The largest snake on earth, the anaconda, reaches. Top largest snakes
It so happens that for most people, snakes are a real phobia, which plunges into horror the person who meets even the most harmless and small snake. In reality, most snakes are not as dangerous as everyone imagines, and most often the animal will choose to escape in an uncomfortable situation. Many of these reptiles carry deadly venom, but only a few species use it in an aggressive manner.
Snakes are one of the most ancient animals on our planet that were able to survive cataclysms and preserve their species as it appeared 167 million years ago. While the smallest snakes rarely reach 10 centimeters in length, the largest snakes can really scare you with their size.
1. Reticulated Pythons
Reticulated pythons are known as the longest snakes on the planet. The length of some individuals can exceed 8 meters. There are descriptions of reticulated pythons in the literature, the length of which reached 10 meters.
This non-venomous snakes which prefer to strangle their prey before eating it. Considering the size of this giant snake, it will not be difficult for her to kill a large animal. Science knows of cases where such a python easily dealt with a pig weighing almost 60 kg.
At the beginning of 2017, news spread around the world that a reticulated python in Indonesia had eaten an entire adult human. When the police managed to open the belly of the 7-meter snake, they found the missing man there, whom they had been looking for for several days. The python simply could not crawl away from the scene of the “crime” and began to digest its victim in the nearby bushes.
2. Anacondas
The giant anaconda can't boast of its impressive size in length, and is slightly inferior in this to the reticulated python. However, this is the most massive snake in the world; statements often appeared in the scientific community that the mass of the anacondas found reached up to 200 kg.
In 1944, one of the researchers said that he had found a giant anaconda in the jungles of Colombia, the length of which exceeded 11 meters, but although scientists did not refute these words, they called them into question. However, since then it has not been possible to find a single specimen longer than 9 meters. Even with such a length, the snake can swallow prey that is several times larger.
Anaconda is a water boa constrictor. She is an excellent swimmer and diver, making her difficult to spot in the waters of the Amazon. Most of This boa constrictor spends its life in the water, coming ashore only to bask in the sun and normalize the heat balance in its body. Female anacondas are much larger than males. Despite the fact that these snakes prefer not to attack such big catch, as a person, it is still strongly not recommended to walk alone along the muddy banks of the Amazon, something could go wrong.
3. King Cobra
It is difficult for the king cobra to compete with boa constrictors and anacondas, because the latter's size is due to the need to kill prey without using poison. The cobra feels great in this regard; it has excellent poisonous glands that produce strong poison.
The king cobra is the largest in the world poisonous snake. The average size of such an animal in nature is approximately 4 meters, but at the beginning of the 20th century, a specimen whose length was 5.7 meters lived in the London Zoo.
Many people believe that the cobra is the most poisonous snake in the world, but this is not true. Undoubtedly, its venom is deadly to humans, but the king cobra kills not by force, but by quantity. The volume of venom injected in one bite is incredibly large. Cobras can be overly aggressive, but if you study their behavior, you can predict the snake’s movements and even manipulate it, which is what the famous “fakirs” from India use.
4. Dark tiger python
Another one big snake from the python family, which, according to some evidence, can reach a length of 7 meters. However, there are no officially registered individuals with such dimensions, and the largest dark tiger python, the length of which could be measured, lived in Snake Park in Illinois, and its dimensions exceeded 5.7 meters.
Individuals that are found in nature rarely reach 5 meters, however, this is very large snake, being alone with whom is strongly not recommended; such a meeting may not end in your favor. Python bites are very painful, although this snake does not have poison.
To rightfully bear the title “The Largest Snake,” it is necessary to amaze herpetologists with a harmonious combination of two key parameters - solid mass and outstanding length of the slippery body. Let's talk about the gigantic reptiles included in the top 10.
Reticulated python
Considered to be the longest snake in the world globe, inhabiting primarily South and Southeast Asia. The author of the work “Giant Snakes and Terrible Lizards,” the famous Swedish explorer Ralf Blomberg, describes a specimen just under 10 meters long.
In captivity, the largest representative of the species, a female specimen named Samantha (originally from Borneo), grew to 7.5 m, surprising visitors to the Bronx Zoo in New York with its size. She died there in 2002.
