The largest boa constrictor. The largest snakes
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Reptile giants
Most big snake considered an anaconda (Green or Giant). It is usually no more than 10 meters in length, however, it can weigh up to 220 kilograms.
Today, the largest of the anacondas lives in the terrarium of the Zoological Society in New York: it weighs 130 kilograms and is about 9 meters long.
The most long anaconda
And here's the most long length the anaconda that was recorded was 11 meters and 43 centimeters. In 1944, the snake was measured by a geologist who was exploring the Colombian jungle in search of gold.
He stunned the snake, measured it, but after that it came to its senses and crawled away. So we can only guess about the reliability of this fact. However, to this day the length of almost 12 meters is a generally recognized record, listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
In the 1930s, a reward of one thousand dollars was even announced for anyone who could prove the existence of an anaconda with a body larger than 12.2 meters. Then the premium increased to 6 thousand dollars, and the size of the snake decreased to some 9 meters and 12 centimeters. No one ever received the award. By the way, today it is about 50 thousand dollars, so everyone who wants to get rich and enjoy the jungle can start searching.
And apparently, a 9-meter snake living in a terrarium in New York is the limit for today.
So python or anaconda
In fact, it's fair to share the top spot between the anaconda and the Asian reticulated python.
Last in natural environment habitat can grow up to 150 kilograms and up to 12 meters in length. But this is also just a theory. The only giant python that can be truly measured lives at the Philadelphia Zoo. He's a meter smaller than an anaconda from the Zoological Society in New York.
What does history say?
However, in the history of the planet there were truly giant snakes. Zoologists gave them the names Titanoboa.
The monster weighed more than a ton with its relatively small size - about 14 meters. It lived approximately 58 million years ago in South America.
The giant could easily swallow a whole crocodile, and it’s not even worth talking about smaller prey.
The snake was not poisonous; it killed by force, squeezing the prey with its body.
After the dinosaurs went extinct, Titanoboa lived for about 10 million years. During this period, it was the largest predator on Earth.
Where do anacondas live
The snake lives in the tropics of South America, in the backwaters of the Amazon. It is there that she looks for prey.
Despite many films and legends, the anaconda is not terrible for humans; cases of attack are rare. The snake feeds on small and medium-sized mammals. She strangles the victim with her body and swallows him.
It can take up to several days for the prey to be digested, during which time the snake quietly dozes in solitude.
It is very difficult to determine the number of anacondas, since they live in hard-to-reach places. Their average length is 6 meters; larger individuals are extremely rare in nature.
Second and third place
In second place in terms of size is the dark tiger python, the maximum length of which was recorded at 9 meters and 15 centimeters.
Usually they do not exceed 5.5 meters and 70 kilograms.
In third place is another giant - the Indian python.
A large individual reaches 6 meters in length.
Their appearance frightened travelers in the forest, vacationers, and in various legends and myths the most terrible and, often, deaths meetings with them. And among the people there is a very persistent myth that the most big snakes are not dangerous to humans, but a small and completely harmless viper can cause fatal bite. Photos of the largest snakes in the world are truly impressive. So, are they really dangerous? Here is what modern researchers write about this.
What is the largest snake in the world
It is believed that this is an anaconda. Many researchers write that this snake can be about 7 meters or more, but in nature there are no snakes larger than 10 meters. However, other researchers insist on what is the largest snake in the world – reticulated python. Its length reaches about 8 meters. This is very beautiful snake with an interesting color that resembles a variegated carpet.
Many even argue what is the largest snake in the world and is it poisonous? Researchers have not yet given an exact answer. There is an opinion that the largest snake is the anaconda, others disagree with this and argue that it is a reticulated python or even a king cobra. However, most researchers are inclined to believe that snakes larger than the anaconda do not exist in nature. And they find new evidence for this argument.
Top 10
So, the top ten largest snakes in the world included black mamba, the length of which usually reaches 3 meters.
