Top 11 Longest Snakes by Maximum Length in the World
The reticulated python is the world's longest snake. Its longest recorded length is 7.92 m, for a captive python named Samantha, and the green anaconda's is 6.32 m. Two ties at the bottom put 11 species on this top 10.
Updated October 18, 202611 ranked3 sources
Quick answer
The Reticulated Python is the longest snake in the world, with a longest recorded length of 7.92 m, for a captive female named Samantha. The Central African Rock Python is second at 6.5 m and the Green Anaconda third at 6.32 m. The ranking uses the longest length recorded for each species in Wikipedia's List of largest snakes (revision of 14 October 2026), excluding figures it flags as doubtful.
Claims of 10-metre snakes are old news, but no snake that long has ever been reliably measured. A $50,000 reward once offered for a live snake over 30 feet (9.1 m) was never claimed. This list ranks snake species by the longest length recorded for each one in Wikipedia's List of largest snakes, which rates how reliable each figure is. Lengths that page calls doubtful are left out.
The reticulated python leads comfortably. Six species follow with recorded lengths between 5.65 and 6.5 metres: two African rock pythons, the green anaconda, the Burmese python, the king cobra and the Australian scrub python, plus the Cuban boa tied at 5.65 m.
Longest recorded length (m)
Longest recorded length (m)
7.9
Reticulated Python
6.5
Central African Rock Python
6.3
Green Anaconda
5.8
Southern African Rock Python
5.8
Burmese Python
5.7
King Cobra
5.7
Australian Scrub Python
5.7
Cuban Boa
5.5
Amethystine Python
4.6
Indian Python
4.6
Yellow Anaconda
The ranking
1
Reticulated Python
The longest recorded reticulated python is Samantha, a captive female measured at 7.92 m in 2002 (somewhat reliable). Medusa, a captive snake in Kansas City, measured 7.67 m in 2011 and is the Guinness record holder. The longest one the source rates fully reliable is a wild snake measured at 6.95 m in 1999. A 10.05 m report is not firmly verified.
Scientific name: Malayopython reticulatusLongest recorded: 7.92 m (Samantha, captive, 2002)Source rating: Somewhat reliableHeaviest recorded: 158.8 kgRange: South and Southeast Asia
2
Central African Rock Python
The Central African rock python has a reliably recorded maximum length of 6.5 m. A 7.5 m report is not firmly verified. The source treats it as a separate species from the Southern African rock python.
Scientific name: Python sebaeLongest recorded: 6.5 mSource rating: ReliableHeaviest recorded: 91 kgRange: Central and West Africa
3
Green Anaconda
The longest green anaconda the source rates reliable is a 6.32 m specimen listed by Rivas and colleagues. A 6.27 m figure is rated somewhat reliable. Lengths of 8.8 m or more have been reported but are not firmly verified. The anaconda is shorter than the reticulated python but much heavier for its length.
Scientific name: Eunectes murinusLongest recorded: 6.32 mSource rating: ReliableHeaviest recorded: 97.5 kgRange: Northern South America
4
Southern African Rock Python
The Southern African rock python has a reliably recorded maximum of 5.8 m, and a 6 m report is not firmly verified. Snakes longer than 4.6 m are rare. Among 75 measured in South Africa, the longest female was 4.34 m.
The longest Burmese python on record is a wild female caught in Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, on 10 July 2023. She was officially measured at 5.79 m (19 ft), a length the source rates reliable. Baby, a captive Burmese python, measured 5.74 m.
Scientific name: Python bivittatusLongest recorded: 5.79 m (wild, Florida, 2023)Source rating: ReliableHeaviest recorded: 182.8 kgRange: Southeast Asia (invasive in Florida)
6
King Cobra
The world's longest venomous snake has been recorded at up to 5.7 m in captivity. The source gives that figure in its text, without a reliability rating, because the king cobra is too light for its species table. The king cobra's own Wikipedia article gives conflicting records of 5.85 m and 18 ft 4 in (5.59 m).
Scientific name: Ophiophagus hannahLongest recorded: 5.7 m (captive)Source rating: UnratedHeaviest recorded: 12.7 kgRange: South and Southeast Asia
7
Australian Scrub Python
Australia's longest snake has a reliably recorded length of 5.65 m. Reports of 7.2 m to 8 m or more are not firmly verified. It is tied with the Cuban boa and is now treated as a separate species from the amethystine python.
The largest Cuban boa specimen on record measured 5.65 m. The source gives no reliability rating for it and says the species grows up to 4.8 m. It is tied with the Australian scrub python.
Scientific name: Chilabothrus anguliferLongest recorded: 5.65 m (largest specimen)Source rating: UnratedHeaviest recorded: 40 kgRange: Cuba
9
Amethystine Python
The source says the amethystine python can reach 5.5 m but gives no rating for that figure. The longest one it rates reliable measured 4.72 m. Little size information exists for the species.
