The 10 Biggest Snakes in the World
Snakes might not top everyone’s list of favorite creatures, but there’s no denying they’ve mastered the art of growing long, heavy, and—let’s be honest—pretty intimidating. A few are so big their fossils leave paleontologists scratching their heads. This list rounds up the biggest snakes on Earth.
15. Macklot’s Python – Up to 8 Feet
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Macklot’s python earns its place for consistency and being pretty. These snakes reflect a subtle rainbow under the light thanks to their iridescent scales. They are a favorite among snake keepers for their looks and hardiness, and they’re well adapted to human presence.
14. Indian Rat Snake – Up to 10.5 Feet
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The Indian rat snake is built for speed. They’re much leaner than the heavy hitters on this list. They’re excellent climbers and thrive in urban areas across the Indian subcontinent. They are not dangerous to humans, but they will puff up if cornered.
13. King Brown Snake – Up to 11 Feet
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While not the longest on this list, the King Brown Snake is one of the heaviest venomous snakes in Australia. Its venom isn’t the most toxic, but it can deliver it in huge quantities. It is found in dry, inland parts of Australia. It preys on other reptiles, frogs, and occasionally small mammals.
12. Yellow Anaconda – Up to 12 Feet
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Think of the yellow anaconda as the green’s slimmer, moodier cousin. They’re excellent swimmers and typically keep a low profile. While not as massive as the green variety, they’re still capable of overpowering animals like birds, turtles, and small mammals. They’re also more solitary and quick to flee.
11. Olive Python – Up to 13 Feet
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The olive python is Australia’s second-largest python, after the scrub python, which typically maxes out at around 13 feet. It gets its name from the smooth, olive-colored scales that help it blend into rocky habitats and woodlands. While it isn’t venomous, it can deliver a painful bite if provoked.
10. Boa Constrictor – Up to 13 Feet
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These snakes don’t use venom, but are masters at squeezing. They’re ambush hunters, often waiting motionless for hours before striking. Unlike pythons, boas give birth to live young, and their slow metabolism allows them to survive weeks on a single meal.
9. Green Anaconda – 16.4 Feet
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These are shorter than the reticulated python in length, but they win by weight, sometimes tipping the scale at 550 pounds. They are found in South America’s swamps and slow rivers. They can ambush capybaras, caimans, and deer with crushing force.
8. Central African Rock Python – Up to 16.5 Feet
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This Central African variety, closely related to the African rock python, has been implicated in rare but real cases of human attacks. These snakes feed on everything from rodents to crocodiles and are known for their incredibly flexible jaws, which allow them to devour prey far wider than their head.
7. King Cobra – Up to 18.7 Feet
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The king cobra is the world’s longest venomous snake, with one individual measured at 18.7 feet in captivity. Despite their fearsome reputation, they prey primarily on other snakes and are shy of humans. They’re also the only snakes known to build nests, with females guarding their eggs aggressively until they hatch.
6. Burmese Python – Up to 18.8 Feet
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This species is the star of Florida’s Everglades nightmare. Burmese pythons, originally from Southeast Asia, became invasive in the U.S. after some escaped. What’s more impressive is their range: they’re known to slither back to the same territory even after relocation. They’re slow growers but turn into stealthy hunters.
5. Cuban Boa – Up to 19.6 Feet
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What sets this snake apart isn’t just its size, but also teamwork. In a rare display of group hunting, Cuban boas have been observed working together to trap bats at cave entrances. That kind of behavior is almost unheard of in snakes.
4. Indian Python – Up to 20.9 Feet
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The Indian python is a massive constrictor found across India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. It is more docile than its African cousin. It uses heat-sensing pits to track prey in the dark, then strikes and wraps. Despite its size, the Indian python is relatively laid-back and often avoids confrontation.
3. African Rock Python – Up to 24 Feet
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African rock pythons have been recorded at lengths up to 24 feet, though most are closer to 15. They’ve been seen swallowing monkeys and antelopes whole, and occasionally, they’ve tangled with crocodiles. This species is found across sub-Saharan Africa and is known for its aggressive temperament and strong maternal instincts.
2. Scrub Python – Up to 27 Feet
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If you’re wandering through the forests of northern Australia and something rustles overhead, it might not be a bird, but a scrub python. These massive snakes are strong climbers and ambush predators with a taste for wallabies and birds. Thankfully, they’re not aggressive unless messed with.
1. Reticulated Python – Up to 32.8 Feet
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This is the reigning champ in the length department and is officially measured at a jaw-dropping 32.8 feet. A Reticulated Python is a strong swimmer, a skilled climber, and yes, one of the few snakes known to have consumed humans. The name comes from its net-like skin pattern.