How to Identify the Green Anaconda

The Green Ananconda is One Huge Snake!

The green anaconda, widely considered to be the largest snake on the planet, is a snake that one should be well informed about. The green anaconda is one of the few snakes without venom on the planet that can actually kill a grown man simply by wrapping him in its massive coils. This constrictor is a snake to be respected and given a wide berth, so being able to identify it is very important if you live in the regions it inhabits.

Instructions

1. Observe the green anaconda's large, flat head. The green anaconda does not have venom, but it does have a mouthful of sharp, rear-aiming teeth that the snake uses to help guide prey down its throat whole. It bites with ferocity and will hold on after striking, so keeping your distance is very important.

2. Notice that the green anaconda is the heaviest snake in the world. The reticulated python, a close relative of the green anaconda, holds the record for length, but the anaconda is considered the largest snake. The green anaconda grows to a weight of over 500 pounds and to a length of up to 30 feet.

3. Recognize that the green anaconda is an olive colored snake with spots throughout the length of its body. The spots are usually dark brown with a light center. Variations of this color are common, with many anacondas taking on a greenish tint. Some are even darker brown in color.

4. Know the range of the green anaconda and where you might find one. Green anacondas are found in swamps, rain forests, marshes, streams, and rivers of the Amazon. They are also found throughout South America and the Orinoco basins. While they are relatively slow on land, they are quick and elusive in the water.

5. Observe that the green anaconda will eat just about anything that it can swallow. This includes crocodiles, birds, pigs, turtles and even some of the large cats of the jungle. This snake has been known to take small children, and domestic pets when the opportunity was there. They are considered quite dangerous to humans.

6. Watch the green anaconda only under the safest of conditions. This should include a field guide, and a safe distance to view from. The best method is to watch from a large distance with binoculars, or at your local zoo. Anacondas are able to strike from a very long distance due to their incredible size, and they often are underestimated.

Tips & Warnings

• Always have a field guide when going through the range of the anaconda.

• Remember that this snake has the power to kill you.

• Never approach an anaconda.