Green anaconda

Eunectes murinus · The green anaconda is a huge non-venomous boa that lives in the tropical rainforests and slow, shallow waters of South America.

Also called Giant anaconda, Common anaconda, Common water boa, Akayima, Sucuri.

Green anaconda
Photo: Juli 2000 her, CC BY-SA 4.0
Green anaconda
Photo: Juli 2000 her, CC BY-SA 4.0
Green anaconda
Photo: Superchilum, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyBoidae
GenusEunectes
SpeciesEunectes murinus

Where it lives

Swamps and slow rivers of the Amazon and Orinoco basins.

Fun facts

  • Its eyes and nose sit on top of its head, so it can breathe and watch for prey while the rest of its body stays hidden underwater.
  • Its jaw bones are joined by flexible ligaments instead of bone, letting it swallow prey bigger than its own head.
  • Males can gather around one female in a slow-motion "breeding ball" of up to 12 snakes that may last two to four weeks.
  • Mothers give birth to live young, usually 20 to 40 at a time, and may lose up to half their weight afterward.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).