Amazonian Anaconda

1 Overview

The Amazonian anaconda (Eunectes barbouri) is among the largest and heaviest snakes alive, reaching up to about 10 metres and over 250 kg, as thick as an adult man’s torso.

Correction: the source calls it ‘the largest snake in the world’. Strictly, the green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) holds the record for length and mass; E. barbouri (the Bolivian/Amazonian anaconda) is a closely related member of the anaconda group. Both are South American boas.

It has thick skin and a huge body with enormous strength, attacking by constriction — coiling can crush prey. It lives only in South America and loves water. At the top of the South American food chain, it has no natural enemies, and has records of killing caimans, jaguars and wild boars.

Chinese Name: Amazonian Anaconda

Binomial: Eunectes barbouri

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Suborder: Serpentes

Family: Boidae

Genus: Eunectes

Distribution: South America — Amazon River basin.

2 Physical Characteristics

It is the largest and heaviest-bodied snake; weight can exceed 250 kg and the longest reach about 6 metres. The skin is very thick and its strength enormous; it is skilled at attacking people by constriction — coiling the body can crush prey to pieces.

Its mouth opens about 180 degrees, with four rows of independently moving teeth and no chin; the two middle upper-palate rows can move up and down to help swallow. The skin stretches, so it can swallow prey larger than itself. The tongue is a chemical detector, the scales sense whether prey moves, and the eyes are heat sensors. The trachea sits at the throat, so during swallowing the trachea stays outside — no worry of blockage.

3 Captive Habitat

The largest Amazonian anacondas love water and like to rest on muddy banks or in shallow water. This huge, fierce snake is not recommended for beginners — yet although adults are enormous, newborns are only about 760 mm.

They like swamps, shallow streams and still rivers, and are the most aquatic of the giant boas. Mostly active at night, but often seen basking in broad daylight.

4 General Care

It reproduces by ovoviviparity — fertilization and development both occur inside the body. A single female can produce about 70 young, though many are eaten by caimans. When swallowing it is terrifying: it tightly constricts the food until it suffocates, then swallows it whole, and then needs no food for weeks or even up to three months.