2, 11, 13 The home range size of non-breeding females and males of Eunectes murinus has been estimated to be 0.091–37.4 ha (about the size of 0.1–52 soccer fields), with the former figure being in the dry season in a rainforest locality and the latter figure being during the rainy season in the savanna ecosystem. Green Anacondas appear to be active throughout the day and night, but avoid being out during the hottest hours of the day. 2 Occasionally, these boas (specially males during the breeding season) are seen crawling on dry land or crossing roads. 2, 17 Even though Green Anacondas are good swimmers and occasionally pass streams of moving water, they seem to avoid currents and prefer areas of slow-moving water bodies with medium to dense aquatic vegetation. 4, 15, 16 When not active, they hide in crevices, caves, among the roots of aquatic plants, or deep under mud. 2 During sunny days, individuals (specially breeding females) 13 emerge to bask on large rocks, termite mounds, on the river bank, 4, 11, 14 or on bushes or branches of trees overhanging the water up to 10 m above the surface. 2 They spend the majority (~86%) of their time in the water or at the water’s edge (14%) 2 and they seem to prefer shallow (less than 50 cm deep) water. 4, 11, 12 Green Anacondas are bulky and heavy reptiles that move slowly on land and are thus seldom found outside of the water. 2 Eunectes murinus is a semi-aquatic boa that inhabits swamps, marshes, rivers, lagoons, flooded forests, and seasonally flooded savannas. to locally frequent Recorded weekly in densities below five individuals per locality., and apparently occurring in higher densities (up to 0.36 individuals/ha) in savannas than in rainforests. Natural history: Uncommon Unlikely to be seen more than once every few months. “It is an undisputed fact that anacondas devour cattle and horses, and the general belief in the country is that they are sometimes from sixty to eighty feet long.”Īlfred Russell Wallace, British naturalist and explorer, 1853. 2įigure 1: Individuals of Eunectes murinus from Casanare department, Colombia ( ) and Sani Lodge, Sucumbíos province, Ecuador ( ). murinus, though remarkably smaller than females, have absolute longer spurs (7.47 mm) than females (5.13 mm) regardless of the larger female size. 9 Evidence for this includes the presence of anal hooks or claws reminiscent of the thighbone. 8 Anacondas are considered to be primitive (basal) among the boa family (Boidae). The species can be further differentiated from other Amazonian boas by having very narrow ventral scales. 4 The sheer body size of this snake, in combination with its unique coloration, is enough to separate it from all other Ecuador serpents. 7 The top of the head is also olive and is accompanied by a broad reddish brown to orangish cream postocular stripe bordered above and below by thinner black stripes. 2, 4 The dorsal coloration consists of 36–45 dark brown or black blotches and a lateral row of light-centered ocelli on a deep olive background color. murinus is adapted for an aquatic lifestyle and includes eyes and nostrils on the top of the head and a color pattern that blends in with aquatic vegetation. 3, 4 Anacondas of 11.4 m in total length or weighing 227 kg have been reported, 5, 6 but not confirmed. 1, 2 The Green Anaconda ( Eunectes murinus) is the World’s second longest species, and is clearly the heaviest (up to 104.4 kg). ♀♀ 6.6 m Maximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Recognition: ♂♂ 3.39 m Maximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Spanish common names: Anaconda verde, serpiente de agua, culebra de agua. Reptiles of Ecuador | Serpentes | Boidae | Eunectes murinusĮnglish common names: Green Anaconda, Common Anaconda.
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