Python and anaconda both belong to different families. They share many of the characteristics hence they are confused by many people. They have a number of differences that distinguish them from each other. Both have large bodies; they are long and use their strength to kill their prey.
So, what is the difference between python and anaconda snake? Most pythons lay eggs while anacondas give birth to young ones.
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Comparison Table (Python vs Anaconda Snakes)
| Characteristics | Python | Anaconda |
| Family | It belongs to the family Pythonidae. | It belongs to the family Boidae. |
| Geographical location | They are found in Asia, Africa, and Australia. | They are found in tropical South America. |
| weight | They are comparatively small. They weigh about 300 pounds. | They are larger. They weigh about 550 pounds. |
| What they feed on | They mainly feed on big animals such as deer and antelopes. | They feed on both small and big animals. |
| Behavior | They are excellent swimmers and have heat-sensing organs on their bodies. | They are excellent swimmers but prefer to spend more time on land. |
| Young ones | Females lay eggs and they incubate them till they hatch. | They do not lay eggs; they just give birth. |
| How they kill their prey | They kill their prey by wrapping their body around the prey and squeezing it until the prey stops breathing. | They kill their prey by biting them and drowning them in water then swallow them in one piece. |
| Length | It is the longest snake; it measures up to 33 feet. | They are comparatively short; they measure up to 20 feet. |
| Lifespan | They live up to 35 years. | They live up to 10 years. |
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What is a Python?
Python is a non-venomous snake that belongs to the family Pythonidae. There are 31 species of pythons. It is the longest snake in the world. They inhabit grasslands, rocky foothills, savannahs, and rainforests. They are excellent swimmers hence they can live on both land and water.
They are generally carnivores. They feed on big animals such as deer and antelopes. They wrap themselves around their prey and squeeze it until it dies. After it has died, they swallow it in one piece.
The male mates with the females then they live on their own. The female lays eggs and incubates them until they hatch. After hatching, the young ones are left on their own as they are able to catch small prey such as rodents and have already developed venom glands.
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What is an Anaconda Snake?
Anaconda snakes belong to the family Boidae. It is one of the heaviest and largest snakes in the world. It is a semiaquatic animal that is found in tropical South America. They are big, their nostrils and eyes are located on top of their head that allowing them to see their prey when submerged in water.
They are non-venomous snakes. They are carnivores and when they get hold of their prey they bite and draw them in water and swallow them in one piece. They are excellent swimmers and are nocturnal animals.
Anaconda gives birth to young ones. They do not lay eggs like the other snakes. The male mates with the female and the eggs in the female have fertilized then the female carries the pregnancy up to the time it gives birth. After giving birth the young ones are left on their own as they can hunt on small rodents.
Main Difference between Python and Anaconda snakes
- Python belongs to the family Pythonidae while anaconda belongs to the family Boidae.
- Python lays eggs while anaconda just gives birth to young ones.
- Pythons are the longest snakes measuring up to 33 feet while anaconda is relatively shorter measuring about 20 feet.
- Pythons are comparatively light in weight measuring 300 pounds while anaconda is heavier measuring about 550 pounds.
- Pythons kill their prey by wrapping themselves around the prey and squeezing it until it stops breathing while an anaconda kills its prey by biting and drawing it into water then swallowing it in one piece.
Similarities between Python and Anaconda Snakes
- They are both carnivores.
- They both inhabit warmer climates.
- Both are the largest snakes in the world.
- They both possess two lungs.
- Both are non-venomous snakes.
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In Conclusion
Python and anaconda are the largest snakes in the world. They are both carnivores and they swallow their prey in one piece after killing it. Python is the longest snake while anaconda is the heaviest snake. The main feature that makes python different from anaconda is how they give rise to young ones.
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