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Largest snake ever

Largest snake ever
Who
Titanoboa cerrejonensis, Vasuki indicus
What
15 metre(s)
Where
Not Applicable
When
18 April 2024

Until very recently, the largest snake ever known to have lived is Titanoboa cerrejonensis, a prehistoric species of boa known from the fossils of 28 specimens found in the coal mines of Cerrejón in La Guajira, Colombia. Their discovery had been made by an international scientific expedition led by Florida University vertebrate palaeontologist Dr Jonathan Bloch and was formally announced in February 2009 in the journal Nature. The fossils revealed that Titanoboa, which lived 58–60 million years ago during the Palaeocene Epoch, reached a maximum length of 12–15 m (39–49 ft), measured approximately 1 m (3 ft 2 in) across at the thickest portion of its body, and weighed roughly 1,135 kg (2,500 lb). In April 2024, however, it emerged that Vasuki indicus, a fossil species of madtsoiid snake known from 27 vertebrae (some still articulated) unearthed in the Indian state of Gujarat during 2005, is estimated to have measured 10.9–15.2 m (35 ft 9 in–49 ft 10 in) long, meaning it may have rivalled or even exceeded Titanoboa. It lived 47 million years ago, during the mid-Eocene Epoch. The findings about Vasuki were published in Scientific Reports on 18 April 2024.

Titanoboa was a true boa, and was most closely related to the boas of Madagascar and the Pacific. Prior to its discovery, the world's largest-ever snake was believed to have been Gigantophis garstini, a madtsoiid, which was estimated to have measured 6.6–7.2 m (21 ft 7 in–23 ft 7 in) long. It lived around 40 million years ago, during the Eocene Epoch, inhabiting the region occupied today by Egypt and Algeria. Vasuki was also a madtsoiid, a widely distributed but nowadays wholly extinct taxonomic family of snakes whose fossil record extends from the Upper Cretaceous to the Late Pleistocene, and zoogeographically encompasses southern Europe, Africa, India, South America and Australia. The most recently surviving species were those inhabiting Australia during the Pleistocene. Madtsoiids may have been constrictors, like pythons and boas.

Both of these extinct snake species would dwarf today's biggest snakes. The longest living species of snake is the reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) of south-east Asia, Indonesia and the Philippines, which regularly exceeds 6.25 m (20 ft 6 in); the record length is 10 m (32 ft 9.5 in) for a specimen shot in Celebes (now Sulawesi), Indonesia, in 1912. The heaviest living species of snake, meanwhile, is the green anaconda (now recognized as two species), native to wetlands and slow-moving rivers of tropical South America and Trinidad. In February 2024, the long-recognized single species of this large constrictor was split into two based on genetic and geographic differences: the southern green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) and the northern green anaconda (Eunectes akayima). Fully grown, females of both species obtain a typical weight of between 30 and 70 kg (65–155 lb), measuring 3–5 m (9 ft 10 in–16 ft 4 in) from head to tail. Occasionally much larger specimens (almost certainly all females) have been reported, reaching between 7–8 m (22–26 ft) long with an estimated weight in excess of 300 kg (660 lb); it’s likely that the heftiest examples are either pregnant or have just consumed a large meal.

Understanding What Makes a Snake the Largest

When investigating the size of a snake, there are a multitude of parameters that an individual can fall into. When comparing the weights of the Titanoboa and Vasuki, data has shown that generally the former is a heavier snake at an estimated 2,500 lbs (1,135 kg); the latter was still around an impressive 2,200 lbs. As for length, the matter becomes a bit more complicated. The massive Titanoboa measuring at an estimated 42.6 ft long (13 m), with some upper estimates putting larger snakes at 49 ft (15 m). On the other hand, complexity arises when looking into the length of Vasuki, as a complete specimen has not been found. Estimates range from 36 to 50 ft (10.9 m - 15.2 m). While right now the Titanoboa is deemed to be slightly larger than the species, it is impossible to be absolutely certain.  

About sizing and research of Vasuki, co-author of the Scientific Journal study that helped investigate the snake, Debajit Datta said: “Vasuki belongs to an extinct family of snakes, distantly related to pythons and anacondas, and so when you’re using existing snakes to estimate body length, there may be uncertainties.” 

