Green anaconda (Eunectes murinus)
Eunectes murinus is dark green in color (hence the name Green Anaconda) with alternating oval black spots. Similar spots with yellow-ochre centers are along the sides of its body. The Green Anaconda has a large narrow head that is not distinct from the thick neck area. Its eyes and nostrils are set on the top of its head, which enables it to see and breathe while mostly submerged. Its body is exceptionally stocky compared to other boas and extremely muscular. This species is a constrictor and not poisonous. Adults of this species can grow to over 9 meters in length. For it's length, it is much heavier than other large constrictors, and so if weight and length are both considered, Green Anacondas are the largest snakes in the world. The snake is covered with scales all over and has spurs (small claw like appendages on either side of the cloaca. The only area without scales is the cloaca (cavity into which the intestinal and genito-urinary tracts empty). This area contains glands that emit a foul smelling toffee colored musk, which is poisonous for small organisms. It may be a way of preventing ticks and leeches from attaching themselves to the cloaca. The pattern of scales found along the black and yellow underside of the lower tail are unique to each snake and can serve as a method of identification, much like the fingerprint of a human (Coborn 1991; Encyclopedia Britannica 1995; Kemper 1996). This species is primarily nocturnal, and spends most of its time in water. It is sometimes referred to as the "Water Boa" and is the most aquatic of the boas. Due to its large size it may seem sluggish on land, but in the water it is capable of surprising speeds both on the surface and underwater. It usually waits in the water with only its snout extending above the surface. When an animal passes by or stops to drink, the snake grabs it with its jaws and coils around it, constricting it until it suffocates or drowns. On land it may hang in trees and grabs its prey from ab
Size: 3600px × 4800px
Location: Venezuela
Photo credit: © Alicia Gonzalez / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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