The Giant, Water-Loving Anaconda - Dark-Spotted Anaconda

The Dark-Spotted Anaconda is of course a member of the infamous anaconda family. This large snake is actually one of the lesser known members of the Anaconda family but this doesn’t make them any less impressive.

Cool Facts About The Dark-Spotted Anaconda

The Dark-Spotted Anaconda is also called the De Schauensee’s Anaconda, which is named after Rodolphe Meyer de Schauensee. In 1924, this fascinating man donated the first ever captive Dark-Spotted Anaconda to the Philadelphia Zoo

This beautiful snake is rather shy and as such we don’t have a good handle on their population size, which is why they are listed as “Data Deficient” on the IUCN list. If you are bored, this might be a good project for you

Like most other Anacondas the Dark-Spotted variety loves the water and are excellent swimmers and divers

The Swimming Snake

It seems odd that such a large snake can be so proficient at swimming. Interestingly enough, the Dark-Spotted Anaconda has evolved for a life in (and around) the water. Evidence of this is easy to see by simply looking at the snakes eyes and nose. Do you notice anything peculiar about them? That’s right, both the eyes and nose of this snake are positioned very high on their head – great job, you are preety observant. The positioning of their sensory organs allows this Anaconda to sit in the water and wait for their next meal to wander by. Basically, it allows them to be completely concealed so the prey has no idea what is coming.

Hanging Out

When they are not swimming and surprising poor, helpless animals, the Dark-Spotted Anaconda will often slither up a tree and sun themselves. This sounds like a pretty nice and easy life, however, the snake does have to be on the lookout for dangerous predators. Yes, believe it or not there are animals that will attack this massive reptile. Even while suntanning this Anaconda will use its love for water to their advantage. They will usually rest on branches overhanging lakes and rivers. This gives them an exit strategy if something is trying to make them a snack – they simply drop off the tree and into the water where they will proceed to stick their tongue out at the predator and swim away to safety. Pretty clever, if you ask me.