The movie, Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, initiated millions worldwide to the mesmerizing size and might of the anaconda snakes. Most viewers confessedly either closed their eyes or squirmed in their seats during the moments the anacondas made their appearance in the film. The anacondas continue to interest and amaze people the world over. Unfortunately, the green anaconda snake is dwindling sharply in number because of habitat degradation and skin trade.

The green anacondas dwell mainly in the marshes and swamps in the Amazon and Orinoco basins of northern South America. Stealthy and sleek in the water, the anacondas manage to lie completely submerged in water because their eyes and nasal openings are located on the top of their heads.

The green anaconda snake belongs to the kingdom anamalia, phylum chordata, genus eunectes and species Eunectes murinus. Branded as the largest snake in the world, the green anacondas can grow to nearly 30 feet, and may weigh and measure more than 550 pounds and 12 inches respectively. The female anacondas are significantly larger than the males.

As the name suggests, the green anaconda snake is olive green in color, and contains black smudges running across the entire length of its body. The head of the green anaconda snake is narrower than the rest of its body and is characterized by a distinctive orange-yellow striping on either side. Apart from the above mentioned physical features, the green anacondas also have scales. There are claw-like spurs located on either side of the cloaca {the cavity into which the genito-urinary and digestive tracts of the anaconda snakes empty}. This is the only region of the green anaconda snake’s body that does not have scales, and which emits a musk with a foul odor that is poisonous to small organisms. Perhaps this is a mode whereby the green anaconda snake prevents leeches and ticks from attaching themselves to its cloaca. Analogous with the fingerprint of a human, the pattern of scales found along the yellow and black underside of the lower tail of the green anacondas is unique to each anaconda snake.

Green anaconda snakes are able to swallow preys that are much larger than their mouths as they are able to unhinge their jaws. Swallowing their prey head first, the anacondas’ muscles contract in waves as the process of swallowing occurs. The anacondas have a slow-acting digestive system, which usually takes days or weeks. A heavy meal can typically last the anaconda snake for several weeks or months.

The anaconda snakes are nonpoisonous and live on a diet of birds, deer, turtles, capybara, jaguars, caimans and wild pigs. The baby anacondas feed on fish, mice, rats, chicks and frogs. Confirmed reports also affirm that the green anaconda snake occasionally preys on jaguars and attacks humans too. The green anaconda snake would certainly not make a good domestic pet!

To watch real life anacondas in action, go over to our anaconda videos section which has got the largest collection of anaconda videos ever assembled in one place.

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