Experts believe the snake, an 8-foot-long Burmese python, indigenous to Southeast Asia, not native to New Jersey or the U.S. Northeast, is an abandoned pet. The timber rattlesnake colors vary. Some are yellow or brownish and some are black and grey.

Burmese pythons are recognizable by more than their size. Hunters should be on the lookout for a telltale, arrow-shaped marking on the snake’s head, along with giraffe-like spots across its body and dark spots around its eyes. During the summer months, they’re most likely to be found sunning on levee banks or near trees.

Southwest Florida-shot documentary "The Python Hunt" saw a limited run in U.S. theaters earlier this year. Now the movie's hit streaming, too.

The post That Massive Snake Video Is Real, But Everyone Got the Species Wrong appeared first on A-Z Animals. Do 30-foot anacondas exist? It is possible but unlikely. Anacondas are known for their bulkiness and muscular form rather than their length.

More than 900 contestants vying for the $10,000 grand prize scoured South Florida for 10 days during the 2026 Florida Python Challenge.