Very dangerous snake originally from Africa. The black mouth gave its name to the snake, which since ancient times has terrified everyone who met it on its way. Some researchers have claimed that some snakes are up to 3.5 meters long, but there is no exact evidence of this. This snake is very poisonous, and before the invention of an antidote, its bite was considered fatal. However, even now the antidote will not work if the mamba has bitten the head. The person then dies within 12 minutes. If you look at photos of the largest and most dangerous snakes in the world, the black mamba really looks scary. This snake strikes quickly and swiftly.
9th place is occupied by the Bushmaster snake, up to 4.2 meters long.
Found in southern Africa and considered the largest poisonous snakes in this area. It often lives near ponds, abandoned houses and landfills. He is cautious and very afraid of people. Only 25 bushmaster bites have been recorded in the world, and 5 people have died from the poison.
The 8th place is occupied by the amethyst python.
This snake got its name due to its beautiful smoky tint, reminiscent of a noble stone. This snake is considered the largest in Australia. Like all pythons, it is not poisonous, but a bite can cause an allergic reaction. The length of the snake can reach 7.5 meters or more.
7th place is occupied by the king cobra.
One of the most dangerous snakes in the world. Its poison can affect the respiratory system. Found in Asian countries, the main habitat is trees. Many researchers argue , what is the largest snake in the world among venomous snakes and they believe that this is the king cobra. Very often she hides in caves. However, the number of deaths from this species is not too large, since the cobra doses the poison during an attack and can only use it for hunting. The average length of this snake is about 5 meters.
6th place – common boa constrictor.
The length of this non-venomous individual can be about 5.5 meters. Despite the absence of poison, it is fatal, as it compresses the victim’s chest with its weight (hence the name - boa constrictor from the word “strangle”).
5th place – Indian tiger python. One of the most beautiful and non-venomous snakes in the world, the length of which can be about 6 meters, sometimes more.
This snake lives in India, Pakistan, leads night look life and feeds on small rodents and medium-sized animals, not more cat. Length adult- about 6 meters.
Often found in Thailand and India. Eats birds, small animals, lizards.
The hieroglyphic python ranks 3rd among the largest snakes. His average length- about 6 meters.
This snake is not poisonous, but very aggressive and dangerous. There is a known case where a python climbed into an apartment and strangled a child.
2nd place is occupied by the anaconda, the length of which can reach up to 8 meters.
A very large and dangerous snake that can even eat a person. Found in difficult places, therefore the most large individuals may be unknown to science.
The leader among the largest snakes is the reticulated python.
It lives in Asia and reaches a length of up to 8.5 meters or more. It is very aggressive and very dangerous to humans; it can eat or strangle even a monkey or a donkey.
So the largest snakes can be very dangerous, even if they are not poisonous. And it’s good if they are not in southern countries.
Of all the snake variety, pythons are most often chosen for home care. However, despite comfortable conditions and the owner’s resigned indulgence of all the whims of the ward, there is no need to talk about the loyal attitude of the reptile. Although it is not poisonous, it is a threat to human life represents its massive long body, which it loves to wrap around something. The features of caring for the largest python in the world will be discussed further.
Description of the largest python - reticulated
Modern zoology knows more than 3,000 species of snakes, among which reticulated pythons are considered real giants. One of the representatives of this large family was included in the Guinness Book of Records. The record holder lives in one of the Japanese zoos; weighing 2 centners, his body length is 12 meters and 20 centimeters.
Did you know? The most dangerous continent Due to the richness of reptiles, Australia is home to 9 out of 10 deadly poisonous land snakes planets. We are talking about varieties of taipans, as well as eastern brown snakes, black mambas and sand ephs.
Despite the non-venomous nature and popularity of reticulated pythons among snake keepers, experts rank them among the most dangerous pet snakes for humans. The fact is that even a four-meter reptile can easily strangle its owner.
These reptiles do not shy away from human settlements in their habitat. On the contrary, they appear there quite often in order to steal sheep, dogs, pigs and other domesticated animals. It is believed that the larger the python, the large sizes there must be his victim.