IN natural environment habitat reticulated pythons grow up to 8 meters or more. In this they are helped by a varied menu consisting of vertebrates such as monkeys, birds, small ungulates, reptiles, rodents and predatory civets.
This is interesting! Sometimes included in its menu bats, catching them in flight, for which it clings with its tail to the protruding parts of the walls and roof of the cave.
The pythons also eat unwary domestic animals for lunch: dogs, birds, goats and pigs. The most favorite dish- young goats and piglets weighing 10-15 kg, although a precedent has been recorded for the absorption of pigs weighing more than 60 kg.
This snake (lat. Eunectes murinus) from the subfamily of boas has many names: common anaconda, giant anaconda And green anaconda. But it is often called in the old fashioned way - a water boa constrictor, given the passion for water element . The animal prefers calm rivers, lakes and creeks with weak currents in the Orinoco and Amazon basins.
The anaconda is considered the most impressive snake on the planet, confirming this opinion known fact: A reptile measuring 5.21 m long (without tail) and weighing 97.5 kg was caught in Venezuela. By the way, it was a female. Male water boas do not claim to be record holders.
Despite the fact that the snake lives in water, fish is not included in the list of its favorite foods. Typically, the boa constrictor preys on waterfowl, caimans, capybaras, iguanas, agoutis, peccaries, and other small/medium-sized mammals and reptiles.
Anaconda does not disdain lizards, turtles and snakes. There is a known case in which a water boa constrictor strangled and swallowed a 2.5-meter-long python.
Snake eater (ophiophagus hannah) is precisely translated from Latin name, which was awarded to the cobra by scientists who noticed its passion for eating other snakes, including extremely poisonous ones.
The largest poisonous reptile has another name - hamadryads. These creatures, which grow throughout their entire life (30 years), infest the tropical forests of India, Indonesia, Pakistan and the Philippines.
The longest snake of the species was captured in 1937 in Malaysia and transported to London Zoo. Here it was measured, documenting its length as 5.71 m. They say that in nature there are longer specimens crawling, although most adult cobras fit within an interval of 3-4 meters.
To the credit of the king cobra, it should be noted that it is not the most poisonous and is also quite patient: a person needs to be at the level of its eyes, and without making sudden movements, hold its gaze. They say that after a few minutes the cobra calmly leaves the place of the unexpected meeting.
Hieroglyphic python
One of the four largest snakes on the planet, demonstrating in some cases a decent weight (about 100 kg) and good length(over 6 m).
Average individuals do not grow larger than 4 m 80 cm and their weight is also not surprising, gaining from 44 to 55 kg at maturity.
This is interesting! The slenderness of the body is strangely combined with its massiveness, which, however, does not prevent the reptile from climbing trees well at night and swimming well.
Hieroglyphic (rock) pythons live in savannas, tropical and sub tropical forests Africa.
Like all pythons, it can go hungry for a very long time. In captivity, it lives up to 25 years. The reptile is not poisonous, but exhibits outbursts of uncontrollable anger that are dangerous to humans. In 2002, a ten-year-old boy from South Africa fell victim to a python, who was simply swallowed by the snake.
Rock pythons do not hesitate to attack leopards, Nile crocodiles, warthogs and black-footed antelopes. But the main food for snakes are rodents, reptiles and birds.
Dark tiger python
In this non-venomous species, the females are more impressive than the males. The average size reptile does not exceed 3.7 meters, although some individuals stretch up to 5 or more.
Animal range - Eastern India, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Cambodia, southern China from the island. Hainan, Indochina. Thanks to humans, the dark tiger python entered Florida (USA).
A dark python that lived not so long ago in the American Snake Safari Park (Illinois) was a record size. The length of this enclosure resident named Baby was 5.74 m.
The dark tiger python eats birds and mammals. He attacks monkeys, jackals, civets, pigeons, waterfowl, large lizards(Bengal monitor lizards), as well as rodents, including crested porcupines.
The python often has livestock and poultry on its table: large reptiles They easily kill and eat small pigs, deer and goats.
