When it comes to massive snakes, two contenders often come up: the 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚 and the 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧. So, which one is truly the largest?
The 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚 takes the crown as the heaviest snake in the world, reaching up to 30 feet (9 meters) in length and tipping the scales at over 500 pounds (227 kilograms). These giants are native to the rivers and swamps of South America, where they can easily overpower prey like deer and caimans.
On the other hand, the 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧 holds the record for the longest snake, with some growing over 33 feet (10 meters). Found in Southeast Asia, this snake is much slimmer than the green anaconda, but still incredibly strong, using its length and muscular body to constrict its prey.
So while the 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚 is the heaviest, the 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧 is the longest, making both snakes marvels of nature in their own right.
Check out this video for a closer look at their size and strength!