 |
| A stock photo shows a reticulated python. These snakes can be found in Asia and can measure about 20ft in length. |
Snakes are assumed to have developed from lizards, with the earliest examples emerging in the fossil record between 143 and 167 million years ago during the Jurassic Period. After the dinosaurs died out 66 million years ago, they diversified and modern snakes appeared.
There are about 3,000 different snake species on the earth, with 600 of them being poisonous.
They are one of the most deadly creatures on the planet. Snakebites kill between 80,000 and 138,000 people each year, according to the World Health Organization.
Snakes may be found almost wherever on the planet, according to National Geographic, with the exception of Antarctica, Iceland, Ireland, Greenland, and New Zealand.
Snakes come in a variety of sizes, with the smallest reaching only four inches in length. But what about the most important?
The longest snake
According to Graham Alexander, a professor of herpetology at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, estimations of a snake's length should be regarded "with a grain of salt," since they are frequently inflated.
However, he claims that no other snake can match the reticulated python's length. "In Southeast Asia, I've seen reticulated pythons that were well over 19 feet," he stated. "I'm not exaggerating when I say they're big snakes."
The reticulated python is the world's longest snake, with an average length of 20 feet.
It is found in rainforests, woods, and surrounding grasslands in its native South and Southeast Asia. The python is a strong swimmer who has been discovered far out at sea in the past.
"We should remember that captive animals may have the potential to grow to bigger proportions than wild counterparts due to a consistent food source and absence of predation in captivity," Alexander added.
"I am aware of a few incidents of Burmese and reticulated pythons in captivity reaching lengths of about 26 feet." These are simply outstanding."
Pythons are non-venomous and suffocate their victim to death. They wrap themselves around their prey with the impetus of a strike, gripping a bit tighter every time the target exhales.
While pythons can grow to be enormous, the risk they represent to people is mostly determined by their evolutionary history with humans, according to Alexander: "Giant pythons in Asia, such as Burmese and reticulated Pythons, may on occasion consider humans as a possible meal." They don't have the same lengthy evolutionary relationship with humans as African pythons.
"Humans are too risky for African pythons to eat, in my opinion, and pythons who do eat humans typically die, which has weeded out that taste from the population. There is a lot of exaggeration in anecdotal accounts on huge snakes in general."
The heaviest snake
The green anaconda is unrivaled in terms of bulk.
Green anacondas are non-venomous members of the boa family that utilize their powerful jaws to seize their prey. It is then suffocated before being swallowed entirely.
A stock photo shows a Green Anaconda on the ground. These snakes are highly aquatic and spend most of their time in the water
They are also quite aquatic, spending almost all of their time in the water. Green anacondas may weigh up to 220 pounds and grow to be 16 feet long, according to Alexander.
"There will very certainly be exceptional individuals who are substantially larger," he continued, "but I do not trust claims of snakes that are 10m [32.8ft] in the wild."
"In my view, anacondas do not have people on their menus since anacondas, especially large ones, ambush from water in marshy wetlands, thus the chances of encountering humans there are minimal unless the humans are researchers seeking for the snakes."
The biggest venomous snake
Because they don't have to rely on drowning their prey, venomous snakes are often smaller.
The king cobra, according to Alexander, is one of the world's largest venomous snakes, measuring up to 13 feet in length. However, it has been reported to grow up to 18 feet in length.
King cobras are found in South and Southeast Asia, and their number is declining, making them vulnerable. Despite its reputation for aggression, the king cobra is far more cautious than many lesser snakes.
A stock photo shows a king cobra in the grass. Its venom can kill prey within minutes
Like many other snakes, the king cobra only attacks humans when trapped, in self-defense, or to defend its eggs. Its poison, on the other hand, can be lethal. It can kill in 15 minutes, depending on the power of the venom and the size of the victim.
The black mamba is another of the world's longest poisonous snakes, as well as one of its most lethal.
The black mamba, according to Nick Evans, founder of the KwaZulu-Natal Amphibian and Reptile Conservation in Durban, South Africa, is the longest snake he has ever seen, at around nine feet. There have been reports of them growing to be 14 feet tall, although Evans claims this is unusual.
Black mambas are found in savannas, rocky hills, and open forests in South and East Africa; however, because many residential areas are located amid valleys, they are frequently seen in and around residences.
They are, according to Evans, misunderstood creatures.
"I was always a little afraid of them until I started dealing with them. I'd clearly heard a lot about their dreadful reputation. However, now that I've learned to deal with them and have worked with a few hundred of them, I can understand what they're actually like, and that their reputation is much overblown "he stated
"They're notorious for being ruthless assassins. Their neurotoxic poison can surely kill you. They are not, however, hostile. I'm always following them, but they're not chasing me... the issues arise when humans try to kill them or catch them without proper training."
A stock photo shows a Black Mamba in a tree. While not the biggest in terms of mass, these snakes are long and highly venomous.
Click here for more trending news
You can also follow us on our Facebook page
You can also follow us on our Twitter page