Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: Researchers have discovered that the green anaconda, previously thought to be a single species, actually consists of two genetically distinct species: the “southern green anaconda” (Eunectes murinus) and the newly identified “northern green anaconda” (Eunectes akayima).
- Green anacondas are renowned as the world’s heaviest snakes and are found predominantly in rivers and wetlands in South America.
- They are known for their ability to asphyxiate large prey and swallow them whole.
- Females are usually larger than males
- IUCN: Least Concern
The northern green anaconda is found in countries such as Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Guyana, while the southern green anaconda inhabits regions like Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil.