Light tiger python
Subspecies of tiger python. It is also called the Indian python, and in Latin - python molurus molurus. Different from its own close relative python molurus bivittatus (dark tiger python) primarily due to its dimensions: they are less impressive. Thus, the largest Indian pythons do not grow more than five meters. There are other signs characteristic of this snake:
- light inclusions in the middle of the spots decorating the sides of the body;
- pinkish or reddish tint of light stripes running on the side of the head;
- a blurred (in its front part) diamond-shaped pattern on the head;
- lighter (compared to dark python) color with a predominance of brown, yellow-brown, red-brown and gray-brown tones.
The light tiger python inhabits the forests of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Bhutan.
Amethyst Python
This representative of the snake kingdom is protected by Australian law. The largest snake on the Australian continent, which includes the amethyst python, reaches almost 8.5 meters in adulthood and eats up to 30 kg.
On average, a snake’s height does not exceed 3 m 50 cm. Among its relatives, pythons, it stands out for its symmetrical and noticeably large scutes located on the upper zone of the head.
A serpentologist will understand that this is an amethyst python by the peculiar coloring of its scales:
- olive-brown or yellow-olive color dominates, complemented by a rainbow tint;
- clearly defined black/brown stripes across the body;
- on the back there is a clear mesh pattern formed by dark lines and light spaces.
This gastronomic interest Australian reptile shows to small birds, lizards and small mammal. The most arrogant snakes choose their victims among bush kangaroos and marsupial cuscus.
This is interesting! Australians (especially those living in the outskirts) know that the python does not hesitate to attack their pets: from afar, the snake feels the warmth emanating from warm-blooded animals.
To protect your living creatures from the amethyst python, villagers they place her in enclosures. Therefore, in Australia, not only parrots, chickens and rabbits are kept in cages, but also dogs and cats.
Common boa constrictor
It is known to many as Boa constrictor and now has 10 subspecies, differing in color, which is directly related to the habitat. The color of the body helps the boa constrictor to camouflage itself in order to lead an isolated lifestyle, hiding from prying eyes.
In captivity, the length of this non-venomous snake ranges from 2 to 3 meters, in the wild - almost twice as much, up to 5 and a half meters. Average weight- 22-25 kg.
Boa constrictor inhabits Central and South America, as well as the Lesser Antilles, looking for dry areas located near water bodies to settle in.
The food preferences of the boa constrictor are quite simple - birds, small mammals, and less often reptiles. When killing prey, the boa constrictor uses a special technique of influencing the victim’s chest, squeezing it during the exhalation phase.
This is interesting! The boa constrictor easily adapts to captivity, so it is often bred in zoos and home terrariums. A snake bite does not threaten a person.
Bushmaster
Lachesis muta or surukuku is the largest venomous snake in South America from the viper family., living up to 20 years.
Its length usually falls within the range of 2.5-3 m (with a weight of 3-5 kg), and only rare specimens grow up to 4 m. Bushmaster boasts excellent poisonous teeth, growing from 2.5 to 4 cm.
The snake prefers solitude and is quite rare, as it chooses uninhabited areas of the island of Trinidad, as well as the tropics of South and Central America.
Important! People should be afraid of the bushmaster, despite the modest mortality rates from its poison - 10-12%.
Surukuku is characterized by nocturnal activity - it waits for animals, lying motionless on the ground among the foliage. Inaction does not bother him: he is able to wait for weeks for a potential victim - a bird, lizard, rodent or... another snake.
Dendroaspis polylepis is a venomous African reptile found in the woodlands/savannas of the east, south and center of the continent. Spends most of its leisure time on the ground, occasionally crawling (to warm itself) into trees and bushes.
Compared to its relatives from the asp family, the black mamba stands out for having the longest poisonous teeth (22-23 mm). These teeth help her effectively inject poison that kills elephant jumpers, bats, hyraxes, rodents, galagos, as well as other snakes, lizards, birds and termites.
This is interesting! The most toxic snake on the planet loves to hunt in daylight hours days, biting into the prey several times until it finally freezes. It takes more than a day to digest.
Despite most people's discomfort with the sight or mention of snakes, the fact remains that the largest snakes in the world are among the largest. amazing creatures on our planet. It is difficult to say unambiguously how many types and colors of snakes there are. Their agility and sharpness are legendary. Even giants such as elephants are afraid of the bite of some representatives of these creatures. If you are interested, you can read the article about the most poisonous snakes on Earth. As part of this article, we will present the Top 10 largest cold-blooded animals...