Since snakes often wrangle about, there are few differing methods that scientists use when trying to measure the snakes in a literal sense. One tactic used to accurately assess the size of the animal is using a soft measuring tape and digital imaging. Sometimes living snakes are put under anesthesia when being studied, as to avoid hassle.  

From measurements of different snakes taken, one can witness just how wide the variety of sizes that the creatures may be. Many factors play a part in determining the potential size of a snake, or any animal really, including diet and environment. For the record-breaking Titanoboa, a warmer climate and a humid rainforest as a home were able to support its larger size. Moreover, access to meaty prey like crocodiles and turtles, as well as the ability to easily devour these animals, due to a flexible jaw, also sustained the reptile's impressive size.  

Titanoboa: The Prehistoric Giant

The Titanoboa’s journey in the scientific scene began in 2004 when 30 specimens were discovered in a cave at Cerrejón coal mine; however, the snake became a central piece in the world of herpetology (the study of reptiles) in 2009. Much of the skeletons found were ribs and vertebrae. Luckily, discovered in that cave was an almost complete snake, which could help researchers more accurately assess sizing the animal.  

The ginormous reptile primarily lived in humid rainforests and near rivers in Madagascar and other parts of the pacific around 58-60 million years ago. In the warmer locations, where temperatures often rested at around 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the snakes thrived. Overall though, the Paleocene Epoch was warmer than the present average climate.  

While some snakes in today’s era can be big, the environment cannot support a snake the size of Titanoboa. Comparably, the largest modern snake is the reticulated python. The species tends to range between 10-20 ft (3-6.1 m), with some surpassing 30 ft (9.1 m). The upper echelon of these pythons’ sizes is smaller than the lower estimate of the Titanoboa’s size. Interestingly, the reticulated python also tends to live in tropical areas to in Southeast Asia and Southern Asia near water and in rainforests.  

Record-Breaking Snakes in the Modern Era

Speaking of modern snakes, some of these slithery critters are Guinness World Records title holders too.  

Longest snake in captivity

It tends to be easier to measure snakes that are already in captivity, as they can be tracked more often. It would make sense that one special reptilian record is claiming the title for longest snake in captivity. A member of the aforementioned reticulated python community, Medusa, is the record holder for this title. The Missouri-based snake measured at 25 ft 2 in (7.67 m) in 2011.  

Longest Burmese Python

Another breed of python that can get particularly large is the Burmese python. A female can grow to an upper average of 18 ft (just under 5.5 m) and males around 14 ft (4.2 m). The longest Burmese python is Baby, who after her death at 27 years old was found to be 18 ft 10 in (5.74 m). Baby lived her life at the Serpent Safari in Illinois. In the wild Burmese pythons are typically found in Southern and Southeastern Asia, similar to many larger snake species.  

Heaviest Species of Snake

The record holders for the heaviest snake species (on average) is the northern and southern Green Anaconda, called the Eunectes akayima and Eunectes murinus respectively. On average females of both species (who tend to weigh more than their male counterparts) weigh around 65-155 lbs (30–70 kg). A few exceptionally large individuals can reach weights of around 660 lbs (300 kg). These impressive snakes are found in Trinidad and South America, more specifically in we wetlands. Their diets are meat-based and diverse. Young ones eat fish and smaller mammals, but fully grown individuals can eat animals as large as deer and caimans.  

Shortest snake

Just as impressive as large snakes, small snakes are notable in their own right. On average the smallest species of snake is the Barbados threadsnake or the Tetracheilostoma carlae, with an average size around 3.94 in (10 cm). The coin-sized snakes often nourish themselves with ants and other larvae. The actual documented shortest snake species are Leptotyphlops carlae, a different type of threadsnake, who measured at around 4 in (around 10 cm).  

Snakes are an immortalized type of reptile that fascinates many. From their illusiveness, interesting mode of locomotion, to extreme sizes, the animal has something to intrigue everyone. While some snake species in present times can grow to impressive sizes, modern snakes are incomparable to the large and imposing Titanoboa.  

Words written by Sarah Payne. 

Header: generic image of snake in black and white. Photo credit: Adi_Du/Pexels.