Contemporaries have long debunked the myths spread by newspapermen during wartimes about missing soldiers being found in the stomach of a giant snake that lived in the jungles of Burma. Scientists are adamant that neither boa constrictors nor pythons will hunt people because of their wide humerus bones, which prevent the killer from swallowing his victim, creating hellish discomfort. However, history has included several completely reliable cases of reticulated pythons attacking people. And each time they found themselves in the role of victims fragile women, children and teenagers.
For the sake of fairness, we note that in most cases, meetings with humans ended tragically for reptiles. In the villages where their visits became part of everyday life, the local population got used to hunting giants, and the meat and skin of reticulated pythons were highly valued on the world market.
Did you know? In the Middle Ages, Europeans executed criminals by throwing them into a snake-infested pit. As a result, the punished person died in agony from numerous reptile bites.
Body characteristics
All snakes are prone to rapid growth. Over the course of a year, their body can increase by a meter. And in reticulated pythons, the processes of physiological development occur in a special way. That is why these reptiles are officially recognized as the longest representatives of the fauna of the globe.
Except impressive size, their sure sign is a specific mesh pattern on scaly skin and complex colors, including multifaceted interweaving of dark rhombuses, triangles and shapeless light spots. It is characteristic that the head of these creatures is always light, and the scales strongly reflect all the colors of the rainbow.
to his appearance and with their huge bodies they terrified many, which explains a certain hyperbolization of the inherent this species reptile properties in fiction and journalistic literature. For example, often mentioned in Philippine media mass media The fourteen-meter snake, which weighed almost half a ton, actually turned out to be more than 2 times smaller.
Many naturalists have written about how long reticulated pythons are, often keeping silent about the sources on which their conclusions were based. These included Ralf Blomberg, the popular author of the Swedish book “Giant Snakes and Terrible Lizards.” Therefore, scientists decided to reliably investigate this aspect and for this purpose, in the south of Sumatra, as well as in Flores, Indonesia and Borneo, they carried out a number of numerous measurements of reticulated pythons.
As a result of the work carried out, it was concluded that the smallest mature snake growing in wildlife, cannot be less than 4 meters. Larger specimens are characterized by a body length of 7–7.5 m and a weight of 65–170 kg. One-year-old pythons, as a rule, grow to one and a half meters in length.
Did you know? Snakes receive information about what is happening in the world around them with the help of their protruding tongue, so such gestures should not be regarded as signs of aggression.
Movement speed and strength
In many adventure films and books, huge killer snakes are endowed with extraordinary properties for lightning-fast movement, but in real life with them everything is completely different. If the giant expresses a desire to crawl for an hour with maximum speed, then over the entire period he will be able to cover only 1.5–2 kilometers. This property makes lazy pythons inferior to their smaller counterparts.
Moreover, unlike them, giant snakes move without writhing their whole body, but by activating the abdominal muscles, which causes the scales to separate from the fixed ribs. If you look closely, as it moves, it walks back and forth, reminiscent of excavator scoops. At such a low speed, the netted giant will never be able to overtake a running person.
Pythons are deaf and mute and have poor vision. They do not react at all to changes in light, and in order to see what is close in front of them, they constantly move their heads back and forth. But on the other hand, these snakes accurately recognize the slightest vibrations in the soil and sense the temperature change provoked by warm-blooded animals at a distance of half a meter. These qualities are enough to pounce on the victim, wrap him tightly around his huge body and strangle him. Only after this will the python begin its meal, swallowing the lifeless body whole.
It is characteristic that he is characterized by such a force of muscle contractions that even bones cannot withstand it large predators. For example, facts were recorded when the reptile feasted on a leopard, bear, and bull.
Did you know? Snakes have very unique structure bodies. Despite their increased activity and flexibility, some species have 300 pairs of ribs. In addition, in all such reptiles the heart can slide freely in the internal space, and the left part of the lungs is always significantly larger in size than the right.
