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PYTHONS & BOAS |
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The Pythonidae, commonly known simply as pythons, are a family of non-venomous snakes found in Africa, Asia and Australia and some Pacific Islands. Among its members are some of the largest snakes in the world. Pythons are distinguished from the boas in that they lay eggs while boas give birth to live young. The family is comprised of eight genera and 32 species are currently recognized.
The Boidae, commonly known simply as boas or boids, are a family of non-venomous snakes found in the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia and some Pacific Islands. Relatively primitive snakes, adults are medium to large in size, with females usually larger than the males. Boas are distinguished from the pythons in that none have postfrontal bones or premaxillary teeth, and that they give birth to live young. The family is comprised of five genera and 28 species are currently recognized.
Below are the average and maximum recorded lengths of various species of pythons and boas confirmed by reputable biologist and/or herpetologists.
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Average Length |
Record Length |
Reticulated Python |
Python reticulatus |
♂ 3.6-4.2 m (12-14 ft) |
10.1 m (33.2 ft) |
Longest snake in the world |
♀ 5.47 m (18 ft) |
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Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia and Laos) |
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Green Anaconda |
Eunectes murinus |
♂ 3.6-4.2 (12-14 ft) |
8.7 m (28.6 ft) |
Heaviest and bulkiest snake in the world |
♀ 5 m (16.4 ft) |
220 kg (484 lbs) |
South America (Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil and Trinidad) |
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Amethystine Python |
Morelia amethistina |
♂ 3-3.95 m (10-13 ft) |
8.5 m (27.9 ft) |
Largest snake in Australia |
♀ 4.8 m (16 ft) |
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African Rock Python |
Python sebae |
♂ 3.6 m (12 ft) |
7.6 m (25.2 ft) |
Largest snake in Africa |
♀ 4.8 m (16 ft) |
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Africa (more or less everywhere south of the Sahara Desert) |
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Burmese Python |
Python molurus bivittatus |
♂ 3-4.5 m (10-15 ft) |
6.8 m (22.3 ft) |
subspecies of Indian Rock Python |
♀ 5.1-6 m (17-20 ft) |
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Southern and southeast Asia (Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan and Bangladesh) |
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Yellow Anaconda |
Eunectes notaeus |
♂ 2-2.4 m (6-8 ft) |
4.5 m (15 ft) |
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♀ 3-3.6 m (10-12 ft) |
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South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uraguay) |
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Boa Constrictor |
Boa constrictor constrictor |
♂ 1.8-2.4 m (6-8 ft) |
4.2 m (14 ft) |
aka. Red Tailed Boa |
♀ 2.1-3.05 m (7-10 ft) |
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Oldest snake in captivity at Philadelphia Zoo - 40 yrs, 3 months and 14 days †15 April 1977 |
South America (Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil and Suriname) |
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Olive Python |
Liasis olivaceus |
♂ 1.8-2.4m (6-8 ft) |
4 m (13.2 ft) |
Second largest snake in Australia |
♀ 2.4-3 m (8-10 ft) |
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Carpet Python |
Morelia spilota |
♂ 2-2.5 m (6-8.2 ft) |
3.9 m (13 ft) |
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♀ 2.7-3 m (8.8-10 ft) |
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Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea |
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Common Boa |
Boa constrictor imperator |
♂ 1.5-2.4 m (5-8 ft) |
3.7 m (12.1 ft) |
aka. Boa Constrictor Imperator, BCI |
♀ 2.1-2.7 m (7-9 ft) |
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Central and South America (Mexico and south to Bolivia) |
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Madagascar Boa |
Boa madagascariensis |
♂ 1.8-2.4 m (6-8 ft) |
3.05 m (10 ft) |
aka. Malagasy Ground Boa |
♀ 2.1-2.7 m (7-9 ft) |
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Bredl's Python |
Morelia bredli |
♂ 1.5-2 m (5-6.6 ft) |
3 m (9.8 ft) |
aka.Centralian Carpet Python |
♀ 2-2.5 m (6.6-8.2 ft) |
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Australia |
