00:00 They say size doesn't matter, but we beg to differ.
00:03 Some of the largest animals to have ever lived were reptiles, better known as dinosaurs.
00:09 And although the age of the mighty T-Rex and the Plesiosaur is long over, they've been
00:13 left behind by some pretty big snakes, lizards and crocodiles.
00:18 But who is the biggest?
00:20 Welcome to another episode of Forever Green.
00:22 Today, we're counting down the biggest reptiles in the world.
00:28 We've saved the biggest for last, so make sure to stick around for number one to have
00:32 your mind blown.
00:34 From longest to largest to heaviest, let's take a look at some of the scariest reptiles.
00:41 Number eight, Reticulated Python.
00:43 Growing up to 30 feet long, the Reticulated Python of Southeastern Asia in the East Indies
00:49 is the longest snake in the world.
00:51 These giants have an average weight of 250 pounds, but the largest known specimen in
00:56 existence weighs in at a whopping 350 pounds.
01:00 These snakes bite their prey and squeeze it to death before swallowing it slowly in its
01:05 entirety.
01:06 A Reticulated Python caught in Malaysia was recorded as the longest snake ever.
01:10 The Python was approximately 27 feet long and weighed in at 550 pounds.
01:16 Meanwhile, the Guinness Book of World Records gives the honor of longest snake ever in captivity
01:21 to another Reticulated Python named Medusa, who earns her keep as part of a haunted house
01:25 exhibit in Missouri.
01:27 Medusa was measured at 25 feet in the 2011 edition and still holds the title.
01:32 She is said to weigh in at 350 pounds, 200 pounds lighter than the Malaysian specimen.
01:37 If you thought that's a big snake, then stick around for more as the Reticulated Python
01:41 is often no more a snack for some of the other reptiles you'll meet on today's list.
01:51 Number seven, Galapagos Tortoise.
01:54 Weighing in at over 880 pounds, these guys are huge.
01:59 Known as the largest herbivores on the Ecuadorian islands of Galapagos, the Galapagos turtle
02:04 can get up to six feet long.
02:05 The proud-looking Galapagos tortoise can live to be over 100 years old if left alone.
02:11 There are two varieties of Galapagos tortoises.
02:13 Those of the larger variety with rounder shells are called domes, while the smaller turtles
02:17 with shells that curve upwards at the front are called saddlebacks.
02:22 Saddlebacks are often found on the hotter, drier islands of the Galapagos and stretch
02:26 their long necks in order to reach edible vegetation.
02:29 Although the humongous shell of a Galapagos tortoise may look incredibly heavy to carry
02:33 around, it's actually made of a honeycomb-like structure that enables it to stay extremely
02:37 strong while being a lot less heavier than it looks, kind of like carbon fiber.
02:42 Before we move on to reptile number seven, we have a quick challenge that'll just take
02:46 five seconds to complete.
02:48 So here's the deal, leave us a like, smash that subscribe button, and turn on notifications,
02:53 and you'll win 10 years of incredible luck.
02:56 Try it, it actually works.
03:04 Number six, Parentee guana.
03:07 The Parentee guana is the largest monitor lizard in Australia and the second largest
03:11 in the world.
03:12 This lizard prefers remote places with little human interference, which is why it is native
03:16 to the deserts of Australia, where its habitat consists mainly of canyons and rocky outcroppings.
03:22 At eight feet and two inches long and up to 44 pounds, the Parentee weighs about the same
03:27 as a standard poodle.
03:29 And while it's only the second largest monitor lizard in the world, what it lacks in bulk,
03:33 it surely makes up for with incredible patterns that adorn its thick, leathery skin.
03:38 Its artistic skin is said to have inspired a particular style of Aboriginal wood carving,
03:43 and legend has it their origins are tied to the arguably more beautiful black-headed monitor.
03:48 Aside from its unique skin, Parentees can run at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour,
03:55 making them capable of hunting insects, fish, smaller lizards, rabbits, and rats.
04:01 But the larger ones will go as far as to hunt wombats, dingoes, and even kangaroos.
04:07 And it's not even the biggest lizard on today's list.
04:15 Number 5.
04:16 Garial
04:17 Growing up to 17 feet long and weighing up to 1,100 pounds, the Garial is one of the
04:22 largest crocodile species on Earth, but not the largest on today's list.
04:26 The bulbous growth at the end of its thin, sharp-toothed snout distinguishes the Garial
04:31 from similar varieties of crocodiles.
04:33 Females are easily distinguished by their long, slender snouts, as it's only the males
04:38 who grow that extra nosy chunk.
04:40 There's more than meets the eye with these crocodiles.
04:42 The bulbous tip of the male Garial's snout is called a gara, which is the Hindi word
04:47 for pot.
04:48 This bump is used to blow bubbles and create impressive sounds during mating displays to
04:52 attract females.
04:53 Out of all crocodiles, Garials are the only species with such visually distinct differences
04:58 between the opposite sexes.
05:00 Another fun fact about Garials is that they don't use stealth to hunt like most other
05:04 crocodilians.