Top 10 largest snakes on the planet
10
The rating is opened by the most dangerous and at the same time huge snake called the Black Mamba, whose average length is 3 m. Occasionally, individuals can be found that have reached 4 meters in length, but this rare occurrence. It lives in Africa, usually in semi-arid places. This snake moves at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour. In fact, a person can run away from it, which, in fact, is what you need to do when you see the Black Mamba, because it is the most poisonous among the rest.
When talking about pythons, many people probably have an association with a large, thick snake that can swallow a person in one go. But not all representatives of this family correspond to the imagination of film directors. For example, the length of the amethyst python is only 3.5 meters, in rare cases 3.8 m. There are rumors that there is an eight-meter amethyst python, but there is no official confirmation of this information. For this reason, we give him 9th place in the ranking.
It's about about a representative of the largest family of vipers among snakes. Bushmaster can reach a length of 3.5 to 4.3 meters, depending on its habitat. The largest number of representatives of this species is found in South America. A very dangerous and poisonous snake loves to hunt in uninhabited places. Weighs from three to five kilograms. Larger Bushmasters are found near bodies of water. It should be noted that this type rarely attacks people, because snakes are very shy. Over the entire history, about 30 cases of attacks have been recorded.
Next in the ranking of the largest snakes is the King Cobra, whose average size is five meters. This unique snake looks extremely dangerous when it is in defense mode - it rears up. It is not for nothing that she is called the queen of poison. One bite is enough to take a life Indian elephant. Located in South Asia and Southeast. The characteristic features of the King Cobra include the presence of a hood at the top of the neck. Not many people know about interesting fact regarding the behavior of a snake when meeting a person. In most cases, the King Cobra only makes a cold (safe) bite, as it saves its venom for hunting.
Another large and dangerous python is the Hieroglyphic Snake, reaching a length of about 5 meters. At the same time, it weighs up to 100 kilograms. The largest pythons from this family live in Africa. The snake's power is enough to catch antelope. They also feed on goats. In tropical forests they can climb trees. They are dangerous to humans. A horrific incident was reported in Canada in which a python that escaped from a zoo attacked and strangled a boy.
Of course, the common boa constrictor is the most common representative of its genus, which, by the way, includes about ten subspecies of snakes. They live in the following zones:
- Lesser Maltese Islands;
- South America;
- Florida;
- some parts of Central America.
At the same time appearance(color) depend directly on the habitat of one of the largest snakes on the planet. It is worth adding that the common python is quite dangerous predator. Attacking uses very strong muscles to compress the victim's chest.
This giant snake has many names: tiger, light, Indian python. They are all united by one family of large snakes, the size of which varies from 5.6 to 6.2 meters. They live in the territories of such states as:
- India;
- Nepal;
- Pakistan;
- Somalia.
Most often, the python can be found in the forest, in caves, in ruins and ruins. They hide in secluded corners and attack suddenly. Better not to worry! As a rule, they attack small animals, the size of a rabbit.
Another name for this, one of the most large pythons on Earth - dark, tiger snake. The average length of the body is 7 meters. The largest python, which was kept outside the will of scientists from Thailand, reached 7.2 meters in length. It lives in Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. Rarely found in India. Snakes prey primarily on large lizards, birds and rodents. Particularly active at night.
The world of snakes is wide and varied. Among them there are many who are capable of striking with their unique abilities. Some snakes are able to move with amazing speed, others amaze with their colossal strength, and a third can even spit with extraordinary accuracy.
These reptiles live almost everywhere and their relatives can be found on every continent, with the exception of Antarctica. However, on some large islands, such as New Zealand and for some reason there are none in Ireland, just as there are none on many small Pacific islands.
This very heterogeneous tribe already numbers 3,460 various types and among them there are many who will surprise even the most experienced reader.
In this article we will look at various records set by these mysterious ancient reptiles.
The world of snakes amazes with its diversity: some move with incredible speed, others are surprisingly strong, and still others spray venom directly into the eyes of the enemy.
Longest snake
The longest snake in the world is the anaconda. This anaconda boa constrictor living on the territory of the South American continent is one of the longest terrestrial vertebrates that has survived to this day.
The greatest length was achieved by an anaconda caught in Colombia. Careful measurements showed that its length was a full eleven meters and forty-three centimeters.
