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Recently Dominic, Suelin and
Saiyaad came across this 8 foot Anaconda snake in the Nariva Swamp
Like most snakes it has suffered greatly from much exaggeration and
scary folklore.
The name seems to be derived from the Asian word
"Ana couri" meaning elephant and killer and in the Caribbean it is called "
Huille" which is french for "Oil" because the snake seems to have oily
skin..
The anaconda is also referred to as a "Water Boa" because it tends to live in or near the swamps and back river systems.
This is truly a constrictor! These specimens usually utilize a swift bite to hold
their prey (or victim), followed by a coiling of a loop or two around the
main body. Once these loops are in position, the snake will steadily
constrict with incredible strength to suffocate the captive. It is the
combination of sheer strength and unrelenting power that quickly replaces
any breathing room. With each exhale of air, the lung slack is removed for
any follow-up inhale! In moments, the prey is ready to consume. The larger
specimens take on deer, pigs, caiman, fish, and larger prey. Simply
holding a victim under water until drowning occurs is another less
exciting but effective technique used by the anaconda in daily
living.
They actually tend to be nocturnal which adds even more to
the mystique on a dark still night! Due to their sometimes unwieldy size,
they appear sluggish on land or hanging in a tree but in water they are
capable of surprising speed on the surface and underneath. Even with the
huge size, they can stalk so stealthily that not a ripple is felt by a
hapless victim until the water is churning as the killing grasp takes
place! They often simply wait near the water on a tree limb and come
raining down to catch animals as they come for necessary water. The victim
is seldom crushed although there is ample ability to do this. As with all
snakes, the suffocated victim is swallowed whole and in one piece.
Primarily the head is swallowed first as the limbs tend to fold
conveniently in and smoothly move down the rippling muscles as swallowing
occurs, compressing the prey with each surge forward. Very quickly, there
is little outward evidence of a bump or object being present and a large
proportionate meal may last for weeks. Like all snakes, this species has a
rather slow digestive tract and fortunately for the predator's targets,
hunting does not occur every day.
Anacondas are viviparous and thus
give birth to live young. Sometimes as many as a hundred may be born but
most often 20 to 30 babies around two feet in length are the result. Many
fall prey to other predators in the food chain so that few will ever
become the dominant top of the chain as adults. Stories about enormous
size and awesome man-eating qualities are exciting but not the
usual.
It seems that the longest specimen on record is a 9+ meter snake
at a little over 37 feet in strong squeezing length. The anaconda at full
adulthood is truly a natural wonder and is easily one of the most
impressive creatures alive. The common anaconda (Eunectes murinus) is the
longest snake in the western hemisphere and the heaviest snake in the
world. |
