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(Eunectes), either of two South American snakes belonging to the family Boidae. The giant anaconda, or great water boa (Eunectes murinus; see ), is a heavily built snake usually not more than about 5 m (16 feet) long, but a 7.6-metre specimen is known, and even longer specimens have been reported. If reports in excess of 9 m are accepted, the giant anaconda rivals the largest pythons in length. The yellow anaconda (E. noteus) is much smaller.
The giant anaconda is typically dark green with alternating oval black spots. It occurs along tropical rivers east of the Andes and in Trinidad. At night it lies in the water waiting to kill, by constriction, creatures as large as young pigs and caimans that come to drink; occasionally, the anaconda forages in trees for birds. This species bears about 75 live young at a time.
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Amateur Scientists And Common Teasers