There are many large snakes in the world, but the largest of the large include the green anaconda and several types of pythons. The pythons are the reticulated python, Burmese python and African rock python. These four types of snakes top the list of the world's large snakes. They all are constrictors, which mean that they kill their prey by wrapping their bodies around prey and squeezing it until it suffocates. The largest poisonous snake is the king cobra.
The green anaconda, which lives in South America, actually is a species of boa constrictor. Green anacondas can grow up to 30 feet (9 meters) in length and weigh more than 500 pounds (227 kg). The bulky girth of these very large snakes accounts for their heavy weight; they can measure as much as 12 inches (30 cm) around. Anacondas are found in swamplands and streams in the Amazon and other rain forests. Their prey, which includes deer, wild pigs and more, is swallowed whole, and anacondas can go for weeks between meals.
Slightly longer than the green anaconda, but having less bulk, the reticulated python averages 18 feet (5.5 m) in length, although reticulated pythons more than 30 feet (9 m) long have been discovered. The largest recorded reticulated python found was in 1912 on an Indonesian island. It measured 33 feet (10 meters) from end to end. This species sometimes is called the regal python. The snake's habitat ranges from Myanmar and India across Southeast Asia and is found on Indonesian Islands and in the Philippines.
A threatened species, the Burmese python also lives in Southeast Asia. It can grow up to 27 feet (8 m) long and averages about 20 feet (6 m) in length. As young snakes, they live mainly in trees until their big size and heavy weight, which can be more than 200 pounds (91 kg), make climbing too difficult. As adults, they live on land and in the water. The Burmese python can stay underwater for as long as 30 minutes before surfacing.
The African rock python, that continent's largest snake, grows up to 20 feet (6 m) in length. These snakes typically live on open savannas but also have been found in more forested areas. This snake is notable for being more aggressive when cornered than some of its cousins. These large snakes have been known to eat another large reptile, the crocodile.
Claiming the title as the world's largest venomous snake is the king cobra. Found in Southeast Asia, including India and China, the king cobra can reach up to 18 feet (5 m) in length. Its toxic venom can kill an elephant with one bite.
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Comparables
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@aplenty- Large constrictors live a long time. People often do not take this into consideration when they purchase these snakes as four and five foot juveniles. African Rock pythons can grow to 20 feet long, and live for about 25 years. Only experienced snake handlers should own these snakes and the snakes should not be brought into a home with children or elderly residents. You often see large snakes like these for sale because they grew to be too much for the owner to handle. They need enclosures that are as large as a walk-in closet at least when full grown. It seems like your neighbor knew what he was doing because he kept his snake in the basement, a fairly escape proof habitat that will contain such a powerful predator. As for how much these snakes grow each year, most pythons grow to their full size within the first four to five years, then growing very slowly after that. As far as I know, a rock python can grow as fast as 4-5 feet a year in its early years. |
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aplenty
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How long do these big snakes live? I had a neighbor, an older man, who had a rock Python as a pet. His entire basement was a snake habitat, filled with a number of different snakes. His rock python was a 15-foot long monster that he said he had from a juvenile. He actually raised chickens to feed his python. The snake could eat a large Wyandotte without any problems. I wonder how long it would take such a snake to grow that long. How much do these large constrictors grow every year? |
