Here, we’ll learn more about just what types of snakes call the Everglades home. Then, we’ll discover the largest snake currently living in this World Heritage Site, as well as news reports of the largest specimen ever found. Then, we’ll take a look at exactly what makes the largest snake found in the Everglades so unique. Finally, we’ll learn whether or not the Everglades’ largest snake really is an invasive species that threatens the entire ecosystem of the park.
What Snakes Live in the Everglades?
The Everglades is home to 23 species of snake, four of which are venomous. Among the venomous are the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, dusky pygmy rattlesnake, eastern coral snake, and Florida cottonmouth. The park is also home to boa constrictors, rat snakes, hognose snakes, kingsnakes, water snakes, and garter snakes—none of which are venomous. No matter what kind of snake you encounter in the Florida Everglades, remember to treat it with respect. Never try to approach or pick up a snake in the wild, regardless of whether or not it seems dangerous. Now, let’s take a look at the largest snake found in the Everglades.
What is the Largest Snake in the Everglades?
The largest snake found in the Everglades is the Burmese python. Burmese pythons can grow up to 20 feet long, and weigh over 100 pounds. Because they survive and reproduce so successfully in the Florida Everglades, they’ve become a real problem over the past four decades. Despite their size, they hide easily in the sawgrass fields and cypress swamps of the Everglades. In fact, they’re so hard to find that professional python hunters are employed to root out and get rid of nuisance snakes.
The Largest Burmese Python Ever Found in the Everglades
There are actually several contenders when it comes to the largest Burmese python ever found in the Everglades. In 2012, members of the U.S. Geological Survey killed a 17-foot, 7-inch female Burmese python that weighed nearly 165 pounds. At the time, this was the heaviest snake ever recorded in the Everglades, and she was carrying 87 eggs at the time of death. Then on June 20, 2022, a 215-pound Burmese python was captured in the Everglades, setting a new record for weight. But, that female isn’t the longest snake ever found in the Everglades. That title goes to another female python; this one was killed in 2020 by professional python hunters. This female measured in at 18.9 feet long, though her weight was not recorded.
Profile: The Burmese Python
Burmese pythons are among the largest snakes in the world, and they’re now common in the Florida Everglades. Let’s learn a little more about these fascinating, gigantic snakes.
Burmese Python: Size
Burmese pythons grow to a maximum length of about 19 feet. Females grow larger than males, both in weight and in length. The average length for these snakes is around 16 feet. Most weigh under 200 pounds, but the heaviest snake ever recorded was a Burmese weighing 403 pounds. This snake was captive, however.
Burmese Python: Appearance
Burmese pythons have a base color of deep gold. This is offset by dark brown, irregularly shaped blotches evenly spaced along the sides and back. The belly is pale tan, with no markings. Unlike venomous snakes, which often have triangular heads, Burmese pythons have heads only a little wider than their necks. The main feature of their body is their incredible musculature. As constrictors, Burmese pythons rely on their strength to bring down prey even larger than themselves.
Burmese Python: Behavior
Burmese pythons are active mostly at night. They’re capable of both swimming and climbing trees, though they do more of the former in the Everglades. Unlike other species of snake, Burmese python mothers actually guard their eggs as they incubate. They even go so far as to warm them with their bodies if needed. Burmese pythons are non-venomous. Instead, they rely on their massive bulk to overpower prey. By squeezing their prey tight in their coils, they cut off its ability to inhale, which quickly leads to asphyxiation. Burmese pythons have been observed eating alligators, deer, pigs, birds, and goats.
Burmese Python: Location and Habitat
Burmese pythons are native to Southeast Asia. This includes parts of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Cambodia, Vietnam, and more. In the United States, they’re found only in the Florida Everglades. These giant snakes need a permanent source of water to survive, though they may wander to dry grasslands or woodlands.
Are Burmese Pythons Native to the Everglades?
Burmese pythons may be the largest snakes found in the Everglades, but they’re also one of the most problematic. They’re not native to North America and have become an invasive species in Florida due to the release of a few pet Burmese pythons decades ago. As invasive species go, the Burmese python just might be one of the most devastating. Studies show that in the decades since Burmese pythons started reproducing in the Everglades, mammalian populations in the area have plummeted. In other words, the Burmese pythons of the Everglades are eating everything in sight, and there isn’t much anyone can do about it. Unfortunately, these gigantic snakes are incredibly well adapted to the Everglades, and it’s unlikely that they’re going anywhere anytime soon.
