Which rainforest snake is the heaviest living snake species?

The green anaconda is the heaviest living snake species. Its scientific name is Eunectes murinus, and it inhabits wetlands, rivers, swamps, and seasonally flooded forests across much of tropical South America.

Green anacondas are excellent swimmers and spend much of their time in water, where their eyes and nostrils sit high on the head. They ambush fish, birds, mammals, turtles, and other prey, then constrict it before swallowing it whole. Females are substantially larger than males, a pattern called sexual dimorphism.

The green anaconda is often confused with the reticulated python, which can exceed it in maximum length. The anaconda’s distinction is mass rather than length: it has a much heavier, more muscular body. Popular stories often exaggerate its size, so unusually large claims should be treated cautiously unless supported by reliable measurements.