Anaconda vs Python
Verdict: The clearest difference is how they reproduce. Anacondas give birth to live young in water, and pythons lay eggs and coil around them. Green anacondas are bulkier, up to 30 feet, and live in South America.
Anacondas and pythons are both large, nonvenomous constrictors that swallow prey whole, but they are different snakes from different continents. The green anaconda lives in the Amazon and Orinoco basins of South America. The Burmese python, the best-known python in the U.S., is native to Southeast Asia.
The most dependable difference is reproduction. A female anaconda gives live birth, typically 20 to 40 young, and a python lays 30 to 60 eggs and stays coiled around them. Green anacondas are heavier and tied to shallow, slow water, while Burmese pythons live in rainforest, grassland and swamp. Other species exist, so these numbers describe the two best-known ones.
Anaconda vs Python side by side
| Trait | Anaconda (green anaconda) | Python (Burmese python) |
|---|---|---|
| Native range | South America: Amazon and Orinoco basins | Southeast Asia, from southern China to Indonesia |
| Maximum size | Up to about 30 ft, 12 in thick, 550 lb | Typically 10 to 16 ft; over 15 ft is common; largest wild Florida one about 19 ft |
| Reproduction | Live birth after about seven months; 20 to 40 young, up to 82 | Lays 30 to 60 eggs, up to 100; mother coils on eggs for 2+ months |
| Habitat | Shallow, slow-moving water, streams, rivers and flooded grasslands | Rainforest, wetlands, grasslands, swamps and rocky foothills |
| Behavior | Solitary outside breeding season; uses tongue-flicking and heat-sensing pits | Mother stays coiled on eggs and raises their temperature |
| Prey | Fish, birds, small mammals, then deer, capybara and caimans | Mammals, birds and reptiles of appropriate size |
| Venom | None; constrictor | None; constrictor |
| In Florida | Not native | Invasive in the Everglades since the early 1980s |
Last verified October 2026. Typical values; individual animals, products and local prices vary.
When you are looking at which
Anaconda (green anaconda)
- A very thick snake in slow water in South America, such as a flooded grassland or river.
- A female snake that has given birth to live young in the water.
- A snake approaching 20 to 30 feet with a girth of up to a foot.
- Prey such as capybara, caimans or deer in the Amazon or Orinoco basins.
Python (Burmese python)
- A snake in Southeast Asia, or an invasive snake in the Florida Everglades.
- A mother snake coiled around a clutch of eggs for weeks without eating.
- A long constrictor, often 10 to 16 feet, in rainforest, swamp or grassland.
- A nest with 30 to 60 eggs or more in the same place.
How this works
The quiz uses range, reproduction, size, habitat and the mother's behavior. These are described for the green anaconda and the Burmese python, and each answer favors one side. Reproduction and range count most, because they hold up even when two big snakes look alike in a photo.
There are other anaconda and python species with different sizes and ranges. The result is a general guide, not a species ID. Size ranges here are typical and record lengths are rare, so use them as a clue rather than a rule.
Where these numbers come from
The figures and defaults on this page are based on:
- Smithsonian National Zoo: Green Anaconda, Anaconda size, habitat, range, diet and live birth (checked October 2026)
- Smithsonian National Zoo: Burmese Python, Python size, native range, egg laying and brooding (checked October 2026)
- USGS: Invasive Burmese Pythons in Southern Florida, Native range, size, egg counts and Florida invasion (checked October 2026)
Educational guide comparing the green anaconda and Burmese python. Never handle wild snakes.
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, an anaconda or a python?
The green anaconda is heavier, reaching up to 30 feet and 550 pounds. Pythons such as the Burmese python usually run 10 to 16 feet. Length records vary by species.
Do anacondas lay eggs?
No. Anacondas give birth to live young after about a seven-month gestation, usually 20 to 40, and sometimes many more.
Are either of them venomous?
No. Both are nonvenomous constrictors that suffocate prey and swallow it whole.
Why are pythons a problem in Florida?
Burmese pythons escaped or were released as pets and have lived in the Everglades since the early 1980s. USGS reports mammal declines of 85 to 100 percent in Everglades National Park linked to python predation.
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