Anaconda
Facts
Also known as: Water Boa
Conservation Status: Near Threatened
Location: Green Anaconda - east of the Andes, Venezuela, the Guianas, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and on the island of Trinidad.
Yellow Anaconda - eastern Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay and northeastern Argentina.
Dark Spotted Anaconda - northeastern Brazil, coastal French Guiana and Guyana.
Bolivian Anaconda - Bolivia
Lifespan: 10 to 12 years
Also known as: Water Boa
Conservation Status: Near Threatened
Location: Green Anaconda - east of the Andes, Venezuela, the Guianas, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and on the island of Trinidad.
Yellow Anaconda - eastern Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay and northeastern Argentina.
Dark Spotted Anaconda - northeastern Brazil, coastal French Guiana and Guyana.
Bolivian Anaconda - Bolivia
Lifespan: 10 to 12 years
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Boidae
Subfamily: Boinae
Genus: Eunectes
Species: E. Notaeus
Binomial name: Eunectes Notaeus
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Boidae
Subfamily: Boinae
Genus: Eunectes
Species: E. Notaeus
Binomial name: Eunectes Notaeus
Description
Length: 10 to 12 ft (3 to 3.7 m)
Other: Females are larger than males. The color pattern consists of a yellow, golden-tan or greenish-yellow ground color overlaid with a series of black or dark brown saddles, blotches, spots and streaks.
Length: 10 to 12 ft (3 to 3.7 m)
Other: Females are larger than males. The color pattern consists of a yellow, golden-tan or greenish-yellow ground color overlaid with a series of black or dark brown saddles, blotches, spots and streaks.
Behaviour
The primarily nocturnal anaconda species tend to spend most of its life in or around water. Anacondas are also sometimes known as the "Water Boa"; they spend more time in water than any of the boas. Because of their large size, they appear rather slow and sluggish when traveling on land. Completely the opposite in water, however, anacondas are known to have the potential to reach high speeds in all depths of water. They tend to float atop the surface of the water with the snout barely poking out above the surface. When prey passes by or stops to drink, a hungry anaconda will snatch it with its jaws (without swallowing it) and coil around it with its body. The snake will then constrict until it has successfully suffocated the prey.
The primarily nocturnal anaconda species tend to spend most of its life in or around water. Anacondas are also sometimes known as the "Water Boa"; they spend more time in water than any of the boas. Because of their large size, they appear rather slow and sluggish when traveling on land. Completely the opposite in water, however, anacondas are known to have the potential to reach high speeds in all depths of water. They tend to float atop the surface of the water with the snout barely poking out above the surface. When prey passes by or stops to drink, a hungry anaconda will snatch it with its jaws (without swallowing it) and coil around it with its body. The snake will then constrict until it has successfully suffocated the prey.
Predators or Prey?
Wading birds are the most common prey. They have also been known to prey on fish, turtles, small-sized caimans, lizards, birds eggs, small mammals and fish carrion.
Wading birds are the most common prey. They have also been known to prey on fish, turtles, small-sized caimans, lizards, birds eggs, small mammals and fish carrion.
Diet
Anacondas eat wading birds, fish, turtles, caimans, lizards, bird eggs, small mammals, and fish carrion.
Anacondas eat wading birds, fish, turtles, caimans, lizards, bird eggs, small mammals, and fish carrion.
Habitat
Prefers mostly aquatic habitats including swamps, marshes, and brush covered banks of slow moving rivers and streams.
Prefers mostly aquatic habitats including swamps, marshes, and brush covered banks of slow moving rivers and streams.
Conservation
Anacondas are very hard to find. Despite this, a female can give birth to usually 20 to 40 eggs, although it can reach up to 100 eggs each year. This is very fast breeding, so people can assume that anacondas do not need much conserving in zoos etc.
Anacondas are very hard to find. Despite this, a female can give birth to usually 20 to 40 eggs, although it can reach up to 100 eggs each year. This is very fast breeding, so people can assume that anacondas do not need much conserving in zoos etc.
Reproduction
The mating season occurs during the rainy season. It can last for several months, usually from April to May. This species is solitary until the mating season, which occurs during the rainy season, and can last for several months, usually from April to May. During this time, males must find females. Typically, female snakes will lay down a trail of pheromones for the males to follow, but it is still unclear how the males of this species track a female's scent. Another possibility is that the female releases an airborne stimulant. This theory is supported by the observation of females that remain motionless while many males move towards them from all directions. Male anacondas also frequently flick their tongues to sense chemicals that signal the presence of the female.In any case, many males often find the same female. Although it may not be necessary for there to be more than one male, this results in odd clusters, referred to as "breeding balls," in which up to 12 males wrap around the same female and attempt to copulate. The group could stay in this position from 2–4 weeks. This ball acts as a slow-motion wrestling match between the males, each one fighting for the right to mate with the female.
During mating, males make use of their spurs to arouse the female. They aggressively press their cloacal regions hard against the female body while continuously scratching her with their spurs. This can produce a scratching sound. Mating approaches its climax when the stimulus of the males' spurs induce the female snake to raise her cloacal region, allowing the cloacae of the two snakes to move together. The male then coils his tail, surrounding the female and they copulate. The strongest and largest male is often the victor. However, females are physically much larger and stronger and may decide to choose from among the males. Courtship and mating occur almost exclusively in water. The female anaconda is covered or surrounded by many male anacondas to reproduce.
Mating is followed by a gestation period that lasts approximately 6–7 months. Litters usually consists of 20–40 offspring, although as many as 100 may be produced. After giving birth, females may lose up to half their weight.
Neonates (babies) are around 70–80 cm long and receive no parental care. Because of their small size, they often fall prey to other animals. Should they survive, they grow rapidly until they reach sexual maturity in their first few years, after which their rate of growth continues at a slower pace.
The mating season occurs during the rainy season. It can last for several months, usually from April to May. This species is solitary until the mating season, which occurs during the rainy season, and can last for several months, usually from April to May. During this time, males must find females. Typically, female snakes will lay down a trail of pheromones for the males to follow, but it is still unclear how the males of this species track a female's scent. Another possibility is that the female releases an airborne stimulant. This theory is supported by the observation of females that remain motionless while many males move towards them from all directions. Male anacondas also frequently flick their tongues to sense chemicals that signal the presence of the female.In any case, many males often find the same female. Although it may not be necessary for there to be more than one male, this results in odd clusters, referred to as "breeding balls," in which up to 12 males wrap around the same female and attempt to copulate. The group could stay in this position from 2–4 weeks. This ball acts as a slow-motion wrestling match between the males, each one fighting for the right to mate with the female.
During mating, males make use of their spurs to arouse the female. They aggressively press their cloacal regions hard against the female body while continuously scratching her with their spurs. This can produce a scratching sound. Mating approaches its climax when the stimulus of the males' spurs induce the female snake to raise her cloacal region, allowing the cloacae of the two snakes to move together. The male then coils his tail, surrounding the female and they copulate. The strongest and largest male is often the victor. However, females are physically much larger and stronger and may decide to choose from among the males. Courtship and mating occur almost exclusively in water. The female anaconda is covered or surrounded by many male anacondas to reproduce.
Mating is followed by a gestation period that lasts approximately 6–7 months. Litters usually consists of 20–40 offspring, although as many as 100 may be produced. After giving birth, females may lose up to half their weight.
Neonates (babies) are around 70–80 cm long and receive no parental care. Because of their small size, they often fall prey to other animals. Should they survive, they grow rapidly until they reach sexual maturity in their first few years, after which their rate of growth continues at a slower pace.
