The world’s biggest python is the Reticulated Python (Malayopython reticulatus). This species is a member of the Pythonidae family, a group of non-venomous constrictors found across the Old World. While many pythons achieve impressive sizes, the Reticulated Python consistently holds the record for being the longest snake species on Earth. However, the title of “biggest” can be interpreted by length or by mass, which introduces other powerful contenders from the python family and the broader world of giant snakes.
The Reticulated Python: Record Holder
The Reticulated Python, often called the “retic,” is officially recognized as the longest snake globally. These magnificent reptiles are native to South and Southeast Asia, inhabiting a vast range that includes countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. They thrive in tropical environments, including rainforests, woodlands, and areas near water, making them proficient swimmers.
While historical records cite extreme lengths, modern confirmed wild specimens typically reach lengths between 6 and 7 meters (20 to 23 feet). The longest snake ever kept in captivity was a female Reticulated Python named Medusa, who measured 7.67 meters (25 feet 2 inches) in 2011.
The reticulated python is an ambush predator. Its diet primarily consists of mammals and birds, and the largest pythons are capable of taking on substantial prey like wild pigs and deer.
Defining Python Size: Length Versus Girth
When discussing the “biggest” snake, the Reticulated Python is defined by its linear length, but size can also be measured by mass or girth. This is where other massive constrictors enter the conversation, particularly the Burmese Python (Python bivittatus) and the African Rock Python (Python sebae).
While the Burmese Python is generally shorter, reaching lengths up to about 5.79 meters (19 feet), it often possesses a far greater circumference. It is the second-heaviest snake species in the world and is significantly bulkier than the more slender Reticulated Python.
A captive Burmese Python once weighed 182.8 kilograms (403 pounds) at a length of 5.74 meters (18 feet 10 inches). This contrast highlights the difference in body shape: the reticulated python is long and lean, built for agility, while the Burmese python is heavy-bodied.
The African Rock Python, another enormous species, also competes for the title of heaviest python. Consequently, the Reticulated Python is the champion of length, but the Burmese Python frequently wins the argument for overall mass among pythons.
Comparing Pythons to Anacondas
A common point of confusion for the general public is the difference between pythons and anacondas, which are often mistakenly grouped together as the world’s largest snakes. Pythons belong to the family Pythonidae and are primarily found in the Old World (Africa, Asia, and Australia). Anacondas belong to the family Boidae and are native to the New World (South America). Their reproductive habits are a defining biological difference: pythons lay eggs, making them oviparous, while anacondas give birth to live young, making them viviparous.
The Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) is the heaviest snake in the world, surpassing all pythons in both mass and girth. While the Reticulated Python is longer, the Green Anaconda is far more robust and muscular. A Green Anaconda of 5.2 meters (17 feet) in length can weigh as much as a Reticulated Python measuring 7.3 meters (24 feet).
The Green Anaconda’s aquatic lifestyle in the swamps and rivers of South America has driven its evolution toward a massive, heavy body. This means that while the Reticulated Python is the longest snake species, the Green Anaconda is the largest by volume and weight. The biggest python is therefore the longest snake, but not the overall biggest snake on the planet.