Green Anaconda
The Green Anaconda dwells in the tropical areas of South America. It is mainly an aquatic animal, most well known for its vast proportions and predatory abilities. With regards to mass, the Green Anaconda is the world’s largest snake. Fully grown females can weigh as much as 550 lbs and have a length of 32 feet (Murphy, 1997). The males weigh less, 325 lbs and grow to a length of 20 feet. They are organized in different groups including Kingdom Animalia, Order Squamatia, Subfamily Boidae and Species Murinus, Eunectus beniensis, Eunectus deschauenseei, Eunectus murinus and Eunectus noteaus are the four species of this type of snake. The Eunectus marinus, also known as the ‘’Green Anaconda’’ is the best know of these species. Possibly lizard posterity, these snakes contain hints of pelvic and hind limbs. The workings of an Anaconda’s body are mostly unknown, with only theories concerning the two working lungs present inside it in contrast to the usual elongated one (Pinney, 1991).
The Green Anaconda is usually found inside rivers, marshes and lakes in South America predominantly in the basins from Venezuela to Argentina. In some places, they also live in flooded grasslands. In dry weather, they seek refuge in caves. Their skin color helps them to camouflage themselves in the river’s contents. These anacondas are excellent swimmers and keep to their territory, which varies during the year (National Geographic, web).
The Green Anaconda is built to best overcome its prey. Its lean, strong body coils around its victim, squeezing them until they die of suffocation. The muscle bones are somewhat relaxed, the lower jaw and the upper jaw not joined and the surrounding muscles powerful, enabling the anaconda to swallow victims larger than normally possible. The thick skin and the razor sharp teeth that turn towards the back of its mouth leave the prey helpless against this deadly predator. The teeth’s function is hardly biting down or even gnawing, they are a
The Green Anaconda is usually found inside rivers, marshes and lakes in South America predominantly in the basins from Venezuela to Argentina. In some places, they also live in flooded grasslands. In dry weather, they seek refuge in caves. Their skin color helps them to camouflage themselves in the river’s contents. These anacondas are excellent swimmers and keep to their territory, which varies during the year (National Geographic, web).
The Green Anaconda is built to best overcome its prey. Its lean, strong body coils around its victim, squeezing them until they die of suffocation. The muscle bones are somewhat relaxed, the lower jaw and the upper jaw not joined and the surrounding muscles powerful, enabling the anaconda to swallow victims larger than normally possible. The thick skin and the razor sharp teeth that turn towards the back of its mouth leave the prey helpless against this deadly predator. The teeth’s function is hardly biting down or even gnawing, they are a
References: "Green Anaconda." National Geographic Anacondas. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 1927. Retrieved from: <animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/green-anaconda/>. Murphy, John C. Tales of Giant Snakes: A Historical Natural History of Anacondas and Pythons. Malabar, Fl.: Krieger Publishing Company, 1997. Pinney, Roy. The Snake Book. 1981. Place, Aaron J. and Abramson, Charles I. “An Inquiry-Based Exercise for Demonstrating Prey Preferences in Snakes” The American Biology Teacher. Washington: Apr 2006. Vol. 68, Iss. 4; pg. 221. Rivas, J.A. “Feasibility and efficiency of transmitter force-feeding in studying the reproductive biology of large snakes.” Herpetological Natural History. 8 (2001). Rivas, J.A. and Owens, R.Y. “Eunectes murinus: Cannibalism.” Herpetological Review. 31 (2000). Thorbjarnarson, John. “Trailing the Mythical Anaconda.” Americas (1995).