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List of largest reptiles

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The saltwater crocodile is the largest living reptile

The list of largest reptiles includes living crocodilians that reach a length of 6 m (20 ft) and more, such as Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius), American crocodile (C. acutus), Nile crocodile (C. niloticus), saltwater crocodile (C. porosus), gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) and false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii). The largest known crocodilian specimen measured 6.78 m (22.2 ft) and was shot in South America by Aimé Bonpland.[1][2] Unconfirmed reports of larger crocodilians exist, but examinations of incomplete remains indicate a length of less than 7 m (23 ft) and 2,000 kg (4,400 lb).

Table of heaviest living reptiles

The following is a list of the heaviest living reptile species, which is dominated by the crocodilians. Unlike the upper weights of mammals, birds or fish, mass in reptiles is frequently poorly documented and many are subject to conjecture and estimation.[3]

Rank Species Mass range [kg (lb)] Maximum mass [kg (lb)] Average total length [m (ft)]
1 Saltwater crocodile 400 to 1,000 kg (880 to 2,200 lb)[1] 2,000 kg (4,400 lb)[4] 4.3 to 5.2 m (14 to 17 ft)[1]
2 Nile crocodile 250 to 750 kg (550 to 1,650 lb)[5][6] 1,090 kg (2,400 lb)[3] 3.7 to 4.9 m (12 to 16 ft)[5][6]
3 Orinoco crocodile[7] 380 to 735 kg (840 to 1,620 lb)[8] 1,100 kg (2,400 lb)[citation needed] 3.7 to 4.9 m (12 to 16 ft)[8][9]
4 Leatherback sea turtle 250 to 700 kg (550 to 1,540 lb)[10][11] 932 kg (2,050 lb)[3] 2.0 m (6.6 ft)[3]
5 Black caiman 300 to 600 kg (660 to 1,320 lb)[12] 1,100 kg (2,400 lb)[13][14] 2.7 to 4.3 m (9 to 14 ft)[15][16][17][18]
6 American crocodile 250 to 550 kg (550 to 1,200 lb)[19] 1,000 kg (2,200 lb)[20] 3.0 to 4.3 m (10 to 14 ft)[21][22]
7 Gharial 160 to 460 kg (350 to 1,010 lb)[23] 977 kg (2,150 lb)[24] 3.5 to 4.5 m (11 to 15 ft)[25]
8 American alligator 204 to 454 kg (450 to 1,000 lb)[26][27] 1,000 kg (2,200 lb)[3] 2.7 to 4.0 m (9 to 13 ft)[27]
9 Mugger crocodile 160 to 320 kg (350 to 700 lb)[26] 700 kg (1,500 lb)[28] 3 to 3.5 m (9.8 to 11.5 ft)[29]
10 False gharial 210 (460)[30] 4 m (13 ft)[31]
11 Loggerhead sea turtle 200 (441)[citation needed] 545 (1202) 0.95 (3.2)[32]
12 Green sea turtle 190 (418.9) 395 (870.8) 1.12 (3.67)
13 Slender-snouted crocodile 180 (400)[33][34] 325 (720)[33] 3.3 (10.8)[33]
14 Aldabra giant tortoise 180 (397)[35] 360 (790)[3] 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in)[32]
15 Galapagos tortoise 175 (390)[36] 400 (880)[37] 1.5 (4.9)[38]

Crocodilians

The largest known specimen among the living crocodilians was an Orinoco crocodile with a length of 6.78 m (22.2 ft).[1] A 6.55 m (21.5 ft) long gharial was killed in the Ghaghara River in Faizabad in August 1920.[39] Male gharials reach an average length of 5.7 m (19 ft).[40] The largest known saltwater crocodile measured 6.2 m (20 ft) and was shot in Papua New Guinea.[1] A 6.17 m (20.2 ft) long individual was captured alive in Mindanao in 2011.[2]

The largest Nile crocodile specimen was purported to be a man-eater from Burundi named Gustave; it was thought to have been more than 6.1 m (20 ft) long. The extinct Crocodylus thorbjarnarsoni was the largest true crocodile to exist, growing up to 7.6 m (25 ft) in length.[41]

