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Thousands of myths are associated with a huge snake, which is otherwise called an anaconda. So many legends tell about this creation that it is really difficult to understand where the truth ends. This is due to the gigantic dimensional features of reptiles, which frighten their appearance even from photographs. In today's article we will look at this representative of the family in detail. It is called not only an ordinary, but also green anaconda, and also a water boa.
Description
- If we proceed from the dimensional features of the snake in question, it is considered the most gigantic of all the variety of reptiles. It is worth knowing that individuals of female gender are stretched in length and grow in thickness stronger than male individuals. Based on reliable information, let's say that these individuals grow up to 5 meters on average.
- An expert from Sweden described in his observations the dimensions of an animal that he managed to catch in Colombia. According to G. Dahl, the anaconda reached 8 meters in length. Another zoologist R. Bloomberg managed to find the reptile, which reached 8.5 meters. Agree, these numbers are really impressive.
- However, the above dimensional features fall into the list of exceptions. Some hunters, wishing to boast, attribute even greater overall characteristics to the anaconda. Specialists involved in the study of these snakes, believe that people are often exaggerated, because they can not visually assess the length of the animal seen.
- As for the color, the body is pigmented with a pale green shade, so otherwise this type is called. On the surface of the body are spotted brownish tint, they are oval in shape, can alternate with gray splashes in the side parts of the body. There are also marks of yellow-gray tone, which are endowed with a black edging. In view of this coloring, snakes are perfectly masked, hiding near the logs and leaves.
- The constitution harmonious, causes fear, consists mainly of a tail and a backbone.The ribs are so plastic that a giant representative can wriggle in all directions without feeling slighted. Also, the flexibility of the ribs and their ability to expand allows reptiles to swallow large prey without difficulty. Elasticity can boast of the bones of the skull, which are connected by ligaments. Thanks to this, the snake opens its mouth wide and can swallow a huge piece of food.
- All snakes are inherently sensitive and mobile language, anaconda is not included in the list of exceptions. With it, the reptile communicates, feels the world around us. The scales are very thick and strong, dry, but at the same time slippery. The snake cannot be simply caught, it is quirky. When the skin needs to be thrown off, a representative of the family begins to rub against the snag, so her outfit slips off her stocking.
Habitat and lifestyle
- This snake likes to live in tropical conditions. Most individuals are found in Bolivia, Venezuela, Paraguay and other countries in South America. Often, representatives of the breed group are met in Peru and Guyana.However, due to the secrecy of life, it was not possible to count the number of snakes. Established only approximate indicators on which all rely.
- Experts on this day can not give an exact answer with regards to how many snakes are present in a particular region. Dynamic indicators are difficult to track, so this view is not listed in the Red Book. If you rely on the opinion of scientists, anaconda does not threaten anything. She lives in zoos and habitat in the open spaces of her homeland and nearby states.
- Not all establishments, private or public, can create a favorable environment for these individuals. If in a natural environment snakes live to be 20 or more years old, then indicators in zoos are not at all encouraging - 10 years maximum. This water inhabitant settles in warm water, other sources such as channels and rivers. She is met in the dangerous Amazon River, since all conditions have been created there for the comfortable existence of reptiles.
- Some people mistakenly believe that the individuals in question live on land. This is not true, most of the life of the representatives of the species are in or near the water. They live in tropical thickets, can also be gently placed on the stones, waiting for prey. During the hunt, they are located near the snags to disguise.
- These snakes love to lie in the sun, so in rare cases they climb strong and large trees. If danger is brewing, the snake rushes to the water source at high speed. When a drought is observed, individuals penetrate into the muddy soil, dig in and wait for the beginning of the rainy season. They do not move, so as not to expend energy.
- Even despite the impressive size of the individual, it often becomes a victim of the caiman or jaguar. In addition, a wounded snake in the water can attract a flock of bloodthirsty piranhas. Such fish can be easily separated from a weakened reptile.
- If we compare our usual boas with an anaconda, the latter is several times more aggressive and stronger. But such snakes rarely bite humans and attack them. If an individual is not provoked, then it never begins to unleash a conflict first.
- If for any reason you have met face to face with such a huge reptile, do not in any way provoke it to attack. Stand still. Do not make sudden movements or make loud noises.
- It is worth noting an interesting fact. An adult man can easily overcome anaconda if its size does not exceed 3 m. But one should not forget that such a snake is many times stronger than a boa.Therefore, the power of the anaconda coil is several times stronger than the boa coil.
- Also, do not believe nonsense about the fact that the individuals in question can enter a person into hypnosis. This is far from true, just fiction from stories. Anaconda, like most of its brethren are not poisonous. Therefore, with vinegar, you can feel the hellish pain, but no more.
- If you adhere to theories of stories and movies, we can conclude that such individuals are cruel predators that constantly hunt people. In fact, it is not. The only time officially confirmed the case when the snake attacked a child in India. Although this can be attributed to chance.
- Anaconda can take a man for prey if he sees it in the water. Most often, snakes can confuse him with a baby deer or capybara. In other cases, reptiles purposefully do not hunt people. On the contrary, the local Indian tribes themselves catch snakes because of the pleasant and tender meat. In addition, different things are made of leather.
- Even a fairly well-known English zoologist in his stories describes the hunt for the individuals in question.And the author does not expose them in the light of ferocious and dangerous predators. On the contrary, such a snake did not show aggression and practically did not defend itself. The zoologist simply grabbed her by the tail, and threw a bag over her head.
- Moreover, after the snake was in captivity, it did not show aggression and behaved quite calmly, peacefully. She practically did not hiss and did not move much while she was in the bag. The author thinks that, most likely, the individual was very frightened and had a relatively small size. Hence the peaceful behavior.
Nutrition
- In most cases, the reptiles represented hunt on land or shore. They hide, then make a surprise attack. The basis of the diet includes small reptiles and mammals. Often the anacondas feed on waterfowl, fish and rodents.
- Adults and large individuals are quite capable of swallowing capybara or caiman. However, this happens quite rarely. If the anaconda lacks food and is very hungry, the hunt begins on small snakes and even turtles.
Anaconda can be considered quite interesting reptile.It has its own characteristics and simply unimaginable size. Such snakes once again do not show aggression towards people. If the individual does not provoke, nothing bad will happen to you. In other cases, the anacondas opposite themselves become victims.
Video: Anaconda ordinary (Eunectes murinus)
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