#anacondas

Yellow Anaconda (Eunectes notaeus)

This post is about "Disentangling the Anacondas: Revealing a New Green Species and Rethinking Yellows"

Please note this post is not an analysis of the veracity of this paper, it is simply a summary of the findings.

This research team performed genetic testing on known species within the Anaconda genus (Eunectes). They are suggesting two things in their paper:

Two recognized species of yellow anacondas, E. beniensis and E. deschauenseei, are not significantly genetically distinct from E. notaeus. Note that E. notaeus has a slightly different pattern/morphology while the other two are more similar and differentiated mostly by location. They propose grouping these all three as one species.

The Green Anaconda, the heaviest species of snake, with a range all across the continent, may actually be two species. They found significant genetic differences between Northern and Southern Green Anacondas and are proposing they be made into separate species.

Graphical Abstract, sourced from linked paper, showing revised taxonomy. The Northern Green Anaconda's proposed scientific named is E. akayima. Akayima means "The Great Snake" in the indigenous language of the region.

The paper points out that there are conservation implications behind redefining these species. If the Northern Green Anaconda is accepted as a separate species, habitat loss may impact it more severely than the Southern, who has a wider range. For the the opposite reason, scientists may feel reluctant to group three previously defined species into one, as it could make it more difficult to protect the subcategories.

Read more: Nat Geo article on the findings, Bryan Fry Live Science article

Oh yeah, and one of the scientists who published the article posted this video of an Anaconda that's estimated to be 8 meters long and 200kg. Here's a still:

ANACONDAS: THE HUNT FOR THE BLOOD ORCHID (2004)

The Quizzer Book of Knowledge: Nature. Written and edited by George Beal. 1978.

WAKE UP HOMIES NEW SNAKE JUST DROPPED! scientists just discovered the largest snake in the world in the amazon rainforest. the northern green anaconda is about 26 feet long and 450 pounds, and is about 5.5% genetically different than the southern green anaconda. (to put that into perspective, humans are only about 2% genetically different from chimpanzees.)

Green anaconda (Eunectes murinus), family Boidae (boas/boids)

During the mating season, many species of reptiles and amphibians form ‘breeding balls’ in which multiple males surround a single female in an attempt to gain reproductive access. This behaviour is usually found in smaller species like the California newt or garter snakes, but this behaviour is present in larger species too. One notable example is the green anaconda, one of the largest snakes in the world. Up to 13-16 males will surround a female, attempting to insert their genetic material, and this can happen several times a month.

(Image: A green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) mating ball by Jesus Rivas)