| |
|
|
| |
| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
|
| COMMON
NAME: |
green
anaconda, common anaconda, water boa |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Reptilia |
| ORDER: |
Squamata |
| FAMILY: |
Boidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Eunectes (good swimmer) murinus (mouse
colored) murinus |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| DESCRIPTION: |
Considering mass and length, the green anaconda
is the largest snake in the world. (Though the reticulated
python - Python reticulatus - acheives similar
lengths.) Their eyes and nostrils are located on
top of the anaconda's large, narrow head - enabling
it to breathe while the rest of its body is submerged.
The body is exceptionally stocky compared to other
boas and extremely muscular. The green anaconda
is typically dark green with oval black spots. Spots
with yellow-ochre centers run along the sides of
its body. |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
|
| SIZE: |
Averages 6 m (20 ft.) in length; average diameter
is 30 cm (12 in.); reportedly can grow in excess
of 10 m (32.8 ft.) in length, though individuals
at this length are rare and/or poorly documented;
the largest credibly documented specimen was reported
to be 11.4 m (37.5 ft.) in length, though this 1944
figure is not innately accepted throughout the entire
zoologic community; newborn anacondas are 30-60
cm (12-24 in.) in length |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
|
| WEIGHT: |
Average of 148.5 kg (330 lb.) |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
|
| DIET: |
Anacondas feed on aquatic and amphibious animals,
including mammals, fish, caiman, birds, ducks, and
turtles. There have been a few reports of cannibalism
involving green anaconda females preying upon anaconda
males. Scientists believe it is possible that the
larger breeding females eat their smaller mating
partners to survive the long, seven-month fast associated
with pregnancy. |
|
| INCUBATION: |
8-12 weeks
During
breeding the snakes often cluster into a breeding-ball
that may consist of 2-12 males coiled around a
single female. They may stay like this for 2-4
weeks.
|
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
Anacondas
give birth to several dozen live young at one time;
young are 30-60 cm (12-24 in) in length |
| BREEDING
PERIOD |
text |
|
| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
text |
| MALE |
Approximately
18 months or 1.8 m (6 ft) |
| FEMALE |
Approximately
3 years or 2.7 m (9 ft) |
|
| LIFE
SPAN: |
Average is 10 years; may exceed 30 years |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
|
| RANGE: |
Found
throughout tropical South America, east of the Andes,
mainly in the Amazon and Orinoco basins and in Guiana |
|
| HABITAT: |
Typically found in swamps and sluggish streams |
|
| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
text |
| LOCAL |
text |
|
| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not listed |
| CITES |
Appendix II |
| USFWS |
Not listed |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| 1. |
The name "anaconda" is derived from the
Tamil word "anaikolra", which means "elephant
killer." Early Spanish settlers referred to
the anaconda as "matatoro" or "bull
killer." |
|
|
| 2. |
Though anacondas are excellent swimmers, they will
also hang from branches to dry off. |
|
|
| 3. |
The only area on the anaconda's body without scales
is the cloaca. Glands in this area emit a foul smelling
musk, which is poisonous for small organisms. Scientists
believe the musk may prevent ticks and leeches from
attaching themselves to the cloaca. |
|
|
| 4. |
text |
|
|
| 5. |
text |
|
|
| 6. |
text |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Currently, trade in anacondas is prohibited in
most South American countries; however, some are
periodically exported for zoos, research, or pet
trade. Few people however take anacondas as pets
due to their large size and potential aggressive
nature.
Anaconda
skins are traded illegally, but the practice does
not seem to have a significant impact on species
populations. One possible reason is that they
are hard to catch and their dark skin does not
typically make a flashy belt, shoes, or purse.
Green
Anacondas have very few natural predators because
of their large size. Their greatest threat is
man due to lack of knowledge about them and because
of myths and stories depicting anacondas as man-eaters.
Habitat destruction is another cause for the decline
in anaconda populations.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Bauchot, Roland (ed.). Snakes a Natural History.
New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1994.
|
|
|
Ernst, Carl H., and Zug, George R. Snakes in
Question. Washington: Smithsonian Institution
Press, 1996. |
|
|
Mattison, Chris. Snakes of the World. New
York: Facts on File Publications, Inc., 1986.
|
|
|
Mehrtens, John M. Living Snakes of the World.
New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1987.
|
| |
| Rivas,
J. A. and R. Y Owens. Eunectes murinus (Green
anaconda): cannibalism. Herpetological Review.
31. 2000. |
|
|
|
|
|
