How to Identify the Yellow Anaconda

The yellow anaconda is the cousin of the world famous green anaconda, and is notably smaller in size. Even still, the yellow anaconda is one of the larger snakes in the world. This boa is found in South America and can be quite dangerous to kids, the elderly and smaller humans. Because of this, it is a good idea to be able to identify the yellow anaconda. Fortunately, the yellow anaconda is one of the easier snakes to identify if you know what to look for.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Observe the size of the snake. The yellow anaconda is not as large as the green anaconda, but it is still a hefty 40-pound snake that can grow to lengths of 10 to 14 feet. The female yellow anaconda grows larger than the male.

2. Consider the brilliant coloration. The base color of the yellow anaconda is generally yellow to green but can sometimes be much darker. Throughout the length of the yellow anaconda, you will notice a pattern of saddle-shaped black markings. Sometimes these markings are streaks, blotches or other shapes due to size and age of the snake.

3. Note that the male yellow anaconda has a pair of preanal spurs at the base of the tail that it uses when mating with the female. The larger female and male will mate in the water, and the female will give birth to live young instead of laying eggs.

4. Look at the head of the powerful yellow anaconda. The head is large and flat, and the mouth houses a large number of sharp teeth. The yellow anaconda is a boa, and does not have fangs or venom. The yellow anaconda is still known, however, for being a very aggressive biter, and while the bite is not venomous, it can still be dangerous due to infection and possible necrotic features.

5. Watch for powerful, muscular coils. The yellow anaconda kills its prey by wrapping around it and squeezing each time the prey exhales. This eventually leads to suffocation and the anaconda swallowing the prey whole. Though the yellow anaconda's prey is not as large as the green anaconda's targets, it can still kill and eat huge prey such as heron, cayman and even the occasional small deer.

6. Look around at your surroundings to see what snake is in front of you. The yellow anaconda likes to stay hidden and camouflaged under the water. They hang around in swamplands, rivers and other bodies of water in South America. When you see a large snake in the waters of South America, it is a good bet that it is an anaconda.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that the yellow anaconda can have various patterns of dark on its back.
• Never attempt to handle a yellow anaconda as they are very aggressive. Beware of any large snake as it is capable of wrapping you in its coils. Always get prompt medical attention if you are bitten by any snake.