Which snake holds the record for the greatest verified length?

The reticulated python holds the record for the greatest verified length among living snakes.

Reticulated pythons are native to South and Southeast Asia and are named for the net-like pattern formed by their dark-edged scales. Verified individuals have exceeded 7 metres, while most wild adults are much shorter. They are powerful constrictors that can take mammals and birds.

The species illustrates the difference between length and weight in snake records. Green anacondas are generally heavier because they have thicker bodies, but reticulated pythons are the species associated with the longest reliably measured living specimens.

Reticulated pythons are excellent swimmers and can occur in forests, wetlands, and areas near human settlements. They are nonvenomous, using backward-curving teeth to hold prey before constriction.