south as Argentina.There are two possible origins for the word 'anaconda.' It is perhaps an alteration of the Sinhalese word henakandaya, meaning 'whip snake', or alternatively, the Tamil word anaikondran, which means 'elephant killer'.[1] It is unclear how the name originated so far from the snake's native habitat; it is likely due to its vague similarity to the large Asian pythons. Local names for the anaconda in South America include the Spanish term matatoro, meaning 'bull killer', and the Native American terms sucuri and yakumama. Anacondas as members of the boa family are sometimes called water boas. The Latin name for Anaconda is Eunectes (from the Greek "ευνήκτης", meaning "good swimmer").
Species
Bolivian Anaconda, Eunectes beniensis
Dark-spotted Anaconda, Eunectes deschauenseei
Green Anaconda, Eunectes murinus
Yellow Anaconda, Eunectes notaeus
Size
Dark-spotted Anaconda, Eunectes deschauenseei
Green Anaconda, Eunectes murinus
Yellow Anaconda, Eunectes notaeus
Size
There is some debate about the maximum size of anacondas, and there have been unverified claims of enormous snakes alleged to be as long as 30-45m (98.4-147.6ft).
According to Lee Krystek [2], a 1944 petroleum expedition in Colombia claimed to have measured a 11.43 m (37.5ft) specimen, but this claim is not regarded as reliable; perhaps a more credible report came from scientist Vincent Roth, who claimed to have shot and killed a 10.3m (34ft) anaconda in Guyana.
There are some reports from early European explorers of the South American jungles seeing giant anacondas up to 18.2m (60ft) long, and some of the native peoples have reported seeing anacondas up to 15.2m (50ft) long.[3], but these reports remain unverified.
Another claim of an extraordinary size anaconda was made by adventurer Percy Fawcett. During his 1906 expedition, Fawcett wrote that he had shot an anaconda that measured some 18.9m (62 ft) from nose to tail. [4] Once published, Fawcett’s account was widely ridiculed. Decades later, Belgian zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans came to Fawcett's defence, arguing that Fawcett's writing was generally honest and reliable. [5]
Historian Mike Dash writes [6] of claims of still larger anacondas, alleged to be as long as 30-45m (100-150ft) -- some of the sightings supported with photos (although those photos lack scale). Dash notes that if a 50-60 ft anaconda strains credulity, then a 150ft long specimen is generally regarded as an outright impossibility.
It should be noted that the Wildlife Conservation Society has, since the early 20th century, offered a large cash reward (currently worth $50,000 USD) for live delivery of any snake of 30 feet or more in length. The prize has never been claimed. Also, in a study of 1,000 wild anacondas in Brazil, the largest captured was 17 feet long.[7]
According to Lee Krystek [2], a 1944 petroleum expedition in Colombia claimed to have measured a 11.43 m (37.5ft) specimen, but this claim is not regarded as reliable; perhaps a more credible report came from scientist Vincent Roth, who claimed to have shot and killed a 10.3m (34ft) anaconda in Guyana.
There are some reports from early European explorers of the South American jungles seeing giant anacondas up to 18.2m (60ft) long, and some of the native peoples have reported seeing anacondas up to 15.2m (50ft) long.[3], but these reports remain unverified.
Another claim of an extraordinary size anaconda was made by adventurer Percy Fawcett. During his 1906 expedition, Fawcett wrote that he had shot an anaconda that measured some 18.9m (62 ft) from nose to tail. [4] Once published, Fawcett’s account was widely ridiculed. Decades later, Belgian zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans came to Fawcett's defence, arguing that Fawcett's writing was generally honest and reliable. [5]
Historian Mike Dash writes [6] of claims of still larger anacondas, alleged to be as long as 30-45m (100-150ft) -- some of the sightings supported with photos (although those photos lack scale). Dash notes that if a 50-60 ft anaconda strains credulity, then a 150ft long specimen is generally regarded as an outright impossibility.
