Consider the following statements regarding Green Anaconda:1. It is na...
A National Geographic expedition in the Amazon rainforest has led to the reclassification of the world’s largest snake as two genetically distinct species: the southern green anaconda and the newly-discovered northern green anaconda (Eunectes akayima).
Why in News?
- The northern green anaconda can grow up to 7.5m and weigh close to 500kg, making it the largest and heaviest snake yet known in the world.
- It diverged from the previously known southern green anaconda about 10 million years ago, differing genetically from it by 5.5 percent.
About Green Anaconda:
- It is the largest snake in the world, when both weight and length are considered.
- It can reach a length of 30 feet (9 meters) and weigh up to 227 kilograms.
- It has two species: southern green anaconda and the northern green anaconda.
- Distribution: They are native to South America east of the Andes, and can be found in several countries, including Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, the island of Trinidad, and as far south as northern Paraguay.
- Habitat: They generally live in tropical rainforests and tend to prefer shallow, slow-moving waters, such as streams, rivers, and flooded grasslands.
- The green anaconda is a member of a family of snakes called constrictors.
- Constrictors are not venomous snakes. They don't kill prey by delivering venom through a bite.
- Instead, constrictors wrap their bodies around their prey and squeeze until it stops breathing.
- The giant snake opens its mouth wide enough to swallow its victim.
- Anaconda jaws are held together with stretchy ligaments so they can open wide enough to swallow prey whole.
- They are well adapted to aquatic life. Their nose and eyes are located on the top of their heads to help them see and breathe while swimming in the water.
- These anacondas are olive-green with dark oval spots along their spines and similar spots with yellow centers along their sides.
- Their color and pattern provide camouflage, allowing them to blend in with the wet, dense vegetation of their habitat.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Least Concern
Hence only statement 1 is correct.
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Consider the following statements regarding Green Anaconda:1. It is na...
Green Anaconda
1. Native Habitat:
The statement that the Green Anaconda is native to the tropical rainforests of South America, east of the Andes Mountains, is correct. Green Anacondas are primarily found in countries such as Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, and parts of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. They inhabit swamps, marshes, and slow-moving streams in these regions.
2. Venomous Nature:
The statement that the Green Anaconda is a highly venomous snake and kills its prey by delivering venom through a bite is incorrect. Green Anacondas are actually non-venomous constrictors, meaning they kill their prey by wrapping their powerful bodies around the animal and squeezing it to death. They are the largest and heaviest snakes in the world by weight and can grow up to over 29 feet in length.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 'A' - 1 only. The Green Anaconda is native to the tropical rainforests of South America but is not a venomous snake.