Facts About Anaconda

The word Anaconda has been derived from the Latin name “Eunectes” which means “good swimmer”. Being a member of the boa family, the anaconda is sometimes called water boa. It is a large, non-venomous snake found in the tropical regions of South America. It is greenish-brown in color with a double row of black oval spots on the back and smaller white markings on the side. The snake is known by various local names in South America such as matatora which means “bull killer” in Spanish, and sucuri and yakumama in Native American. Read through the following lines to know more interesting facts and amazing information on anacondas.

Facts About Anaconda

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Suborder: Serpentes

Family: Boidae

Genus: Eunectes

Species: Eunectes beniensis, Eunectes deschauenseei, Eunectes murinus, Eunectes notaeus.

Group Name: Bed, knot

Length: 12-16 feet

Weight: 300 pounds

Lifespan: 15-30 years

Diet: Birds and other animals.

Habitat: Swampy river valleys and stream banks.

Age of Sexual Maturity: 3-4 years

Gestation Period: 6-7 months

Number of Offspring: 25-35

Interesting & Amazing Information On Anacondas

Anacondas are the heaviest snakes and one of the longest snakes in the world.
There are four types of anacondas, namely, Bolivian Anaconda, Dark-Spotted Anaconda, Green Anaconda and Yellow Anaconda.
The Green Anaconda is the world’s heaviest snakes weighing around 550 pounds or 227 kilograms and reaching a length of 30 feet (9 meters).
Anacondas squeeze their prey until it suffocates and dies from internal bleeding. They then swallow their victim whole and push its body down to their stomach. The enzymes secreted therein helps them digest the body of the prey.
Anacondas eat up to 40 pounds a day.
Anacondas feed on mice, hamsters, rats, deer, pigs, caiman, frogs, toads, ducks, turtles, small live fish and birds.
The anaconda can take several weeks to digest one meal.
They can remain submerged in water only for about 10 minutes after which they glide through the water with the top of their head above the water level.
Although they spend most of their time in sluggish fresh water, they can also be seen climbing small trees and bushes with the help of their small prehensile tail.
They do not move out in search of their prey. In fact, they lurk in murky water and wait for birds and animals to come to the bank to drink water.
Anacondas continue to grow throughout their lives, getting bigger and bigger each year.
The Yellow Anaconda can be found as far as south of Argentina.
Female anacondas are larger than their male counterparts.
Anacondas are considered to be the most beautifully colored of all snakes.
Baby snakes are about 2 feet in length when born and are capable of swimming and hunting immediately.

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