The largest member of this family to ever exist was the extinct Rhamphosuchus from Miocene Asia, attaining a length up to possibly 18 m (59 ft), though was more typically 11 m (36 ft). Based on its fossils, the latter species was less massive and heavy than the other giant crocodilians, weighing an estimated 3 tonnes.[42][43]

The largest member of the family Alligatoridae is either the Black caiman or American alligator which have been confirmed to grow up to 4.6 m (15 ft) in length and weigh up to 453 kg (999 lb), not as large as the preceding crocodilians but still impressive.[44] Unverified reports suggest lengths of up to 6 m (20 ft) for the black caiman and 5.84 m (19.2 ft) for the American alligator. The largest member of this family was the caiman-like Purussaurus, from northern South America during the Miocene epoch. It grew to 10–12 m (33–39 ft) long and could weigh up to 8 tonnes, making it one of the largest crocodilians ever.[45] Other contenders for the largest crocodilian ever include the late Cretaceous period Deinosuchus, at up to 12 m (39 ft) and 8.5 t (8.4 long tons; 9.4 short tons). Sarcosuchus imperator of the early Cretaceous was found in the Sahara desert and could measure up to 9 m (30 ft) and weigh an estimated 3.5 tonnes.[46][47][48]

Lizards and snakes (Squamata)

The green anaconda is the most massive living snake.
Further information: List of largest snakes
  • The most massive living member of this highly diverse reptilian order is the green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) of the neotropical riverways. These may exceed 8.8 m (29 ft) and 227 kilograms (500 lb), although such reports are not fully verified.[49] Rumors of larger anacondas also persist.[50] The reticulated python (Python reticulatus) of Southeast Asia is longer but more slender, and has been reported to measure as much as 10 m (33 ft) in length and to weigh up to 158 kilograms (350 lb).[3][51] The Burmese python, a south-east Asian species is known to weight as much 183 kg and is generally the heaviest snake on average modern wild specimens. The fossil of the largest snake ever, the extinct boa Titanoboa were found in coal mines in Colombia. This snake was estimated to reach a length of 12.8 m (42 ft) and weighed about 1,135 kg (2,500 lb).[52]
  • Among the colubrids, the most diverse snake family, the largest snakes may be the Keeled Rat Snake (Ptyas carinata) at up to 4 m (13 ft).[53] The genus Drymarchon also contains some of the largest colubrids such as the Eastern Indigo Snake and the Yellow-tailed Cribo (Drymarchon corais) which can both reach lengths of more than 3 m (9.8 ft).
  • The longest venomous snake is the South Asian king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), with lengths (recorded in captivity) of up to 5.7 m (19 ft) and a weight of up to 12.7 kg (28 lb).[3] It is also the largest elapid. The second-longest venomous snake in the world is possibly the African Black Mamba (Dendroaspis Polylepis), which can grow upto 4.5 m (14.9 ft). Among the genus "true cobra" (Naja), the longest member arguably may be the Forest cobra (Naja Melanoleuca), which can reportedly grow up to 3 m (10 ft).
  • The Gaboon viper, a very bulky species with a maximum length of around 2 m (6.6 ft), is typically the heaviest non-constrictor snake and the biggest member of the viper family, with unverified specimens reported to as much as 20 kg (44 lb).[3][54] While not quite as heavy, another member of the viper family is longer still, the South American bushmaster (Lachesis muta), with a maximum length of 3.65 m (12.0 ft).[55]
  • The largest of the monitor lizards (and the largest extant lizard in general) is the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), endemic to the island of its name, at a maximum size of 3.13 m (10.3 ft) long and 166 kg (366 lb).[3] Crocodile monitor (Varanus salvadorii) is probably the longest living lizard, known to grow as much as 3.23 m (10.6 ft).[56] The prehistoric Australian Megalania (Varanus priscus), which may have existed up to 40,000 years ago, is the largest terrestrial lizard known to exist, but the lack of a complete skeleton has resulted in a wide range of size estimates. Molnar's 2004 assessment resulted in an average weight of 320 kg (710 lb) and length of 4.5 m (15 ft), and a maximum of 1,940 kg (4,280 lb) at 7 m (23 ft) in length, which is toward the high end of the early estimates.[57]
  • The largest extant gecko is the New Caledonian Giant Gecko (Rhacodactylus leachianus) of New Caledonia, which can grow to 14 inches in length.[58] It was surpassed in size by the extinct Kawekaweau (Hoplodactylus delcourti) of New Zealand, which grew to a length of 23 inches.[59]
  • By far the largest-ever members of this order were the giant mosasaurs (including Hainosaurus, Mosasaurus, and Tylosaurus), which grew to around 17 m (56 ft) and were projected to weigh up to 20 tonnes.[60]

