Before we get started, please note if you are deathly afraid of snakes then this post is probably not for you. Although, if you are reading this then you already had to get by the big picture so you might as well keep reading 🙂 . Yes, today we are going to look at the biggest snake in the world. Not only are they big but they are also famous as they have a movie about them. Of course, I am talking about the Anaconda. These snakes are a little different then the tiny garter snakes I grew up with. Keep reading to find out how they are different.
As mentioned the Anaconda is the largest snake in the world as they can grow up to 9 m (30 feet) long and weigh an amazing 227 kg (550 pounds). Just to put that into perspective, this snake weighs about the same as a large Black Bear. In all honesty, when I first saw the movie, Anaconda, I really thought they were exaggerating the size of these snakes but the more I think about it, I am not so sure they did.
Luckily the Anaconda is not a venomous snake. Unfortunately, they are a constrictor which means instead of killing their prey by poison they just squeeze them to death. That is great news, right?! To make matters worse the Anaconda’s mouth is held together by stretchy ligaments which means they can open their mouth incredibly wide. This allows them to swallow their prey whole. Not to scare you but these snakes have been known to swallow caimans (type of crocodile), fish, jaguars and even small deer. No wonder they made a movie about this snake. Honestly, their lifestyle is perfect for a Hollywood movie.
So where can we find these massive beasts? Well for starters you need to head to South America. Once you get there, you will want to check out the marshes and swamps. The Anaconda will feed on dry land but they actually prefer to spend most of their time in the water. Anyone know why they like the water so much? I can answer it with one word, buoyancy! By staying in the water it relieves a lot of the stress associated with being 500 lbs. Just imagine swimming (not sure why you would be swimming a swamp) and having this snake swim around you.
Anaconda Fast Fact – The Anaconda is able to remain submerged underwater for as long as 10 minutes before needing to come up for air. That is about 10 minutes longer than I can stay underwater.
Thanks for reading all the way through this post. I know they may be scary but you have to admit, the Anaconda is one interesting animal. Enjoy the rest of your day folks.
Are they related to the python who also swallow their prey, sometimes several at a time!
Hi PC,
The Anaconda is a type of Boa which is related to the Python but they are in different families.
At one time the Pythons were considered to be a sub-family of the Boas (Boaidae). They definitely have some similar traits such as their size and eating habits.
Thanks for the great question.
Nathan-does the anaconda have any predators?
Hey NP,
I apologize for the delay in response. I am just getting caught up here.
The adult anaconda doesn’t have too many predators. Their biggest predator is, of course, humans. Although, an adult Jaguar may try to tackle one of these massive snakes but I don’t think that is a common occurrence.
Animals such as the Jaguar and Caiman may take advantage of them while they are young and vulnerable.
Thanks for the great question.