Anaconda
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Anacondas (Jibóia and Sucuri, local names) are three species of aquatic boa inhabiting the swamps and rivers of the dense forests of tropical South America as well as the southern swamps of the island of Trinidad .
The term 'Anaconda' is derived from the name of a Sri Lankan snake ( Sinhala hena-kanda or Tamil anaik-konda), the Reticulated Python (python reticulatus). The South American snake was mistakenly given the name. cf Oxford English Dictionary.
Two species are well-known:
- The Green Anaconda ( Eunectes murinus), which has been reported at over 10 meters (32.8 feet) in length (although most are considerably smaller). Although shorter than the longest recorded species, the Reticulated Python, it is considerably heavier. In fact, it is the heaviest snake species in existence. It can weigh 250 kg (551 pounds) and have a girth of more than 30 cm (11.8 inches) in diameter. Females are larger than males, averaging 22-26 feet and 12-16 feet respectively. These are found mainly in northern South America, in Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, northern Bolivia, northeast Peru, Guyana, and Trinidad. Although charismatic, very little information was known about the anacondas until 1992 when the first study (and so far the only) was made on the field biology of this species in the Venezuelan llanos by Dr. Jesus Rivas [1].
- The Yellow Anaconda ( Eunectes notaeus), which reaches a relatively smaller average adult length of 3 metres (9.8 feet). These live further south in Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, western Brazil, and northeast Argentina.
The third lesser known species is:
- The Dark-Spotted or Deschauense's Anaconda ( Eunectes deschauenseei) found in northeast Brazil.
Eunectes murinus (formerly called Boa murina) differs from Boa by the snout being covered with shields instead of small scales, the inner of the three nasal shields being in contact with that of the other side. The general colour is dark olive- brown, with large oval black spots arranged in two alternating rows along the back, and with smaller white-eyed spots along the sides. The belly is whitish, spotted with black spots. The anaconda combines an arboreal with an aquatic life, and feeds chiefly upon birds, mammals and caiman, mostly during the night. It lies submerged in the water, with only a small part of its head above the surface, waiting for any suitable prey, or it establishes itself upon the branches of a tree which overhangs the water or the track of game.
Like almost all boas, anacondas give birth to live young.
Anacondas have a reputation for bad temperament; that plus the massive size of the green species mean that anacondas are comparatively less popular as pets than other boas.
Giant Anacondas
The largest known anacondas measure about 10.6 meters (30.7 feet) long, but unverified reports of much larger snakes have occasionally been made.
One notable account was reported by adventurer Percy Fawcett. In 1906, Fawcett wrote that he had shot and wounded an anaconda in South America; he reported the snake measured some 18.9 meters (62 feet) from nose to tail.
Once publicized, Fawcett’s account of the giant snake was widely ridiculed, although he insisted his account was both truthful and accurate. Bernard Heuvelmans came to his defense arguing that Fawcett was generally honest and reliable when relating things. Furthermore, Heuvelmans noted that mainstream experts were repeatedly forced to revise their limits regarding the maximum size of snakes when confronted with specimens that defied the generally-accepted estimates. At one point in time, 6 meters (20 feet) in length was the widely-accepted maximum size of an anaconda. These giant snakes are very capable of killing and consuming an adult human being.
When it sheds, an anaconda relieves itself of an average of 2 pounds of skin. An anaconda's skin can stretch up to 30% larger than its original size.