Worlds Biggest Snake
Belonging to the South American boa family, Eunectes murinas or the Green Anaconda is considered to be the world’s biggest snake, stretching to an average length of around 20’, although there are some that can grow from 25’ up to 30’. In terms of width, it is known to reach a diameter of 11” to 12”. It can weigh 330 lbs on average, but some can achieve a weight of nearly 500 lbs depending on their living conditions and their diet.
The green anaconda is identified by its olive green color and the black spots that run throughout its whole body. Its head is narrow, lined with orange yellow stripes on its side, and its eyes are situated on top of its head close to its nostrils. Since these snakes spend most of their time looking for prey in the water, they tend to reside in the parts of the South American rain forest located next to bodies of water. Green anacondas can often be found along the waters of the Amazon River, as well as the Orinoco River, and in the regions of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Peru, Trinidad and Venezuela.
As previously stated, green anacondas spend much of their time in water, though they also have a habit of climbing up trees and lying out in the sun to bask in the heat. Although they are non-venomous snakes, green anacondas are no less deadly. They are very aggressive, and have a tendency to bite anything that poses a threat to them. As they are constrictors, they kill their prey by squeezing the life from them, after which they swallow their prey whole.
The diet of the green anaconda is comprised mostly of aquatic animals, which include water birds and turtles. However, this snake is also known to prey on land animals and even people if it ever gets its coils around them. Because of its size, the green anaconda is quite capable of killing animals such as wild pigs or deer easily, human beings even more so. And just to prove how ruthless these creatures can be, green anacondas have a tendency to attack and even prey on each other. The female of the species in particular is known for devouring the male after they have mated. Female green anacondas feed on their mates in order to stock up on nutrients, which they would lose once they give birth to their offspring.
