Yellow Anaconda
(Eunectes notaeus)
| Description: | Yellow anacondas are large snakes, averaging 9ft in length. Females tend to be both longer and heavier than males. They are yellowish in colour with black or brown markings, giving them excellent camouflage in forests and swamp areas. | Habitat & Distribution: | Swamps, marshlands and forest areas with slow moving water in South America. |
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| Diet: | Birds, small mammals, lizards and even occasionally fish. |
| Conservation Status: | Not evaluated. |
| Did you know? |
Yellow anacondas are ovoviviparous which means the female retains their eggs internally until they hatch, so she bears live young. Yellow anacondas are members of the genus Eunectes meaning 'good swimmer'. Anacondas are very at home in the water and prefer to attack prey from here, rather than on land. They snatch prey using their powerful jaws and then coil their body around the prey and suffocate or drown it. Yellow anacondas are solitary animals with the exception of breeding time. Males will follow the pheromone scent given off by a female when she is ready to breed, and will start courtship once they catch up with her. Occasionally more than one male will find the female and they will form a breeding ball around her and compete for breeding rights. Yellow anacondas have been recorded remaining in this breeding ball for up to a month. |
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