Everything You Need to Know About Green Anacondas

Deep within the murky waters of South America slithers one of the most powerful snakes on the planet: the Green Anaconda! Let’s dive into the world of this massive, legendary reptile!

Green Anacondas (Eunectes murinus) are the heaviest snakes in the world, with the largest individuals weighing over 300 pounds (136.1 kg)! Females stretch out to lengths of up to 18–23 feet (7–8 m), while males reach up to 10–13 feet (3–4 m). The largest recorded Green Anaconda was supposedly a mind-blowing 26 feet (7.9 m)!

Green Anacondas are powerful carnivorous ambush predators that feed on a variety of large prey, including:

• Capybaras
• Tapirs
• Agoutis
• Brocket Deer
• Waterbirds
• Caimans

Juveniles start on a smaller diet, feeding on animals such as birds, fish, and small mammals.

If you’ve ever been interested in feeding a Green Anaconda, consider our Gift a Feast program to feed our Green Anacondas Ivy, Verdi, and Ariana!

In the wild, Green Anacondas live up to 10 years. But with expert care, like here at The Reptarium, they can live up to 30 years, thriving with proper space, nutrition, and enrichment.

Green Anacondas are unique snakes that give birth to live young, known as live-bearing. Unlike other snakes that lay eggs, Green Anacondas produce live young in a transparent egg membrane that ruptures shortly after birth. Only about 20 percent of snake species are live-bearers. See our YouTube video My Giant Anaconda Had 40 Live Babies! to find out more about Green Anaconda birth!

Some female snakes including Green Anacondas can produce exact clones of themselves in a process known as parthenogenesis. When no males are available to mate with, the female has the chance to create these clones. The offspring is typically unisexual with a high mortality rate. If you're interested in hearing more about snake parthenogenesis, check out our snake Ariana's parthenogenesis story in our YouTube video MY MALE ANACONDA HAD A BABY!! A VIRGIN BIRTH!! VERY RARE!! | BRIAN BARCZYK

You’ll find these giants in the lush, tropical ecosystems of northern South America, including:

• Brazil 🇧🇷
• Colombia 🇨🇴
• Venezuela 🇻🇪
• Peru 🇵🇪
• Ecuador 🇪🇨
• Bolivia 🇧🇴
• Guyana 🇬🇾
• Suriname 🇸🇷
• French Guiana 🇬🇫
• Trinidad 🇹🇹

They rule over rainforests, swamps, marshes, lakes, and seasonally flooded savannas, gliding through the water with astonishing grace.

Green Anacondas are highly adapted to the water, having evolved their eyes and nostrils to be positioned on top of their heads, allowing them to see and breathe while the rest of their massive bodies remain submerged. This aids in their stealthy ambush hunting of prey. Additionally, because of their large size, Green Anacondas need water to help regulate body temperature, keeping them cool in hot environments.

Green Anacondas are not venomous. Instead, they are constrictors, using powerful muscles to subdue prey.

According to the IUCN Red List, Green Anacondas are classified as Least Concern (LC) thanks to their wide distribution and stable numbers. Although Green Anacondas are not endangered, their survival still depends on protecting their natural habitats from deforestation and pollution.

• 🫧 The internet says that Green Anacondas can only stay underwater for up to 10 minutes, but our YouTube video ANACONDA HOLDS BREATH FOR 49 MINUTES UNDERWATER EATING A PIG!! | BRIAN BARCZYK found that Ivy could hold her breath for nearly 49 minutes!
• 👀 Their eyes and nostrils are on top of their head, perfect for stalking prey while submerged
• 📜 The name “anaconda” likely originates from the Sinhalese word henakandaya, meaning “whip snake.”
• Despite being aquatic snakes, fish are not an important part of the Green Anaconda diet

Come meet:

• Ivy, Verdi, and Ariana
• Our Green Anacondas have been with us at The Reptarium for over 5 years
• Ivy measures an incredible 15 feet 2 inches (4.6 m) and weighs 192 pounds (87.1 kg)!

🎟️ Plan your visit today! Buy tickets here: LegaSea Aquarium Admission