These snakes live in impassable Amazonian jungle and most often their habitat is marshy shores along this mighty river. These giants feed on animals living on the banks of the Amazon. These are mainly various birds, agouti and nutria. To others giant representative The reptile is the reticulated python. Most major representative This species now lives in one of the Japanese zoos. The length of this overgrown muscular cord is twelve meters and twenty centimeters, and its weight is two hundred kilograms.
True, pythons of this species living in their natural environment range from one to six meters in length. And they weigh from one kilogram to seventy-five. Moreover, pythons living on the mainland are much larger than their island relatives. Reticulated pythons got their name from the complex pattern with a rainbow tint that covers this reptile.
Longest venomous snake
The longest venomous snake is the one that lives in the area. South China, Pakistan, Indochina, India, Philippines and Mallaka Peninsula, king cobra. The length of this snake can reach up to five and a half meters. This poisonous creature represents great danger for most animals and humans included. The venom of the king cobra is so strong that a person dies from such a bite in just a few minutes.
Trying to scare away a person, the snake can make “idle” bites, without injecting poison at all; apparently, the cobra needs it primarily for hunting.
It must be said that this cobra has a fairly long life expectancy by the standards of the animal world, which can reach up to thirty years. Moreover, this snake continues to grow throughout its life. As a rule, king cobras hide in burrows and caves, but they can also crawl into trees. In most cases, they live in a specific area, but sometimes they move over very long distances (up to several tens of kilometers).
King cobras feed mainly on snakes of other species, including poisonous ones. Because of this (and also because of their increased aggressiveness), they are almost never kept in zoos in particular and in captivity in general. It is almost never possible to switch a king cobra to feeding on rats. In nature, king cobras sometimes even eat small monitor lizards. It can live up to three months without food.
The smallest snake
The smallest snake living on earth is the blind snake, which lives on the island of Nosy Be. This island is located near the island of Madagascar. The length of this tiny snake is only ten centimeters. They lead a burrowing lifestyle and are very rarely encountered on the soil surface. Interestingly, these tiny snakes managed to form a rather interesting symbiosis with owls.
These birds catch blind snakes and bring them to burrows, in which they raise their chicks. The owls are unable to cope with the shell of the blind snake, and they abandon them. Then the reptile begins to hunt insects that swarm in the burrows. As shown scientific research, it is in such burrows that the healthiest owl chicks grow up.
The snake with the best thermoregulation
The snake with the most developed thermoregulatory qualities is the hieroglyphic python. This snake is distributed throughout the African continent. As you know, snakes are cold-blooded animals, and their body temperature practically does not differ from the temperature environment. However, when the female hieroglyphic python lays eggs, or rather immediately after, she, laying in a spiral, wraps herself around them and warms her offspring with the warmth of her body. Moreover, the body temperature of the mother snake at this time exceeds the ambient temperature by as much as seven degrees, which for cold-blooded snake so many.
The most poisonous land snake
The most poisonous snake among those that live on the land surface is the taipan. Moreover, this is indicated not only by laboratory studies, during which a thorough analysis of the poison was carried out various snakes, but also bleak statistics. According to it, from fifty to eighty percent of people who are bitten by these snakes die if medical attention is not provided to them in time. as soon as possible.
Taipan is one of the most poisonous land snakes in the world.
The most poisonous Russian snake
There are two most poisonous snakes in Russia. These two competitors are cobra and viper. Previously, from the bites of these snakes, twenty to thirty percent of all those bitten died. Currently, thanks to the developments of pharmacists who have created quite effective anti-snake serums, the mortality rate among victims of bites has noticeably decreased and now it does not exceed one or two percent.
The world's fastest venomous snake
The fastest venomous snake in the world is the mamba. These arboreal poisonous snakes live in sub-Saharan Africa and prefer to choose piles of stones or abandoned burrows of other animals for their habitat. Their characteristic feature is that they do not limit themselves to one bite and tend to carry out a series of repeated bites, thereby increasing the concentration of venom in the victim’s body.
If a person who is bitten by a mamba does not take the antidote as soon as possible, he will most likely die. Moreover, the least chance of survival is if the bite hits a vein. Then there are only a few minutes left to take the antidote. And if it was not at hand, then... Now add to this the highest speed qualities of the mamba and it will become clear to everyone what powerful killers snakes of this species are.
