Yellow Anaconda (Eunctes Noteus)

Teaser:
True or false...certain Anacondas only grow to lengths of 10 to 15 feet and reach weights of up to 40 pounds?

True:
Because Green Anacondas capture the headlines and our imaginations as the world's largest snakes (at confirmed lengths of up to 37 and 1/2 feet and weights of more than 600 pounds), smaller Yellow Anacondas are practically an unknown species.

Description: 

Yellow or Southern anacondas are large, semi-aquatic constricting snakes reaching lengths of 10 to 15 feet and weights of up to 40 pounds (with females typically growing larger than males).

Habitat: 

Rain forest wetlands such as large rivers, lakes and swamps.

Range: 

Northern Argentina, Paraguay, Southeastern Bolivia and Brazil.

Diet: 

Paca, Agouti and other large rodents, birds, fish, young caiman (crocodilians) and turtles.

Life Span: 

Up to 20 years.

Family Life: 

Females are ovoviviparous. This means the young are hatched from eggs internally and born live, after which the leathery eggshells are expelled. Up to 24 young are produced. Because no parental care exists, the 18-inch long constrictors must fend for themselves in their rain forest wetland home.

Status: 

Guarded or at risk of significant declines due to continued rain forest habitat loss and the snakeskin trade.


<<< Yacare Caiman | Back to the Animal List | Striped Raphael Catfish >>>