Facts
- Anacondas are excellent swimmers and stay in or near water. They can reach surprising speeds in the water.
- The green anaconda spends most of its time in the water. Eyes and nostrils on the top of its head enable it to see and breath while partially submerged.
- The green anaconda is the largest snake in the Western Hemisphere.
- Green anacondas average 10 to 15 feet and 110 to 165 pounds.
- Green anacondas are ambush predators, typically hunting from the water.
- Green anacondas hold the record as the heaviest snakes in the world, with some reaching 500 pounds or more. Their girth can measure over 12 inches in diameter.
- They give birth to live young.
Conservation
All anaconda trade is prohibited in most South American countries. Anacondas do not have any natural predators. Their main threat is human encroachment.
