An anaconda is a large, nonvenomous snake found in tropical South America. Although the name actually applies to a group of snakes, it is often used to refer only to one species in particular, the common or green anaconda, Eunectes murinus, which is one of the largest snakes in the world.

Anaconda may refer to:

  •     Any member of the genus Eunectes, a group of large, aquatic snakes found in South America
    •         Eunectes murinus, the green anaconda, the largest species, is found east of the Andes in Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil and on the island of Trinidad.
    •         Eunectes notaeus, the yellow anaconda, a smaller species, is found in eastern Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay and northeastern Argentina.
    •         Eunectes deschauenseei, the dark-spotted anaconda, is a rare species found in northeastern Brazil and coastal French Guiana.
    •         Eunectes beniensis, the Bolivian anaconda, the most recently defined species, is found in the Departments of Beni and Pando in Bolivia.
  •     The giant anaconda is a mythical snake of enormous proportions said to be found in South America.
  •     Any large snake that “crushes” its prey (see Constriction), if applied loosely, could be called anaconda.

Reports of giant anacondas date back as far as the discovery of South America, when sightings of anacondas upwards of 50 meters (150 feet) began to circulate amongst colonists, and the topic has been a subject of debate ever since among cryptozoologists and zoologists. Anacondas can grow to sizes of 6 metres (20 ft) and beyond, and 150 kilograms (330 lbs.) in weight. Although some python species can grow longer, the anaconda, particularly the green or common anaconda, is the second heaviest and largest in terms of diameter of all snakes, and it is the second-biggest extant snake in the world behind the reticulated python. The longest reputably-measured and confirmed anacondas are about 7.5 meters (25 feet) long. Lengths of 50-60 feet have been reported for this species, but such extremes lack verification and to add lack of large prey to support a super-large snake. The two only real reliable claims that can be found describe measured anacondas ranging from 26 to 32 feet, although these remain unverified. [ source: Wikipedia]

Anaconda vs. Human

Anaconda eating Capybara

When you’re an anaconda you don’t need venom to take down your prey, even if it’s the world’s largest rodent, a capybara, weighing somewhere in the neighborhood of one hundred pounds!

See All National Geographic Videos http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/?source=4001