Habitat
There are no snakes except in Antarctica, but reticulated pythons prefer mild climate tropics. Their homeland is all of Southeast Asia. Moreover, the range of reptiles is very extended, occupying the territory from the Indian Peninsula to Indonesia, the Nicobar Islands and the Philippines.
Compared to other relatives, reticulated reptiles have the most extensive habitat. However, despite this, the population of this type of snake is inexorably declining every year. Researchers associate this with humanity’s merciless hunt for valuable meat and leather. For your information, annual CITES export quotas for python skins average around 437,500 specimens. This means that it is much easier to take 10 dead snakes out of the country than to issue documents for one living one.
In the wild, reticulated reptiles prefer land, but this does not mean that they avoid bodies of water. These huge creatures are good swimmers and climb trees with ease. You can even meet the Asian giant on the open sea. Most of all they like a humid forest climate, and they can also live in open forests and on mountain slopes.
Moreover, they even climb to heights of up to 1200 meters. They love moisture, so coastal forests are considered ideal for living.
Important! To save pet snake for obesity, experts advise feeding it no more than 2 times a week and monitoring the filling of the drinking bowl. After all, even in natural conditions without food, a pet can survive from several months to 2 years without harm to its health, and the lack of water will kill it already on the third day.
How to hunt and what to eat
During the day, pythons prefer to hide in a secluded place and lie motionless. It is difficult to judge whether they are sleeping or not, because their eyes are always open. And at night the hungry reptile begins to hunt. Moreover, he always chooses a strong and healthy victim. Often this is:
- birds (including domestic birds);
- rodents;
- reptiles (including crocodiles);
- civets;
- ungulates (goats, sheep, deer, pigs);
- mammals (monkeys, kangaroos, dogs and even leopards).
The appetite of this species of snake is very good. Having swallowed their prey whole, they then do not eat anything until it is completely digested. Depending on the amount eaten, this process can take up to a year. For a moderately well-fed individual, about 10–15 kg of the weight of the strangled animal is required. But it is not uncommon for reptiles in their range to steal from local population 60 kg pigs. Also, pythons often in caves, where they hide for the day, cling to uneven ceilings with their tails and catch them right in the air. bats. But such food is most likely the lot of small individuals. The giant snake needs bigger prey.
It is characteristic that pythons often use the tip of their tail as bait. By moving them, they imitate a worm. Sometimes during a fight, victims bite the attacker, but even the venom of deadly snakes does not affect him.
Reproduction
Under natural conditions in reticulated reptiles mating season starts annually (although two-year breaks are possible) after hibernation, when females actively secrete pheromones. These substances attract males, as a result of which a living ball of males soon forms near her.
It is characteristic that, due to the physiological structure of the body, they are characterized by paired genital organs located along different sides housings. During mating, the one closest to the female is used. After mating, the snake lays from 10 to hundreds of eggs, wraps its body around them, warming the future offspring. His further care is provided solely by his mother.
The incubation period of the clutch lasts 88 days. But at the same time, a stable air temperature at +31...+32 °C and humidity not lower than 70% are important. During all this time, the female does not leave the nest for a minute. In the heat, she weakens the strength of their girth for ventilation, and in the cold she begins to shiver in order to warm her. Later due date Absolutely independent snakes up to 60 cm long are born. Among them there are also identical twins. In 3 years, sexually mature successors of the genus grow from the brood, and after another year they reach their maximum length. How many meters their body will extend depends largely on genetic characteristics and living conditions.
Features of keeping at home
Decide on pet in the form of a reptile only desperate daredevils can. After all, the content of these fauna representatives means a constant danger and risk for own life. Let us consider in detail what reptile lovers need to know and how to provide comfort to their ward.
