A Whale Of A Story

Typical Anaconda

Considering I have already done a story on the world's smallest snake, I figured I needed to learn a bit about the opposite end of the size chart. That's right, I'm talking about the world's largest snake: the Giant Anaconda. Anacondas are often used in horror or action movies due to their horribly massive size. The Giant Anaconda truly deserves its title, because the largest of these snakes came in at an extensive 28 feet with a girth of 44 inches. No to mention it weighed in at 500 pounds! While a python measured in at 33 feet, the anaconda's girth won the championship belt.
Anacondas usually spend the majority of their life near rivers to hunt their food. And these snakes don't just cozy up to people on a regular basis. They are actually rather shy and solitary. They are very well camouflaged to their environment in the South American swamps and bogs in which they thrive. Over time, there have been reports of anacondas that exceed the recorded length of 28 feet, some even reported to be 100 feet according to early European explorers, but their claims are taken with a grain of salt. It is believed that they may have found a snake skin that can stretch to monuments lengths. Also, snakes with larger sizes are more likely to be improperly measured. The larger they are, the greater possibility of error.

Titanboa

Now, anacondas are the largest snakes to have lived in modern times, but they are nothing compared to their big brothers of the ancient world. These monstrous snakes (second picture) go by the name of, Titanoboa, and were found by scientists in a coal mine in Columbia in 2008. Paleontologists estimated that the ancient reptile was 43 feet long and weighed as much as 2,500 pounds! They were large enough to prey on crocodiles! It is estimated that, due to snake's cold blooded body makeup, the Amazon would have had to have been an extra six to eight degrees warmer for these giants to have survived.
It is a common misconception to believe that anacondas are venomous. They actually belong to the constrictor family and are non venomous. They are likely to dig into aquatic animals such as fish, but do feast on other snakes, deer, and even the occasional jaguar. These are slow giants, so they rely on strength and the element of surprise to feast. And you can't own one! I get asked this question more times than one may think. Unless you are a zoo keeper, your more likely to fly to the moon than own one of these guys.
But remember, it's not size that matters, it's how you use it.

Link: http://www.extremescience.com/biggest-snake.htm