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D'Albert's Water Python |
Leiopython albertisii |
♂ 1.5-2 m (5-6.6 ft) |
3 m (9.8 ft) |
aka.White-lipped Python |
♀ 2-2.5 m (6.6-8.2 ft) |
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New Guinea |
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Green Tree Python |
Morelia viridis |
♂ 1.2-1.6 m (4-5.2 ft) |
2.1 m (7 ft) |
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♀ 1.5-2 m (5-6.6 ft) |
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Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea |
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Ball or Royal Python |
Python regius |
♂ .9-1.1 m (3-3.5 ft) |
1.85 m (6.1 ft) |
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♀ 1.2-1.4 m (4-4.5 ft) |
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Africa (Senegal, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Niger, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Togo, Uganda and Sudan) |
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Genera, species and subspecies of Pythonidae (pythons) |
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- Antaresia
- Antaresia childreni, Children's python
- Antaresia maculosa, Spotted python
- Antaresia perthensis, Pygmy python
- Antaresia stimsoni, Stimson's python
- Apodora, Papuan python
- Apodora papuana, Papuan python
- Aspidites
- Aspidites melanocephalus, Black-headed python
- Aspidites ramsayi, Woma
- Bothrochilus, Bismark ringed python
- Bothrochilus boa, Bismark ringed python
- Leiopython, D'Albert's water python
- Leiopython albertisii, D'Albert's water python (white-lipped python)
- Liasis
- Liasis fuscus, Brown water python
- Liasis mackloti, Macklot's python
- Liasis mackloti mackloti, Macklot's python
- Liasis mackloti savuensis, Savu python
- Liasis olivaceus, Olive python
- Liasis olivaceus barroni, Pilbara olive python
- Liasis olivaceus olivaceus, Olive python
- Morelia
- Morelia amethistina, Amethystine python
- Morelia clastolepis, Moluccan Python
- Morelia boeleni, Boelen's python
- Morelia bredli, Bredl's python
- Morelia carinata, Rough-scaled python
- Morelia kinghorni, Kinghorn's python
- Morelia nauta, Tanimbar python
- Morelia oenpelliensis, Oenpelli python
- Morelia spilota, Carpet pythons
- Morelia spilota cheynei, Jungle carpet python
- Morelia spilota imbricata, Southwestern carpet python
- Morelia spilota mcdowelli, Coastal carpet python
- Morelia spilota metcalfei, Inland carpet python
- Morelia spilota spilota, Diamond python
- Morelia spilota variegata, Northwestern carpet python
- Morelia tracyae, Halmahera pytho
- Morelia viridis, Green tree python
- Python, Pythons
- Python anchietae, Angolan python
- Python breitensteini, Borneo short-tailed python
- Python brongersmai, Red blood python
- Python curtus, Sumatran short-tailed python
- Python molurus, Indian python
- Python molurus bivittatus, Burmese python
- Python molurus molurus, Indian python
- Python regius, Royal python
- Python reticulatus, Reticulated python
- Python sebae, African rock python
- Python sebae natalensis, Natal rock python
- Python sebae sebae, African rock python
- Python timoriensis, Timor python
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Genera, species and subspecies of Boidae (boas) |
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- Boa
- Boa constrictor, Boa constrictor
- Boa constrictor amarali, Amaral's boa
- Boa constrictor constrictor, Red-tailed boa
- Boa constrictor imperator, Common northern boa
- Boa constrictor longicauda, Tumbes Peru boa
- Boa constrictor melanogaster, Ecuadorian boa
- Boa constrictor nebulosa, Dominican clouded boa
- Boa constrictor occidentalis, Argentine boa (locally known as lampalagua, ampalagua or boa de las vizcacheras)
- Boa constrictor orophias, St. Lucia boa
- Boa constrictor ortonii, Orton's boa
- Boa constrictor sabogae, Pearl Island boa
- Boa dumerili, Duméril's boa
- Boa madagascariensis, Madagascar ground boa
- Boa manditra, Madagascar tree boa
- Candoia, Bevel-nosed boas
- Candoia aspera, New Guinean boa
- Candoia bibroni, Fiji boa
- Candoia bibroni australis, Solomon Island tree boa
- Candoia bibroni bibroni, Fiji boa
- Candoia carinata, Pacific boa
- Candoia carinata carinata, Pacific boa
- Candoia carinata paulsoni, Paulson's bevelnosed boa
- Candoia superciliosa, Palau bevelnosed boa
- Corallus
- Corallus annulatus, Annulated tree boa
- Corallus annulatus annulatus, Northern annulated tree boa
- Corallus annulatus blombergi, Ecuadorian annulated tree boa
- Corallus annulatus colombianus, Colombian annulated tree boa