Before you buy giant snake, the breeder needs to acquire a durable terrarium with strong, reliable walls and a high-quality lock. A spacious glass structure of cubic or horizontal types is ideal for these purposes. And in order to make its future tenant comfortable, follow these rules:
Feeding
After the giant appears in the house for the first time, it needs to be fed with mice and rats every week. Moreover, such food must be supplied to the predator’s table alive, so that its hunting instincts are not dulled. Provide feedings at the same time in moderate portions and do not overfeed your pet. Keep in mind that during the period of molting, as well as sexual activity, radical changes in the nutritional diet are possible.
It is possible to increase portions and change the usual menu for a ward only after he reaches the age of three. Then the adult python can be offered other reptiles and warm-blooded animals. But don’t rush to switch your silent friend to large food. After all, his requests will increase in proportion to the growth of body length.
For a small python that has grown to 90 cm, half a rat is enough, and when its body increases to 1.2 m, the portion can be doubled. After a meal, it is extremely undesirable to disturb the reptile so that it does not regurgitate. Also, you should not pick up a hungry snake or after contact with food. Otherwise, he will begin to consider his owner as a hearty dinner.
According to experts, it is enough for reticulated pythons to eat once at intervals of 10-14 days. Strict control for the food eaten will limit the growth of the pet, because otherwise, in order to feed it, the breeder will need a fortune.
Important! Never pick up a snake after holding a rodent, otherwise you may be mistaken for food.
Individuals whose length has reached 2 m are recommended to be switched to feed of animal origin, including freezing. This will help lull the predator's feeding instincts. However, always make sure that only fresh food gets into the terrarium. Otherwise, the risks of an eating disorder in your pet and poisoning increase. The first sign of a malfunction in the snake's gastrointestinal tract is belching of undigested dinner. Remember that pathogenic microbes may be in frozen preparations, so buy ingredients for the reptile menu only in trusted places and carefully monitor their quality. In addition, periodic supplements in the form of vitamin and mineral complexes will be very useful for captive snakes.
Daily and seasonal rhythms
For the comfort of the pet, it is important to provide in the terrarium correct work heating and lighting devices, since in captivity a reptile must also live according to the rules of natural rhythms. This means that the maximum daylight hours are limited to 12 hours, as is the daytime heating period for the terrarium.
Experienced breeders advise installing UV lamps with UVB 4-7% in the snake's abode, which combine the function of lighting and irradiation. As an alternative, an erythema device is suitable, which it is advisable to turn on three times a day for 15 minutes. Also, snake housing can be irradiated with household heaters such as UFO, placing them at a one and a half meter distance from the structure.
IN summer period It is highly advisable to take the kite out to a sunny area in calm weather. It is important that the air temperature outside is not lower than +25 °C. In everything else seasonal rhythm for reticulated pythons it does not matter much. It only needs to be remembered when home breeding reptiles. In this case, preparation should begin with a gradual three-week reduction in daylight hours starting in August.
Under artificial conditions, the snake will be ready for hibernation only after you have accustomed it to a 4-hour daylight hours and in the complete absence of feeding, underfloor heating and a reservoir. The fact is that in most snake species, food digestion processes stop when the temperature drops to +12 °C. After that, the animals are transplanted into a fabric bag and sent to the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator, where the temperature fluctuates within +10 °C. The snake can stay in such conditions from 2 weeks to one and a half months. After that, it is returned back to the terrarium.
Important! Hibernation in pythons it begins 3 weeks after complete digestion of previously eaten food. This is very important point, because chilled exotic food with food remains in the stomach is subject to death. To prevent this from happening, keep the reptile at room temperature by turning off the heating of the terrarium.
Precautions
Taking into account the fact that it is not easy to deal with exotic pet, and with an unpredictable giant, having decided on such a “friend”, you should always be on the alert. Experienced snake keepers share recommendations, the strict implementation of which will prevent attacks from a domestic python:
Important! Cleaning the terrarium should be done daily, clearing it of snake excrement and food residues. It is recommended to replace the litter once every 2 months.
