Giant Snakes at Reptilandia

We all hear stories and see fake photos on social media about the enormous snakes that slither around in the world’s tropics, snakes that swallow whole cows and are lifted by huge cranes. Well, I have to disappoint you. Until this day the 10 plus meter snake has still not been found. The longest snakes in the world are the reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) from Asia, the green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) from South America, the Oenpelli python (Simalia oenpelliensis) from Australia and the African rock python (Python sebae). Of these the anaconda is the longest, but I can assure you that when you observe our reticulated python, you will be impressed! His length reaches almost 5 meters. Other giant snakes in the collection are the Papuan olive pythons (Apodora papuana), all exceeding 4 meters. The biggest boas that can be seen are yellow anacondas (Eunectes notaeus.) Even Costa Rica’s largest snake, the emperor boa (Boa imperator) has a length close to 3 meters. Females tend to grow larger than the males.

The difference between them is that boas bear live young (viviparous) and pythons lay eggs (oviparous), which are generally incubated and protected by the females. The females coil around the eggs and can generate heat by rhythmic shivering of the muscles, despite changes in surrounding temperatures. Other pythons bask in the sun and return to the eggs to transfer heat to them. Some pythons can lay 100 eggs. Big boas can have more than 50 neonates. The snakes have large curved teeth used to catch their prey, immediately followed by wrapping their bodies around it to constrict it. Large pythons and anacondas are capable of eating large prey like caimans, small deer, wild pigs and antelopes. As for the rest of the list, I will leave it for the Hollywood filmmakers.

By Roel de Plecker