Stuart Blackman takes a look at the lifespan of snakes
Reptiles tend to punch above their weight when it comes to lifespan and snakes can expect a relatively long innings.
How long do snakes live?
Ball pythons can live at least 62 years in captivity. Even a small pet garter snake can make it to over a decade.
Wild snakes, though, must contend with predators and unpredictable food supplies. Data is thin on the ground, but among the Colubridae, for example, a family of more than 2,000 snake species that includes garters and grass snakes, lifespan ranges from two to 50 years.
Green anacondas can expect to reach 10 years in the wild.
More snake facts
- 10 deadliest snakes in the world: meet the world’s most venomous snakes and their lethal bite
- How do snakes mate?
- How do snakes move?
- Are there any snakes in Ireland? If not why not?
- What’s the world’s fastest snake?