- Corallus caninus, Emerald tree boa
- Corallus cookii, Cook's tree boa
- Corallus cropanii, Cropan's boa
- Corallus grenadensis, Grenadian Bank tree boa
- Corallus hortulanus, Amazon tree boa
- Corallus ruschenbergerii, Central American tree boa
- Epicrates
- Epicrates angulifer, Cuban boa
- Epicrates cenchria, Rainbow boa
- Epicrates cenchria alvarezi, Argentine rainbow boa
- Epicrates cenchria assisi, Caatinga rainbow boa
- Epicrates cenchria barbouri, Marajo Island rainbow boa
- Epicrates cenchria cenchria, Brazilian rainbow boa
- Epicrates cenchria crassus, Paraguayan rainbow boa
- Epicrates cenchria gaigei, Peruvian rainbow boa
- Epicrates cenchria hygrophilus, Espirito Santo rainbow boa
- Epicrates cenchria maurus, Colombian rainbow boa
- Epicrates cenchria polylepis, Central highland rainbow boa
- Epicrates chrysogaster, Turks & Caicos boa
- Epicrates chrysogaster chrysogaster, Turks & Caicos Island boa
- Epicrates chrysogaster relicquus, Great Inagua Island boa
- Epicrates chrysogaster schwartzi, Acklins Island boa
- Epicrates exsul, Abaco Island boa
- Epicrates fordii, Haitian ground boa
- Epicrates fordii agametus, St. Nicholas ground boa
- Epicrates fordii fordii, Haitian ground boa
- Epicrates fordii manototus
- Epicrates gracilis, Haitian tree boa
- Epicrates gracilis gracilis, Haitian tree boa
- Epicrates gracilis hapalus, Coastal tree boa
- Epicrates inornatus, Puerto Rican boa
- Epicrates monensis, Mona Island boa
- Epicrates monensis granti, Virgin Island tree boa
- Epicrates monensis monensis, Mona Island boa
- Epicrates striatus, Hispaniolan boa
- Epicrates striatus ailurus, Cat Island boa
- Epicrates striatus exagistus, Tiburon Peninsula boa
- Epicrates striatus fosteri, Bimini Island boa
- Epicrates striatus fowleri, Andros Island boa
- Epicrates striatus mccraniei, Ragged Island boa
- Epicrates striatus striatus, Hispaniolan boa
- Epicrates striatus strigilatus, New Providence Island boa
- Epicrates striatus warreni, Tortuga boa
- Epicrates subflavus, Jamaican boa
- Eunectes, Anacondas
- Eunectes deschauenseei, Dark-spotted anaconda
- Eunectes murinus, Green anaconda
- Eunectes murinus gigas
- Eunectes murinus murinus, Green anaconda
- Eunectes notaeus, Yellow anaconda
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Longest Snake in the world: Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus) 10.1 m (33.2 ft). Found in Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia and Laos).
Heaviest Snake in the world: Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) 220 kg (484 lbs). Found in South America (Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil and Trinidad).
Thickest Snake in the world: Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) 111 cm (44 in) in diameter. Found in South America (Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil and Trinidad).
Fastest Snake in the world: Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) 16–20 kmh (10–12 mph). Found in Africa (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan , Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Angola and Zaire).
Most poisonous Snake in the world: Belcher's Sea Snake (Hydrophis belcheri) The median lethal dose (LD50) is 0.0003 mg, one hundred times as toxic as that of a Taipan and 5 thousand times as toxic as that of a cobra. Found in Indian Ocean (Philippines, Panay, New Guinea, Thailand, Australia and Solomon Islands).
Most poisonous (land) Snake in the world: Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) The median lethal dose (LD50) is 0.03 mg, fifty times as toxic as that of a cobra. Found in Australia.
Snake with the highest venom yield: Gaboon Viper (Bitis gabonica) 5–7 ml of venom (450–600 mg of dried venom) may be injected in a single bite. Found in Africa (Guinea, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo, Central African Republic, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Sierra Leone and Liberia).
Snake with the longest fangs: Gaboon Viper (Bitis gabonica) 6.35 cm (2 ½ inches). Found in Africa (Guinea, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo, Central African Republic, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Sierra Leone and Liberia).
Longest poisonous Snake in the world: King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) 5.6 m (18.5 ft). Found in South and southeast Asia.
Smallest Snake in the world: Barbados Threadsnake (Leptotyphlops carlae) 10 cm (4 in). Found on the island of Barbados in the Carribean Sea. |
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