What is the Longest Snake in the World? 8 Really Long Snakes
- Molly Weinfurter
- Jul 15
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 4
Snakes are unusually long creatures, but they look even longer than they are because they don’t have legs. So, they just have one continuous body with nothing to break it up. There are a ton of snake species, including small docile pets and highly venomous wildlife. It caused me to wonder what is the longest snake in the world? And how dangerous are the longest snakes?
Longest Snake in the World (And Other Longest Snakes)
Below are some of the longest snake species currently on our planet. They’re fascinating to learn about, but coming face to face with a creature that large can be terrifying. So, if you see one in the wild, please leave them be and keep a distance.
1. Reticulated Python
Length: 10 to 32 feet
Location: Rainforests and grassland forests of southern Asia
Scientific Name: Malayopython reticulatus
Reticulated pythons are known as the biggest, longest snake in the world. They earned the Guinness World Record for being the longest snake species, with the longest snake ever recorded reaching 32 feet long! Luckily, these massive snakes aren’t venomous, but they can still be dangerous. They kill their prey by constricting it, and they have a strong bite. They hunt a wide range of mammals and birds, including large prey like deer and boars. Thus, they’re capable of eating a human, so it’s best to keep a distance.
2. Green Anaconda
Length: 10 to 30 feet
Location: Swamps and marshes of northern South America
Scientific Name: Eunectes murinus
Green anacondas are a close second for the world’s longest snake species, and they’re also the heaviest. The heaviest recorded green anaconda was 500 pounds. Females are typically much larger than males. Like reticulated pythons, they’re not venomous, but they’re powerful constrictors. Adult green anacondas can consume a wide range of large animals, including deer, caimans, capybaras, and large birds.
3. Amethystine Python
Length: 8 to 24 feet
Location: Rainforests, grasslands, and savannas of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea
Scientific Name: Morelia amethistina
The amethystine python, sometimes simply called the scrub python, has an iridescent tint to its scales, giving the snake a purple hue like an amethyst when the sun hits it right. These long snakes live in a variety of habitats, sometimes even getting close to humans. Some people have found them in their homes making a mess. They’re constrictors rather than venomous snakes, but they hunt a wide range of mammals, including wallabies and cuscus.
4. Burmese Python
Length: 10 to 22 feet
Location: Rainforests, grasslands, and marshes of Southeast Asia
Scientific Name: Python bivittatus
Burmese pythons aren’t venomous and rarely attack humans unless provoked, but they’re still intimidating due to their size and strength. As they bite their prey, they wrap their bodies around it to cut off the blood flow. While they’re native to Asia, they’re invasive in Florida. Like many other invasive Florida species, they were introduced due to the exotic pet trade. As cool as these snakes are, they’re harmful to the ecosystem of the Everglades, preying on native wildlife, including endangered species.
5. African Rock Python
Length: 10 to 20 feet
Location: Forests, savannas, and grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa
Scientific Name: Python sebae
African rock pythons may not have venom or massive fangs, but they have many needle-like teeth that can cause severe pain. Like many of the other longest snakes in the world, they ambush prey and squeeze the life out of their victims. They have heat-sensing pits in their lip, allowing them to easily locate warm-blooded prey. They’re not picky and will eat everything from tiny bats to large warthogs.
6. Yellow Anaconda
Length: 10 to 20 feet
Location: Swamps and marshes of southern South America
Scientific Name: Eunectes notaeus
These non-venomous snakes are excellent swimmers, using their strong muscles to gracefully glide through the water. They can’t hear well, but they’re excellent at locating prey because they can sense vibrations and heat. Even though newborn yellow anacondas are only about 1% the size of their moms at birth, they’re already bigger than most snakes in the world.
7. King Cobra
Length: 10 to 18 feet
Location: Forests and bamboo thickets of southern Asia
Scientific Name: Ophiophagus hannah
King cobras are the longest venomous snakes in the world (and one of the most dangerous animals). One bite from this species delivers enough toxicity to kill 20 people (or even an elephant). Their venom attacks the respiratory system, brain, and heart, so they’re not a snake to be messed with. King cobras are recognized by their distinct hood on their neck, which they only display when they feel threatened or are preparing to strike. They reveal their hood by flattening their neck ribs.
8. Boa Constrictor
Length: 6 to 16 feet
Location: Tropical forests, savannas, and fields across Central and South America
Scientific Name: Boa constrictor
Boa constrictors might not have venom like a king cobra, but these snakes are powerful with sharp fangs. The larger they grow, the larger their preferred prey is. Smaller boa constrictors may focus on rodents and small birds while larger ones seek out monkeys and small deer. While many snakes lay eggs, boa constrictors are ovoviviparous, meaning the eggs stay inside the mother's body, causing her to give birth to live young.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There 40-Foot Snakes?
There are no living 40-foot snakes, but an extinct snake known at Titanoboa was that long. These massive snakes went extinct about 58 million years ago (a few years after dinosaurs went extinct).
Can Snakes Eat Humans?
Yes, some very large snakes can eat humans, but it’s rare. Some of the longest snakes in the world, such as the reticulated python, green anaconda, and African rock python, are capable of hunting large mammals, so they could catch and eat a human if they wanted to.
How Long Can Snakes Go Without Eating?
It depends on the species, but many snakes can go for weeks or months without eating. Some large snakes like pythons have even gone for over a year without eating in extreme cases. This is because snakes eat large meals and have a low metabolic rate, helping them conserve energy.
How Do Snakes Move?
While it looks like snakes are magically sliding across the ground, they’re actually repositioning their bodies, shifting their weight, and moving their muscles to push them forward. They typically live in environments that have enough traction on the ground to get them moving.
Can You Have the Longest Snake in the World as a Pet?
The longest snakes in the world are fascinating but also intimidating. However, snake enthusiasts may have an interest in keeping these massive reptiles as pets. While it’s possible to keep some large non-venomous snakes as pets, such as Burmese pythons, it’s not recommended. It’s illegal in many areas, and you need a ton of money, space, and time to properly care for them.
If you’re genuinely interested in a snake as a pet, consider a small, lower maintenance species. But even then, make sure you do lots of research before bringing one home. Any pet is a big commitment and a member of the family, so never get one on a whim.
