Green Anaconda
Green Anaconda Facts
Size | Up to 16.4 feet (5 meters) |
Speed | Unknown |
Weight | Up to 214 pounds (97.5 kg) |
Lifespan | 40-70 years |
Food | Capybaras, caimans, birds |
Predators | Jaguars, caimans |
Habitat | South America |
Class | Reptiles |
Order | Scaled reptiles |
Family | Boas |
Scientific name | Eunectus murinus |
Characteristics | One of the biggest snakes worldwide |
Main Characteristics
The green anaconda is one of the biggest snakes worldwide. It primarily lives in bigger waters.
Anatomy and Appearance
The Longest Snake in the World?
There are several rumors related to the size and the weight of the water boa. “992 lb (450 kg) anaconda discovered!” “Anaconda with a record length of 98 feet (30 meters) found!” The news feature headlines like this all the time. On average, the males are about 3 m long and females about 13-16 feet (4-5 meters) long. The largest anaconda is said to have been 17 feet (5.21 meters) in length and weighed 214 lb (97.5 kg).
Normally, anacondas can never be seen completely when moving through shallow waters and constricting their prey. This makes it so difficult to determine their actual size. Or would you dare to get into a water populated by anacondas? “Please don’t move, where is my tape measure?”
Do you want to know how big the anaconda’s ancestors were? Read our article Biggest Snake of the World!
Senses and Abilities
Are Anacondas Poisonous?
Anacondas are not poisonous nor venomous. They wrap themselves around their prey and suffocate it. The victim is then unable to breathe and even blood circulation comes to a stop. The prey will be devoured head first, and it takes up to six (!) hours until it reaches the stomach.
Can Anacondas Swim?
Yes, the snakes feel right at home in the water, but from time to time they also like to hang out on branches to dry.
Origin
Where Does the Name Anaconda Come From?
The name anaconda derives from the Tamil word “anaikolra”. It means “elephant killer”. Anacondas do not hunt elephants but capybaras, small crocodiles and stags. The capybara has a remarkable size with a length of 53 inch (134 cm) and a shoulder height of 24 inch (60 cm). The animal is being swallowed whole.
Reproduction
In most cases the snakes visit shallow waters during the mating season. The male snake twines around its female partner, which looks like a knot and is called a “breeding ball”. Sometimes several male snakes are involved in this. They try to push away the others to be able to successfully copulate. After six to eight months the anaconda babies are being born and are about 28-35 inch (70-90 cm) long at birth.
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