The most large pythons on the planet they amaze not only with the size of their body, but also with their strength. Although they are considered non-venomous, they continue to be aggressive killer predators, and the slightest wrong movement can kill the owner. We hope our article helped you learn more about these Asian exotics and, by getting to know them closely, prevent mortality.
Python named "Samantha"
“Fear has big eyes,” this is what they say about exaggerated fears, about invented things and phenomena that are actually much smaller than their imagined size. This fate did not spare information about the length and size of snakes. Very often you can find information about snakes 15-30 meters long, although such animals have never been recorded in nature. Only a copy was included in the Guinness Book of Records reticulated python, 9.75 m long, who was shot on about. Celebes (Sulawesi), Indonesia, in 1912.
It was also reliably known about the largest reticulated python kept in captivity - a female over 7.5 m long named “Samantha”, caught in Borneo and died in 2002 at the Bronx Zoo (New York).
Although there was information about another reticulated python, 14.85 meters long and weighing 447 kilograms, caught in 2002, in the same place, in Indonesia, but after a careful study of the facts, it turned out that the length of this python was actually no more than 7 meters, and all the rest turned out to be mere speculation and a hoax to attract tourists.
On average, the longest snakes look like this:
Reticulated python
Representatives of the reticulated python are considered the longest snakes (Python reticulatus).
The most large individuals the nominative subspecies can reach a length of 10 m or more. However, individuals 4-8 m long are more common.
It got its name “reticulated” because of the complex pattern on the body, which includes a chain of light diamond-shaped spots in the middle of the back and triangular, interconnected dark spots with light centers on the sides. The head is light. Scales with a strong rainbow tint.
This type of snake is widespread in the South and Southeast Asia. The range covers Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Nicobar Islands and the Philippines.
Anaconda
Second largestis Anaconda (Eunectes murinus).
Its average length is 5-6 meters, and specimens of 8-9 meters are often found.
The main color of the anaconda's body is grayish-green with two rows of large brown spots of round or oblong shape, alternating in a checkerboard pattern. On the sides of the body there is a series of light small spots surrounded by black stripe. This coloration effectively hides the snake when it is hiding in calm water, covered brown leaves and bunches of algae.
Anaconda is not poisonous. Females are much larger and stronger than males.
The anaconda inhabits the entire tropical part of South America east of the Andes, as well as the island of Trinidad.
There are many anacondas in zoos around the world, but it is quite difficult for them to take root in captivity. The maximum lifespan of an anaconda in a terrarium is 28 years, but usually in captivity these snakes live 5-6 years.
Indian python
Closes the top three long snakes - Indian python orLight tiger python (Python molurus).
Large, up to 8 m long, snake, colored in brownish-brown tones. On the light brown background of the body there is a number of large and dark dorsal spots of a reddish-brown color and irregular quadrangular shape, connected here and there by bridges. On the sides of the body there are two rows of small dark spots with middle light “eyes”.
Found in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
Boa (Boa constrictor or Royal Boa) - the snake, which for some reason many people consider to be the largest in the world, barely reaches 5 meters.
Distributed in Central America and in the Lesser Antilles. Prefers to settle in dry places, but close to water bodies. Feeds small mammals, birds, sometimes reptiles.
King Cobra
A King Cobra or hamadryad (Ophiophagus hannah) - the largest venomous snake in the world, has longest length among poisonous snakes. Some specimens reach a length of 5.5 m, although the average size of an adult cobra is 3-4 meters.
Life expectancy is more than 30 years. Grows throughout life.
Habitat king cobra- tropical forests of South and Southeast Asia (India, Pakistan, Indonesia and the Philippines).
The smallest snake in the world is only 10 centimeters long.
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For most people, snakes are disgusting animals that inspire nothing but fear and horror, as well as the desire to immediately run away. This is explained very simply: almost all snakes are predators, and many of them are poisonous. That is why people strongly associate such animals with danger and other synonyms. Of course, among us there are also such originals who love to tinker with snakes - they keep them at home, they love to look at them in terrariums. In eastern symbols, for example, the snake does not represent danger at all, but wisdom, the ability to be flexible different situations. This property, as is commonly believed, is possessed by all people born in the year of the snake - they are savvy, cunning, resourceful and know how to find a way out of any seemingly hopeless situation.
