Interesting Anaconda Snake Facts

The anaconda is a huge non-venomous aquatic snake. These animals are found in South America's tropical rainforests. On this page you will find a list of interesting Anaconda facts. The name Anaconda is usually used to refer to only the Green Anaconda Where as there are actually four species, all of which are members of the boa family.

• All anacondas are semi-aquatic spending most of their time in swamps, and slow-moving streams. In fact the first part of all four species names (the generic name) is Eunectes which is derived from Greek for good swimmer.
• These animals do not maneuver well on land but in the water they maneuver very well. They all have eyes and nostrils set high on their heads enabling them to remain almost completely submerged while waiting for prey to approach.
• Anacondas prey on numerous animals including deer, turtles, birds, capybara, caimans, and pigs. They lie in wait submerged in shallow water. When a target is close enough they attack with lighting quick speed. They coil their body around the captured animal and squeeze until the animal cannot breath and eventually dies. This snakes jaws are able to open wide enough to allow them to swallow their prey whole. A big enough meal will allow them to go months without feeding again.

The information below is categorized by the four distinct species.

Interesting Green Anaconda Facts

With an average length of 6 m (20 ft.) and a top length of 8.8 m (29 ft.) the green anaconda is one of the longest snakes in the world. The green anaconda, with a girth of nearly 30 cm (12 in.) and a weight of 227 kg (550 lb.), is the heaviest of all snakes.

The green anaconda is native to South America, making its home in swamps, marshes and streams. Their enormous size makes it much easier for green anacondas to swim in the water than to slither slowly on land. Their eyes and nostrils are on the top of their head allowing them to see and breathe while most of their body is under water.

Most of their time is spent in the water hunting. Although they use both sight and smell to hunt, they also have the ability to sense heat emitted by potential prey. Green anacondas prey on a variety of animals including fish, birds, tapirs, wild pigs, capybaras, and caimans (reptiles similar to alligators). They’ve even been known to eat jaguars.

Anacondas are not venomous; they use constriction instead to subdue their prey. Once an anaconda sights its target, it will grab the animal in its jaws, locking it in with its teeth. Once firmly grasped, the anaconda will coil around the prey and squeeze it until it dies of crushing or suffocation. It will then consume the carcass whole. For larger prey, the green anaconda can unhinge its jaw to stretch its mouth around the body. After a big meal, anacondas can go weeks without eating again.

Green anacondas have also been known to partake in cannibalism. Females, the larger of the sexes, have been reported to eat smaller male anacondas.

Green anacondas spend most of their time alone. However, between April and May, males seek out females for the opportunity to mate. Often times, multiple males will pursue the same female. This results in “breeding balls” of up to a dozen males wrapped around a single female, all attempting to mate. The breeding ball can last up to 4 weeks.

Once pregnant, the female will produce eggs inside her body. The eggs develop for 8-12 weeks and then hatch while still inside the mother’s body. She then gives birth to as many as 80 tiny snakes, each 30-60 cm (12-24 in.) in length.

Green anacondas can live over 10 years in the wild. They can live up to 30 in captivity.

Conservation Status

Anacondas are sometimes hunted illegally for their skin or to be sold as pets, but this is rare. Their size makes them inconvenient pets, and their skin is not very popular for clothing and shoes. They are also very difficult to catch.

Another threat they face is habitat destruction. Despite this they are not considered endangered.

Green Anaconda Distribution

The green anaconda is native to South America, making its home in swamps, marshes and streams.