Plesiosaurs (Plesiosauria)

Mauisaurus, the largest plesiosaur.
The largest known plesiosaur was Mauisaurus haasti, from the late Cretaceous oceans around what is now New Zealand. It is estimated to have grown to around 20 m (66 ft) in length and to have weighed 30 tonnes.[61]

Ichthyosaurs (Ichthyosauria)

Three species of genus Shastasaurus, including S. sikanniensis, the largest known ichthyosaur
The largest of these marine reptiles (extinct for 210 million years) was the species Shastasaurus sikanniensis, at approximately 21 m (69 ft) long and 68 tonnes. This massive animal, from the Norian stage in what is now British Columbia, is considered the largest marine reptile so far found in the fossil record.[62]

Tuataras (Sphenodontia)

The larger of the two extant species of the New Zealand native tuataras is the Brothers Island tuatara (Sphenodon guntheri). The maximum size is 1.4 kg (3.1 lb) and 76 cm (30 in).

Turtles (Testudines)

The giant leatherback sea turtle, the largest extant turtle, digs a nest on the beach.

The largest living turtle is the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), reaching a maximum total length of 3 m (9.8 ft) and a weight of 932 kg (2,055 lb).[3] The second of the largest extant testudines is the loggerhead sea turtle, having a slightly larger average weight than the green sea turtle. The green sea turtle however tends to be longer.

The largest extant freshwater turtle is possibly the North American alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii), which has an unverified maximum reported weight of 183 kg (403 lb), although this is challenged by several rare, giant softshell turtle from Asia (Rafetus and Pelochelys) unverified to 200 kg (440 lb) and nearly 2 m (6.6 ft) in total length.[3][63][64]

The Galápagos tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) and the Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) are considered the largest truly terrestrial reptiles alive today.[3] While the Aldabra tortoise averages larger at 205 kg (452 lb), the more variable-sized Galapagos tortoise can reach a greater maximum size of 400 kg (880 lb) and 1.85 m (6.1 ft) in total length.[37][65] A much larger tortoise survived until about 2000 years ago, the Australasian Meiolania at about 2.6 m (8.5 ft) long and a weight of over 1 tonne.[3] The tortoise Colossochelys atlas, of the Pleistocene era from what is now Pakistan and India, was even larger, at nearly 3.1 m (10 ft) and 2 tonnes.

There are many extinct turtles that vie for the title of the largest ever.[3] The largest seems to be the freshwater turtle Stupendemys, with an estimated total carapace length of more than 3.3 m (11 ft) and weight of up to 1,814–2,268 kg (3,999–5,000 lb).[66] A close contender is Archelon ischyros, a sea turtle, which reached a length of 4.84 m (15.9 ft) across the flippers and a weight of over 2,200 kg (4,900 lb).[67]

Pterosaurs (Pterosauria)

A dinosaur-era reptile (although not actually a dinosaur) is believed to have been the largest flying animal that ever existed: the pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus northropi, from North America during the late Cretaceous. This species is believed to have weighed up to 250 kg (550 lb), measured 7.9 m (26 ft) in total length (including a neck length of over 3 m (9.8 ft)) and measured up to 11 m (36 ft) across the wings.[68][69] Another possible contender for the largest pterosaur is Hatzegopteryx, which is also estimated to have had an 11 m (36 ft) wingspan.[68]

See also

References

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