Scientists have recorded that moving on the ground, the mamba is capable of reaching speeds of over eleven kilometers per hour. As for such a species as the black mamba, in short stretches and on flat terrain, it is capable of reaching speeds of up to twenty kilometers per hour, which is an absolute snake record! But this is on the ground, and among the branches it is even more swift. It is almost impossible for a person, especially in tree thickets, to escape from a mamba. At the same time, these snakes are distinguished by their aggressive nature and often attack first.
Surprisingly, in Africa they live not only in fields and forests, but even in populated areas and houses where mamba are most likely attracted by rodents. The venom of this snake is one of the most powerful, which, combined with the qualities described above, made the mamba the most feared snake on the African continent.
The heaviest snake in the world
Such a heavyweight was a tiger python named Baby. This giant was weighed on November 20, 1998, and the scales showed a weight of 182.5 kilograms. This twenty-five-year-old female was 8.22 meters long and 71.1 centimeters thick.
The heaviest among poisonous snakes
Apparently, the heaviest venomous snake is the diamondback rattlesnake, which lives in the southeastern United States. On average, these snakes have a length from one and a half meters to one hundred and eighty centimeters, and weigh 5.5-6.8 kilograms. The heaviest recorded diamondback rattlesnake weighed 15 kilograms and had a length of 2.36 meters.
Oldest snake
Most old snake is a common boa constrictor named Popeye who died in the zoo American city Philadelphia April 15, 1977. Popeye lived forty years, three months and fourteen days.
The thinnest snake in Europe
The thinnest European snake is the olive snake. This snake lives mainly on the territory of the Balkan Peninsula. It belongs to the colubrid family and is therefore not poisonous.
Australia's largest snake
Most large snake Australian continent is the amethyst python, whose length is about eight and a half meters.
The amethyst python is the largest snake on the Australian continent.
The most common of snakes
The common viper has the largest range among all other snakes living on land. This snake is common in the Eastern and Central Asia, as well as in Central, Western and Northern Europe(including the Scandinavian Peninsula and the British Isles).
The thinnest snake
The thinnest snake in the world is the common belted snake. Its thickness is simply amazing: with a body length of about two meters, its thickness is approximately equal to the thickness of a pencil.
Longest snake fast ever
A case in which a snake went longer than ever without food once occurred in a zoo. Then the adult anaconda refused food for five hundred days. And during a special experiment, the habu viper snake was able to live without food for three years and three months. At the same time, the experimental reptile lost 60.9 percent own weight. On at the moment this is the longest hunger strike not only among snakes, but among all vertebrates.
Longest snake ever refuses water
It is common for snakes to for a long time do without water. For example, in one of the experiments that was carried out on king cobra, this extremely moisture-loving snake by nature was able to live without water for five whole years.
The most populated place with poisonous snakes
Nine of the ten most poisonous snakes in the world live in Australia! Among them, the most poisonous land taipan, the eastern brown snake, common taipan and tiger snake. The last three snakes occupy the second, third and fourth lines of the venomous rating.
Animal with the most vertebrae
Currently the most a large number vertebrae are located by snakes. According to scientists, the record set has not yet been surpassed giant snake Archaeophis proavus – 565 vertebrae!
The most sensitive snakes to temperature measurements
Humanity has been improving its instruments for measuring temperature for about four centuries, but compared to some living thermometers, they look primitive. Rattlesnake has thermoreceptors with which it can detect temperature changes of 1/300 degrees Celsius. Boas can detect temperature changes of a fraction of a degree in 35 milliseconds.
The most accurate snake
When attacking prey, ringals that live in South Africa and India. From a five-meter distance, the ringal is capable of “shooting” a stream of deadly poison directly into the eyes of an animal or person. The venom firing range of the African spitting cobra is only slightly less. Each spit contains four milligrams of poison. At the same time, the snake strives to make not just one spit, but a whole series. There are series of up to thirty spitting in a row.
Northernmost snake
Reptiles are excellently equipped for life on land, but are almost never found in the Arctic Circle with the exception of two species - viviparous lizard And common viper. However, in the Arctic, more than 0.5 degrees N latitude. they don't come in.
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