Biggest Snake in the World: 45.9 ft (14 m) Long and 1.25 Tons in Weight
Scientists found the skeleton of the biggest snake in the world in Columbia. It was as big as a school bus and as heavy as a small car.
The Titanoboa Was the Biggest Snake in the World
The giant “titanoboa” lived just after the dinosaurs died out, around 60 million years ago. It was about 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) warmer than it is today. As the metabolism of “cold-blooded” reptiles like snakes is directly related to the temperature of their surroundings, they were able to get incredibly big. This animal was an impressive 45 feet (14 meters) long and weighed around 1.25 tons.
This photo-realistic illustration shows how the titanoboa might have actually looked. As there were no cameras back then, there are - of course - no photos. An albertaceratops is standing next to the titanoboa.
Lifestyle of Titanoboa and Anaconda Quite Similar
With these measurements, it is the largest, longest and heaviest snake in the history of the world - even if it’s been dead for a while. Scientists believe that it lived in a similar way to the anaconda that now lives in South America.
Where Was the Titanoboa Discovered
The fossil was found in South America, in a coal mine in Columbia. Almost all vertebraeand 184 other spine/rib bones were dug out of the tunnel. It must have been considerably warmer there at that time - 60 million years ago. Scientists believe that snakes’ body sizes directly depend on the temperature. They think the average annual temperature was between 86 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit (30 and 35 degrees Celsius).
Where Does the Name Titanoboa Come From?
Boa is a word used for snakes in the boidae family. Titans were giant gods in Greek mythology. After all, you could hardly call this snake a “dwarf boa”.
This photo-realistic illustration shows the titanoboa with a megalodon, the largest shark in the world (now extinct).
Are There Big Snakes Getting Big Like this Today?
Snakes that live on Earth today don’t get as big or as heavy. The biggest snake in the world is the reticulated python at 22.8 feet (6.95 meters) long. Of course, there are sensational finds but it mostly turns out that the snake has been artificially stretched, exaggerated or measured incorrectly.
- Find out more:
- The Longest Boas
- The Biggest and Longest Animals
- Black Mamba Facts
- Green Anaconda Facts
- The Most Dangerous Venomous Snakes: Asia
- The Most Dangerous Venomous Snakes: Africa
- The Most Dangerous Venomous Snakes: Australia and New Guinea
- The Most Dangerous Venomous Snakes: Central and South America