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About this snake: Anaconda
One of the largest snakes in the world, the anaconda has
been recorded up to a length of 37.5 feet. It is also the heaviest
snake in the world at 550 pounds with a 30 cm (12 inch) or more
diameter around the center of its body. It is usually found in
close association with water, where it will lie in wait for mammals,
waterfowl and even small crocodiles and caiman. Large adults
are capable of killing juvenile tapir weighing 100 pounds or
more. They have even been reported to attack jaguars and humans,
although this is not common. Anacondas kill by constriction and
are not venomous. When searching for food they normally wait
in the water with nothing but their nose breaking the surface.
When an animal stops to drink, the anaconda will grab it with
its jaws and coil around the prey, squeezing it until it suffocates.
When on land, the anaconda will most likely wait in a tree dropping
down on their prey from above and again coiling around the animal
and suffocating it. After suffocating their prey the anaconda
will swallow it whole. Its hinged jaws allowing it to swallow
prey that is up to 5 times the diameter of its mouth. After a
meal it may be up to 2 years before the anaconda eats again.
The mating period for anacondas usually lasts from April
to May. The anaconda, like all snakes, reproduces sexually and
has internal fertilization. The female is usually inactive during
mating season and does not move around, but waits for the males
to seek her out. Although this does not seem necessary for breeding
to take place, there are usually 2 to 12 males curled around
one female. This is known as a breeding ball. Once in this position
the snakes will stay for up to 2 to 4 weeks with the males wrestling
for the privilege of mating with the female. The young are born
live, usually in litters of 20 to 40, however it is possible
for the litter to be as large as 100. The babies are about 2
feet long and will often refuse food for the first several months
after birth.
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