Yellow anaconda

Eunectes notaeus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Boidae
Subfamily: Boinae
Genus: Eunectes
Species: E. notaeus
Binomial name
Eunectes notaeus
Cope, 1862
Synonyms

The yellow anaconda (scientific name Eunectes notaeus, also known as the Paraguayan anaconda[1]) is a boa species endemic to South America. It is one of the largest snakes in the world, but is not as large as its close relative, the green anaconda. Like all boas and pythons, it is non-venomous and kills its prey by constriction. The yellow anaconda is found in southern regions of South America, including Paraguay, southern Brazil, northeastern Argentina, and Bolivia. No subspecies are currently recognized.[2]

Etymology

The genus name Eunectes derives from Greek and means "good swimmer"; the Neo-Latin specific name notaeus derives from Greek νωταίος/nōtaios (poetic form of Greek νωτιαίος/nōtiaios), here meaning “dorsal”. In distinguishing his new species Eunectes notaeus from Eunectes murinus, Edward Drinker Cope stated, "Dorsal scales are larger and in fewer rows."[3]

Description

Adults are not as large as the green anaconda, E. murinus, but nevertheless grow to an average of 3.3 to 4.4 m (10.8 to 14.4 ft) in total length. They commonly weigh 25 to 35 kg (55 to 77 lb), though large specimens can weigh 40 to 55 kg (88 to 121 lb) or even more.[4][5] The maximum size can certainly be larger, although confusion with its larger cousin may complicate matters. Female yellow anacondas have reportedly been measured up to 4.6 m (15.1 ft).[1][6] Females are generally larger than males.[7]

The color pattern consists of a yellow, golden-tan or greenish-yellow ground color overlaid with a series of black or dark brown saddles, blotches, spots and streaks.[1]

Habitat

This species prefers mostly aquatic habitats, including swamps, marshes, and brush-covered banks of slow-moving rivers and streams. They can be also observed in forests and can prey on relatively large game, such as brocket deer or peccaries.[7]

Feeding

These snakes were studied in regularly flooded areas in the Pantanal region of southwestern Brazil. The data collected were directly observed from predatory instances, analysis and examination of gut and waste contents, and affirmations by local residents and other researchers. These studies indicate the species is a generalist feeder. The prey list analyzed and other evidence suggest E. notaeus employs both "ambush predation" and "wide-foraging" strategies. The snakes forage predominately in open, flooded habitats, in relatively shallow water; most predation instances occur from June to November, when flooded areas have noticeably dried out, with wading birds being the most common prey. They have also been known to prey on fish, turtles, small-sized caimans, lizards, birds' eggs, small mammals and fish carrion. The prey to predator weight ratio is often much higher than those known for other types of Boidae.[8]

Captivity

As captives, they have a reputation for being unpredictable, and are somewhat dangerous to humans.[1][7] However, humans are anaconda's main predators; killing them for their skin. [9]

In the United States, their importation and their transportation and sale across state lines were banned in 2012 to try to prevent the yellow anaconda from becoming an invasive species in areas such as the Florida Everglades.[10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
  2. ↑ "Eunectes notaeus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  3. ↑ Cope, E.D. (1862). Synopsis of the species of Holcosus and Ameiva, with diagnoses of new West Indian and South American Colubridae. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia 14 [1862]: 60–82.Archive, PDF.
  4. ↑ What Is a Yellow Anaconda? Wisegeek.com. Retrieved on 2012-08-22.
  5. ↑ Mendez M, Waller T, Micucci P, Alvarenga E, and Morales JC (2007). Genetic population structure of the yellow anaconda (Eunectes notaeus) in Northern Argentina: management implications. In: Biology of the Boas and Pythons, Robert W. Henderson and Robert Powell (eds) pp. 405–415. Eagle Mountain Publishing, LC ISBN 0972015434.
  6. ↑ Owen, W. 2004. Snakes: Reptiles. p. 397 in J Flew, L Humphries (eds.) The Encyclopedia of Animals, Vol. 1. Los Angeles: University of California Press.
  7. 1 2 3 Colthorpe, Kelly (2009). "Eunectes notaeus". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
  8. ↑ Strussmann, C (June 1997). "Feeding habits of the yellow anaconda, Eunectes notaeus Cope, 1862, in the Brazilian Pantanal". Biociencias. 5 (1): 35–52. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  9. ↑ http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=2576
  10. ↑ Segal, Kim (January 17, 2012). "U.S. bans imports of 4 exotic snake species". CNN.
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