Green Anaconda

scientific name

Eunectes murinus

size

Weight: 550 lbs
Length: 30-35 ft

characteristics

Color: dark green with alternating black spots " scale pattern on black and yellow underside unique to each animal
Body: stocky, muscular body " spurs on either side of cloaca " slow-acting digestive system, will take days or weeks to digest meal
Face: eyes and nostrils on top of large narrow head

Behavior: nocturnal " semi-aquatic " aggressive " lays at waters edge for prey with only snout protruding " will also hunt on land hanging in tree to grab prey from above

reproduction/life span

Life span: 10-30 yr
Mate. courtship can last months " mating period Apr. May " female may lay down pheromone trail or emit air-born pheromone to attract male " 2-10 males may wrap in a ball around female during mating for 2-4 weeks
Breeding season:
Gestation. 6 mo
Birth: bears young live usually 40-60 in litter, although can be up to 100 " young 27-31 in

diet

Wild: freshwater turtles, caimans, mammals, birds, fish (any meat it can catch)

habitat/range

Habitat: prefers sluggish or still waters " tropical rain forest, tropical deciduous forest, freshwater lakes, freshwater rivers
Range: tropical South America east of Andes primarily in Amazon & Orinoco basins, Guianas, Trinidad

status

Cites II

other

anaconda comes from Tamil word anaikolrameaning elephant killer" early Spanish settlers called it matatoroor bull killer'

note

largest snake in world

oregon zoo exhibit

Amazon

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