The largest snakes
We know that the size of a snake can be different - these original animals, which have no legs, but only a torso, tail and head, which smoothly flow into one another, are both large and small. However, the most popular request on the Internet today is largest snake in the world - photo, and for good reason: such individuals really look like fairy-tale monsters, capable of absorbing anything and everything. Few people know, for example, that an ordinary adult reticulated python can easily accommodate not only a calf, but also a whole cow. But first things first.
For the entire existence of our planet biggest snake in the world lived more than sixty million years ago during a period called the Paleocene. This long giant is called today by scientists Titanoboa cerrejonensis: it reached more than fifteen meters in length and weighed more than one ton, and its thickness reached one meter.
In Colombia, near Carrejon, the remains of this scary looking under the direction of Jonathan Blosch - among other fossil parts belonging to other vertebrates of the Paleocene era. The excavations showed truly stunning results; This event was sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution and the University of Florida Tropical History Museum.
Titanoboa lived in the tropics, preferred places with temperatures up to 30-35 degrees, which had a very favorable effect on its growth - of course, subject to the availability of food. Interestingly, to date, this is the only fossil discovered in South America and previously lived in the period 60-55 million years BC. This period characterized by the fact that there were no longer dinosaurs here - they died out ten million years earlier.
The boa reached such large sizes thanks to warm climate, which was practically on our entire planet in those days. In the photographs you can see Jonathan himself, showing part of his spine huge snake, a schematic comparison of the animal with a modern bus, as well as the bones of a living anaconda and the remains of a boa located nearby.
This applies to archaeology; as for really existing world, biggest snake in the world today is reticulated python, living mainly in Asia: Bangladesh, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines and Nicobar Islands. The largest individuals of this species reach ten meters, even more; average - four to eight meters. This animal received this name for its beautiful coloring, representing a complex mesh pattern in the form of diamond-shaped light spots and triangular, interconnected dark spots. The first ones are located in the middle of the back, and the second ones are located on the sides. The reticulated python's head is light, and its scales have a strong iridescent tint.
These snakes prefer to settle not only in tropical forests, preferring humid climate and excellent climbing trees there, but also on mountain slopes. In Java, for example, some individuals have been found at altitudes of up to 1200 meters above sea level, high in the mountains. The python swims well, and is found even in the open sea. The main danger of the reticulated python is that it does not avoid human settlements, it hunts mainly at night or at dusk, spending the day in all kinds of shelters.
The python is a non-venomous predatory snake that hunts a wide variety of vertebrates: monkeys, rodents, birds, reptiles, domestic animals and even people. There are known cases when such a predator managed to swallow a female Malayan bear that weighed 23 kilograms; There have been cases of pythons eating 60-kilogram pigs. The python is even capable of catching bats: it catches them right during the flight, having previously caught its tail on a ledge in the cave where they live. Typically, these snake representatives first strangle their prey using incredible strong body, and then swallowed whole thanks to the highly stretchable mouth - in other words, they are put on the victim like a stocking.
The largest snake in the world is a python, which was caught in Indonesia. It weighs as much 450 kilograms, and its length is almost 15 meters.
Today it is biggest snake in the world. Hunters caught this python on the island of Sumatra, or rather, in the jungle, in the western part of the island. The owner no longer wanted to keep such a monster, so he sold it to a nature reserve. Here the python was given the name " Guihua».
Visitors can watch a python hunt, but this spectacle is not for the faint of heart, as it is very scary. As you know, it takes a python very little time to completely swallow an adult. As for scientists, they unanimously claim that they have never before seen snakes whose size was at least approximately the same as that of this python. "Guihua" can easily be swallowed by a medium-sized cow, after which it will not need to eat for several months.