05:05 They actually use their unique snouts, which contain sensory cells, to help them pick up
05:09 vibrations of other life forms in the water.
05:12 This allows Garials to whip their heads to the side and snatch their prey out of the
05:15 water as soon as it comes close.
05:17 And if the Garial's size and skills weren't enough to impress you, wait until you meet
05:22 the largest crocodile on today's list.
05:30 Number 4 - Green Anaconda
05:32 In terms of length, the Anaconda comes in close second to the reticulated Python.
05:37 But the little it lacks in longitude, it made up for with an incredible weight and body
05:41 mass, making it the largest and heaviest snake in the world.
05:44 The largest Green Anaconda ever found measured in at 28 feet long, with a girth of 44 inches,
05:50 and weighs in at an insane 550 pounds.
05:54 So even though the longest Python is longer than the record-holding Anaconda, the girth
05:58 of the Anaconda is far bigger.
06:01 Anacondas in the jungles of South America can grow as big around as a grown man.
06:08 Anacondas kill by squeezing their prey until it can no longer breathe before swallowing
06:12 it whole, starting at the head.
06:14 There have even been reports of humans being eaten by Anacondas, though none have been
06:18 verified.
06:19 However, it's common knowledge that an Anaconda could eat a human if it wanted to.
06:23 After all, they've been seen eating prey that is far bigger and stronger.
06:27 Because of their remote location, it's quite difficult to survey Green Anacondas, but it's
06:31 believed that there may be even larger specimens out there.
06:39 Number 3.
06:40 Leatherback Turtle Leatherback Turtles can grow to over 6.6 feet
06:44 long and weigh as much as 2,000 pounds, making them one of the largest reptiles in the sea
06:50 and on the planet.
06:52 The vast majority of Leatherback's lives are spent underwater.
06:55 This has allowed the Leatherback Turtle to grow huge, kind of like whales, because water
06:59 lessens the pressure of gravity on an animal's body.
07:02 While most turtles have a hard, rigid shell covering their backs and stomachs, this hulking
07:06 species gets their name from their unusually soft, leathery shell helps streamline its
07:11 body for better swimming and diving.
07:13 These sea turtles use their delicate mouths to consume a diet of soft sea creatures like
07:18 jellyfish, just imagining swallowing one of those.
07:21 These reptilian relics are the only remaining representatives of a family of turtles, with
07:25 roots dating back long before even dinosaurs existed, making them not only the largest,
07:31 but also the oldest species of sea turtle known to mankind.
07:40 Number 2.
07:41 Komodo Dragon Reaching 200 pounds and around 10 feet in
07:45 length, the Komodo Dragon is the largest lizard in the world and a true giant amongst reptiles.
07:50 Only found on a few Indonesian islands, these carnivorous lizards often eat carrion that
07:55 they find, but they do have the ability to ambush and kill large prey, such as wild pigs
07:59 and deer.
08:00 They're even so brave as to have been caught trying to hunt huge water buffalo.
08:04 Attacks on humans have also been reported, and no, it's not their sharp claws and teeth
08:08 they use to bring down larger prey.
08:10 It's actually the saliva of the Komodo Dragon which is used, a poison so venomous, it could
08:15 bring down a buffalo in less than 12 hours with a single bite.
08:20 Now it's finally time for today's subscriber pick.
08:23 Today's photo was sent to us by a subscriber wondering about this huge crocodile, which
08:27 we've identified as a massive saltwater crocodile.
08:30 It's likely to be a celebrity croc known as Brutus, a giant Australian saltwater crocodile
08:35 who went viral after he was snapped eating a bull shark.
08:38 The killer crocodile is now around 80 years old and has a front leg missing which he is
08:42 believed to have lost in a fight with an even greater shark.
08:50 Number 1 - Saltwater Crocodile
08:53 These predatory semi-aquatic reptiles are truly massive with the potential to weigh
08:58 easily over a ton and grow 6 meters long, making them the biggest reptile in the world
09:03 today by a long shot.
09:05 Its ability to live in salty water enables it to inhabit a wide range of coastal areas
09:10 where it often rests just below the surface of the water, waiting for prey animals to
09:14 come to the edge of the water for a drink.
09:16 It then strikes with its powerful jaws, dragging the creature underwater until it drowns before
09:21 consuming it.
09:22 Just for comparison, the huge anaconda from earlier is often no more than a snack to the
09:27 likes of a massive saltwater crocodile.
09:29 Although they look incredibly intimidating, most crocodiles usually try to avoid interaction
09:33 with humans, but the menacing saltwater crocodile is a bit of an exception as they're known
09:38 for being unusually aggressive towards people.
09:41 Perhaps it's the confidence in their sheer size that allows them to fear almost nothing.
09:45 Who knows?
09:46 And that's it for today's video.
09:48 How fond are you of keeping reptiles as pets now?
09:51 Be sure to let us know in the comments below.
09:52 Oh, and if you liked this video, you're going to love this related video.
09:56 (Outro Music)
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