the 32 feet snake to be the longest. Weight of this snake is 402 lbs. Therefore, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, largest snake in the world (2010) should be the one mentioned above. However, according to an online sources, a 49 feet python has been found in a village of Indonesia. Going by the length, this 49 feet python can be deemed as the largest snake ever found. The estimated weight of this python snake is 990 lbs.
Large Snakes of Earlier Times
The information given above, presents before us the facts about living snakes. However, there are many reports of the fossils of large snakes being found in the world. In the Cerrejon coal mine of northeastern Colombia, fossil of a 13 meter (around 42 feet) snake were found. Estimated weight of the snake is 1135 kg (i.e. around 2500 lbs); it can thus, be termed as the biggest snake in the world found dead. The zoological name of this snake is Titanoboa cerrejonensis. Earlier, the Gigantophis garstini was known as the largest snake. Length of the snake varied from 36-38 feet. 'Gigantophis garstini' was found in the region of North Africa, some 40 million years ago.
Features of the Anaconda
Anacondas are the largest snakes in the world. It would be interesting to find out more about the characteristics of these snakes. Such is the strength and size of anacondas that animals as big as human beings can be swallowed by these snakes. The average life of anacondas range between 10-30 years. These snakes are mainly found in the region of South and Central America. Rivers and marshy lakes are places which these reptiles prefer the most. Apart from the Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus), the largest snake species, other important snakes are 'Yellow anaconda' (Eunectes notaeus) and 'Dark Spotted anaconda' (Eunectes deschauenseei).
An interesting feature about the word anaconda is about its 'Sinhalese' (a Sri Lankan language) origin. The Sinhalese word, henakandaya is said to be the original word. However, according to few other sources, an extinct species called 'Constrictor' was referred to, with this name.
Python Characteristics
Python snakes are classified under the family, 'Pythonidae'. This family consists of 8 genera of pythons classified in 26 species and which are found in different parts of Asia, Africa and Australia. One of the characteristic feature of the pythons is that they feed by preying with the ambush technique. A camouflaged position is preferred by the snake and which is also one of the most comfortable for preying.
Constriction: The technique of constriction is used by pythons in killing the prey. In this technique, the snake coils around the prey and tries to suffocate it. Process of inhalation of the prey is stopped as a result of constriction and it dies eventually.
Features of python snakes which are considered to be the second largest snakes after anacondas, too are presented in the article. The information should therefore be useful.
