Lurking submerged in the muck with only its eyes and nostrils visible, an anaconda waits patiently for its next snack, which can easily range from a child to a horse. Here are 10 reasons why the anaconda is one of the world’s most powerful creatures!
SUBSCRIBE for the latest videos:
Don't forget to CHECK OUT our latest upload:
Lurking submerged in the muck with only its eyes and nostrils visible, an anaconda waits patiently for its next snack, which can easily range from a child to a horse. Here are 9 reasons why the anaconda is one of the world’s most powerful creatures.
9. The Name Game
Anacondas are phenomenal swimmers, which is perhaps where they got their name. Scientifically termed Eunectus murinus, the title comes from two Greek words, Eunectus: “good swimmer” and Murinus, meaning: "mice." Spending much of their time in the vibrant waters of the Amazon, these spine-chilling serpents have been dubbed ‘water boa'.
8. Victims
While their menu mostly consists of mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, an anaconda's preferred treat is the capybara, the world's largest and ugliest rodent which can grow over 4 feet long and weigh up to 150 pounds. In addition to this, the large serpents find tapirs, large deer, ducks, turtles, dogs, and sheep particularly scrumptious. The occasional crocodile, jaguar, and caiman have been known to be a delightful delicacy for this Amazonian predator, though not a preferred meal choice as these beauties don't like having to fight with their food.
7. The Mating Game
A creepy fact about the species is that while most snakes lay eggs, anacondas are among the few that give birth to live young. For 8 to 12 weeks, the soon-to-be-mothers carry eggs effortlessly inside their bodies, forgoing food in order to preserve any chance-happening that may hinder the health of their hatchlings. A female anaconda can carry with her around twenty to eighty eggs and when ready to hatch, the birth process begins.
6. Razor-sharp Jaws
When peering inside the mouth of an anaconda, one can find six rows of zig-zagging choppers consisting of fourth sets of teeth on the roof of the mouth, with two on the bottomAfter using the sharp teeth to latch onto their victim, an anaconda will clamp down on the prey to prevent the animal from escape as they wriggle around it and slowly finish off the job.
5. Courting
When an anaconda is ready to mate around April to May, they form what is called ‘breeding balls.' While this is not a fancy gathering in which feminine prospects seek out their next prince charming, it is a competition to see which male can prevail in winning the female’s “heart. All the males simultaneously wrap around the one female, forming a tight ball for 2 to 4 weeks.
4. Sheer Size
While their technical name applies to a four snake species, the name ‘anaconda' generally refers to one group in particular— the green anaconda. With the three smaller varieties including the yellow, the dark-spotted, and Bolivian anacondas, all can be found in swamps, marshes, and slow-moving streams of the South American tropics of the Amazon and Orinoco basins. On average these not-so-gentle beasts grow from 10 to 15 feet long and weigh about 100 pounds, yet the green anaconda easily takes the bait for earth's most massive serpent.
3. Eaten Alive
On December 7th, 2014, fans worldwide watched in jaw-dropping astonishment as a network filmed naturalist took precautions to be swallowed whole by a giant anaconda. Paul Rosolie, a wildlife extremist, was clad head to toe in a snake-proof bodysuit, enabling protection from the sharp jaws and digestive tract of an anaconda snake. Quickly the stunt was terminated due to safety concerns, and let's just say animal activists including PETA were NOT happy about the endeavor.
2. When Animals Attack
One recent incident includes the attack on a television show host by an aggravated anaconda in the Amazon region of Columbia. Brazilian naturalist Toninho Negreiro, was venturing through the rainforest with a well-known jungle legend named El Diablo. This daredevil of the Amazon was famous for his mysterious power over the snake species, with the ability to smell the predators lurking within the swampy marshes. The team discovered an anaconda three times as long as El Diablo and lunging upon the snake, the agitated serpent instantly struck at Toninho, taking him down from the shoulder with its intense force and jaws. After intense screaming from all around, it took the force of five men to finally free the host from a ferocious death.
1. Eating Humans
With an ability to open its mouth up to 180 degrees wide and stretch the jaw ligaments to swallow a large body whole, one can only wonder how appealing a person is to the likes of the mighty anaconda.
0 Comments