Scientific name: Simalia amethistinaLongest recorded: 5.5 m (stated maximum)Source rating: Unrated (4.72 m reliable)Heaviest recorded: 20 kgRange: New Guinea region
10
Indian Python
The Indian python has a reliably recorded maximum of 4.6 m, and a 6.4 m report is not firmly verified. It is tied for tenth with the yellow anaconda.
The yellow anaconda has been recorded at 4.6 m (reasonably reliable), which ties it for tenth with the Indian python. Most adults are 3-4 m, and the longest of 86 in one field study was 3.1 m.
Scientific name: Eunectes notaeusLongest recorded: 4.6 mSource rating: Reasonably reliableHeaviest recorded: 55 kgRange: Paraguay River basin, South America
Full comparison
#
Name
Scientific name
Longest recorded
Source rating
Heaviest recorded
Range
1
Reticulated Python
Malayopython reticulatus
7.92 m (Samantha, captive, 2002)
Somewhat reliable
158.8 kg
South and Southeast Asia
2
Central African Rock Python
Python sebae
6.5 m
Reliable
91 kg
Central and West Africa
3
Green Anaconda
Eunectes murinus
6.32 m
Reliable
97.5 kg
Northern South America
4
Southern African Rock Python
Python natalensis
5.8 m
Reliable
80 kg
Southern Africa
5
Burmese Python
Python bivittatus
5.79 m (wild, Florida, 2023)
Reliable
182.8 kg
Southeast Asia (invasive in Florida)
6
King Cobra
Ophiophagus hannah
5.7 m (captive)
Unrated
12.7 kg
South and Southeast Asia
7
Australian Scrub Python
Simalia kinghorni
5.65 m
Reliable
35 kg
Queensland, Australia
8
Cuban Boa
Chilabothrus angulifer
5.65 m (largest specimen)
Unrated
40 kg
Cuba
9
Amethystine Python
Simalia amethistina
5.5 m (stated maximum)
Unrated (4.72 m reliable)
20 kg
New Guinea region
10
Indian Python
Python molurus
4.6 m
Reliable
52 kg
Indian subcontinent
11
Yellow Anaconda
Eunectes notaeus
4.6 m
Reasonably reliable
55 kg
Paraguay River basin, South America
How we ranked this
Species are ranked by the longest total length given for them in Wikipedia's List of largest snakes (revision of 14 October 2026). That is the species table, plus the page's own text for the king cobra, which is not in the table. Figures the page itself flags as doubtful are excluded: 'not firmly verified', 'unverified', 'unreliable', 'possibly', 'citation needed' and averages. That rule removes the reticulated python's 10.05 m, the green anaconda's 8.8 m, the Central African rock python's 7.5 m, the Indian python's 6.4 m and the scrub python's 7.2-8 m reports. Every other figure is used whatever rating the page gives it, and each entry states that rating. Captive and wild records are ranked together. Ties: the Australian scrub python and Cuban boa share 5.65 m and are listed alphabetically. The Indian python and yellow anaconda share 4.6 m at tenth place, so both are kept and the list has 11 entries. The next species, the Papuan python, has a recorded length of 4.39 m. Rank 1 is the longest.
FAQ
What is the longest snake in the world?
The reticulated python. Its longest recorded length is 7.92 m, for Samantha, a captive snake measured in 2002. Medusa, the Guinness-recognised captive at 7.67 m, is next, and the longest wild specimen the source rates fully reliable measured 6.95 m.
What is the heaviest snake in the world?
The heaviest snake weight on record is 182.8 kg, for a captive Burmese python. In the wild, the green anaconda is generally considered the heaviest species. Its heaviest reliably recorded weight is 97.5 kg.
Are there snakes longer than 10 metres?
None has been reliably measured. A 10.05 m reticulated python report is not firmly verified. The New York Zoological Society's standing reward for a live, healthy snake over 30 feet (9.1 m), eventually raised to $50,000, was never claimed.
What is the longest venomous snake?
The king cobra, recorded at up to 5.7 m in captivity. Wikipedia's king cobra article gives a longest known individual of 5.85 m.
The longest amphibian species on record, ranked by maximum reported total length: three giant salamanders, two caecilians, two amphiumas, two sirens and the hellbender.
By total length, the longest reptile on record is a reticulated python measured at 7.92 m. The longest crocodilian is a Nile crocodile at 6.45 m, and a tie at the bottom puts 11 species on this top 10.
The ten snakes with the most potent venom by subcutaneous LD50 in mice, in saline: from the inland taipan's 0.025 mg/kg to the mainland tiger snake's 0.118 mg/kg.
On weights that are actually on record, a captive Burmese python named Baby (182.8 kg) is the heaviest snake. The green anaconda's best reliable figure is 97.5 kg, the heaviest of 780 wild snakes in one study, and heavier anaconda claims have never been firmly verified.