It should be noted that the Wildlife Conservation Society has, since the early 20th century, offered a large cash reward (currently worth $50,000 USD) for live delivery of any snake of 30 feet or more in length. The prize has never been claimed. Also, in a study of 1,000 wild anacondas in Brazil, the largest captured was 17 feet long.[7]
Green Anaconda
The Green Anaconda (E
unectes murinus) is an anaconda. It is the largest member of the boa family of snakes and the most heavy bodied member of the super-order Squamata
unectes murinus) is an anaconda. It is the largest member of the boa family of snakes and the most heavy bodied member of the super-order SquamataDescription
It is among the largest snakes in the world, with recorded (but unverified) measurements of 9.45 m (29.7 feet) and 11 m (33.5 feet), though average size is closer to 31 feet.[citation needed] It rivals the Reticulated Python for length, but is typically considerably heavier. It can weigh 250 kg (551 lb) and have a girth of more than 30 cm (11.8 inches) in diameter.[citation needed] The Green Anaconda might be the most exaggerated animal on earth in terms of size, with reports of lengths ranging up to 40 m (131 feet). Probably the largest snake ever actually measured was a shot-but-not-killed female near the Colombia-Venezuela border in 1944. This unweighed giant was measured as being 11.43 m (37.5 feet), before it apparently slithered off from its hunter, who thought it died.[1] Females are significantly larger than males, having the largest sexual dimorphism of all the snakes.
Their primary overall color is an olive green, with black blotches that run the length of the body. Their head is narrow compared to the rest of the body, with most exhibiting distinctive orange-yellow striping on either side. Their eyes are set high on their head so as to allow the snake to be able to see out of the water without exposing the rest of its body.
Geographic range
Green Anacondas are found mainly in northern South America (Amazon and Orinoco basins), in Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, northern Bolivia, northeast Peru, Guyana, and the island of Trinidad.
Behavior
Green anacondas, like all anacondas, are primarily aquatic. They eat a wide variety of prey, almost anything they can manage to overpower, including: fish, birds, a variety of mammals, and other reptiles. Particularly large anacondas may even consume large prey such as tapir, deer, capyb
ara, caiman, and sometimes crocodiles and jaguars, but such large meals are not regularly consumed. They employ constriction to subdue their prey. Cannibalism among green anacondas is also known, most recorded cases involving a larger female consuming a smaller male. Scientists cite several possible reasons for this, including the dramatic sexual dimorphism in the species and the possibility that female anacondas require additional food intake after breeding to sustain their long gestation period and the male simply being an opportunistic prey item, but the exact reason is not understood.[2] In captivity, anacondas are known for their aggressive disposition.[3]
Reproduction
ara, caiman, and sometimes crocodiles and jaguars, but such large meals are not regularly consumed. They employ constriction to subdue their prey. Cannibalism among green anacondas is also known, most recorded cases involving a larger female consuming a smaller male. Scientists cite several possible reasons for this, including the dramatic sexual dimorphism in the species and the possibility that female anacondas require additional food intake after breeding to sustain their long gestation period and the male simply being an opportunistic prey item, but the exact reason is not understood.[2] In captivity, anacondas are known for their aggressive disposition.[3]Reproduction
Anacondas are ovoviviparous. Copulation takes place during the rainy season, typically in the water. Gestation is approximately 6 months. Litter size averages 20-40 young, but as many as 100 are possible. Sexual maturity is reached between 2 and 3 years of age.
The Yellow Anaconda (Eunectes notaeus), is a species of anaconda. They
are native in South America in countries such as Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, western Brazil, and northeast Argentina. It is smaller than the more well known Green Anaconda and reaches an average adult length of about 3 meters (9.8 feet). They have a yellowy brown base color with black blotches and rosettes. They live in mostly aquatic habitats including swamps, marshes, and brush covered banks of slow moving rivers and streams. Their diet includes deer, wild Pigs, Birds and large rodents and also aquatic animals such as fish.
are native in South America in countries such as Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, western Brazil, and northeast Argentina. It is smaller than the more well known Green Anaconda and reaches an average adult length of about 3 meters (9.8 feet). They have a yellowy brown base color with black blotches and rosettes. They live in mostly aquatic habitats including swamps, marshes, and brush covered banks of slow moving rivers and streams. Their diet includes deer, wild Pigs, Birds and large rodents and also aquatic animals such as fish.
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