Wildlife Wednesdays: Green Anaconda
By Madeline Davis, researched by Hal Dittbrenner
Scientific Name: Eunectes murinus
Classification:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Class: Reptilia
- Family: Boidae
Population Number: 900,000+
The green anaconda, also known as the giant anaconda, emerald anaconda, common anaconda, or common water boa, is a carnivorous snake native to South America. Countries south of the Andes, including Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, the island of Trinidad, and northern Paraguay house these amazing creatures. On April 29, 2021, green anacondas were also added to Florida’s list of prohibited non-native species. As of August 2023, eleven green anacondas had been verifiably observed in the wild in Florida, including one juvenile found in the Florida Everglades.
Many people are afraid of anacondas, and they are often the center of myths that exaggerate their size and attacks on humans. Substantiated reports of giant constrictors killing and eating humans are quite rare. While it is still wise to be careful around these animals, they are not as scary as they may seem.
Rather, they have a multitude of unique characteristics. Green anacondas are very well adapted to aquatic life and primarily reside in areas near or surrounded by water. Their nose and eyes are located on the top of their heads, which allows them to see and breathe while swimming in the water. Anacondas that live in areas that flood seasonally must find water during the dry season or burrow into the mud.
Anacondas also have advanced chemosensory abilities and can use their tongues to detect chemical signals from nearby animals. Males also use this ability to detect pheromones from females during the breeding season. They will flick their tongues to pick up the chemical presence in the air. In addition to this, anacondas also detect the presence of other animals through vibrations and through the pit organs on their upper lip to identify heat signatures.
Full-grown adult females have few predators due to their size. Juveniles and males must protect themselves through different methods. They escape by burrowing into the mud or retreating to water. When cornered, they can also coil into a ball to both protect their head and gain the ability to strike. However, predators are not the main cause of decreases in green anaconda populations.
Like many rainforest species, green anacondas are most affected by trade and habitat loss. Protected areas are not always well regulated and deforestation is a threat to their population. Green anacondas are also hunted by people. Many people fear anacondas due to their large size or may kill them to protect livestock. These snakes are also captured for the international pet trade, and there is a large market for anaconda products. The trade of anacondas is regulated under CITES Appendix II, but illegal trade still persists. Some countries have additional national laws making the trade of anaconda products illegal.
It is important to conserve the green anaconda’s habitat to maintain the creature’s population size and keep them a part of our ecosystem.
For more information about green anacondas, check out our sources:
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/anaconda-population-by-country
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_anaconda#
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/green-anaconda