The green anaconda, eunectes murinus, is the largest snake in the world. They are not the longest snakes however, measuring 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 meters) long, which puts them slightly behind the reticulated python in terms of length. They can weigh up to 550 pounds (227 kilograms) however, making them almost twice as heavy as the reticulated python. A green anaconda female is significantly larger than a male. They are normally dark green, with black spots and yellow-orches (golden-yellow or light yellow brown color) centers that run along the sides of their bodies. Their eyes and nostrils are located on top of their heads, allowing them to both see and breathe while submerged in the water.
The green anaconda can be found throughout tropical rainforests of South America and the Orinoco basins. Being cold-blooded creatures, year-round temperatures are ideal for keeping their body temperatures up. They are often found in swamps, marshes and slow-moving streams. Not only can the green anaconda swim with relative ease, it can climb trees just as well. In fact, they will often climb a tree in order to dry off after they have been swimming. Despite what many people may think, a green anaconda is not a venomous snake.
The diet of a green anaconda consists of everything from fish, birds and turtles, to caimans, wild pigs, deer and even jaguars. After ambushing their prey, a green anaconda will bite it in order to keep it still while it wraps its enormous body around the victim. It will then proceed to squeeze its prey until it dies of suffocation. After killing its meal, it will open its mouth and proceed to swallow its find whole, regardless of size. A green anaconda has a slow metabolism, meaning that after swallowing its meal, it may not have to feed for weeks, even months. Adults do not have any natural predators, with man being their greatest threat.
Breeding season for the green anaconda takes place between April and May. Several males may pursue a single female, forming a “breeding ball” in which up to a dozen males will wrap around the female and attempt to mate with her. These breeding balls can last up to 4 weeks. It is thought that females will sometimes eat their smaller mates in order to prepare for the long, 7 month fast that is associated with pregnancy. The eggs will develop and hatch in the mother’s body, meaning that she will give birth to up to 80 (average is around 20) offspring. The young ones are able to swim and hunt on their own almost immediately after birth. If the little ones can survive long enough, then they can live to be up to 10 years old in the wild (30 in captivity).
The green anaconda is not considered an endangered species. Habitat destruction is their greatest threat. They are also illegally hunted, but this does not have a significant impact on their numbers as they are not popular pets, nor does their skin make particularly attractive articles of clothing (not to mention that they are difficult to catch). Hopefully, the green anaconda can continue to avoid facing the threat of extinction. After all, such a large and unique species of snake deserves to live and prosper far into the future.
