Green anaconda: Difference between revisions
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{{Taxobox |
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| name = Green Anaconda |
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| status = LC |
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| image = Eunectes_murinus.jpg |
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| image_width = 250px |
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
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| phylum = [[Chordata]] |
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| class = [[Reptilia]] |
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| order = [[Squamata]] |
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| suborder = [[Serpentes]] |
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| family = [[Boidae]] |
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| subfamily = [[Boinae]] |
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| genus = ''[[Eunectes]]'' |
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| species = '''''E. murinus''''' |
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| binomial = ''Eunectes murinus'' |
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| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758) |
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| synonyms = ''Boa murina''<br><small>Linnaeus, 1758</small><br>''Boa scytale''<br><small>Linnaeus, 1758</small><br>''Boa gigas''<br><small>[[Pierre André Latreille|Latreille]], 1802</small><br>''Eunectes barbouri''<br><small>[[Emmett Reid Dunn|Dunn]] & [[Roger Conant (herpetologist)|Conant]], 1936</small> |
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}} |
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The '''Green Anaconda''' (''Eunectes murinus'') is a giant [[South America]]n [[snake]]. It is the largest member of the [[boa]] [[family (biology)|family]] and the most heavy bodied member of the [[order (biology)|Order]] [[Squamata]]. |
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It is among the largest snakes in the world, reaching lengths up to 9.5m[http://www.nature.org/animals/reptiles/animals/anaconda.html], though average size is closer to 9 meters (26 feet)[http://home.neo.rr.com/edzoo/Scales/green_anaconda.htm]. It rivals the [[Reticulated Python]] for length, but is typically considerably heavier. It can weigh 250 kg (550 lb) and have a girth of more than 30 cm (11.8 inches) in diameter<ref>[http://animals.brainloggers.com/anaconda.html]</ref>. The Green Anaconda might be the most exaggerated animal on earth in terms of size, with reports of lengths ranging up to 40 m (131 feet). Probably the largest snake ever actually measured was a shot-but-not-killed female near the Colombia-Venezuela border in 1944. This unweighed giant was measured as being 9.5m, before it apparently slithered off from its hunter, who thought it died.<ref name="Wood">''The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats'' - Wood, G.; Sterling Pub Co Inc, New York. 978-0851122359 (1983)</ref> Females are significantly larger than males, having the largest [[sexual dimorphism]] of all the snakes. [[Cryptzoology|Cryptozoologists]] believe that the green anaconda species is responsible for the sightings of [[giant anaconda]]s. |
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Their primary overall color is an olive [[green]], with black blotches that run the length of the body. Their head is narrow compared to the rest of the body, with most exhibiting distinctive [[orange (colour)|orange]]-[[yellow]] striping on either side. Their [[eye]]s are set high on their head so as to allow the snake to be able to see out of the water without exposing the rest of its body. |
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== Geographic range == |
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Green Anaconda's are found mainly in northern South America on the Amazon River. |
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== Behavior == |
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[[Image:Anakonda verschlingt Wildschein Senckenberg.jpg|thumb|left|Anaconda devours a [[capybara]].<br /><small>Exhibit in the [[Senckenberg Museum]]</small>]] |
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[[Image:Green-anaconda.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Green anaconda at the [[New England Aquarium]].]] |
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Green anacondas, like all anacondas, are primarily aquatic. They eat a wide variety of [[predation|prey]], almost anything they can manage to overpower, including: [[fish]], [[bird]]s, a variety of [[mammals]], and other [[reptile]]s. Particularly large anacondas may even consume large prey such as [[tapir]], [[deer]], [[capybara]], [[caiman]], and sometimes [[crocodiles]] and [[jaguar]]s, but such large meals are not regularly consumed. In addition, there have been many reports and documentaries on anacondas consuming humans.They employ [[constriction]] to subdue their prey. [[Cannibalism]] among green anacondas is also known, most recorded cases involving a larger female consuming a smaller male. Scientists cite several possible reasons for this, including the dramatic sexual dimorphism in the species and the possibility that female anacondas require additional food intake after breeding to sustain their long gestation period and the male simply being an opportunistic prey item, but the exact reason is not understood.<ref>[http://pages.prodigy.net/anaconda/canib.htm ''Eunectes murinus'' (Green Anaconda): Cannibalism]</ref> In captivity, anacondas are known for their aggressive disposition.<ref>[http://lllreptile.com/info/library/animal-care-sheets/snakes/-/green-anaconda/ LLLReptile: Green Anaconda Captive Care]</ref> |
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== Reproduction == |
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Anacondas are solitary animals until mating. During the mating season (corresponding to the rainy season) males must find the females, and while it is still unclear how they track a female's scent, many males often go after the same female. This in turn results in odd clusters colloquially called "breeding balls" in which up to 12 males wrap around the same female attempting to copulate. Copulation takes place in the water, with gestation lasting approximately 6 months. Anacondas are [[ovoviviparous]], meaning that they produce eggs which hatch inside the mother's body and result in live births. The newborn, which usually number 20-30, are around 60 centimetres in size and receive no parental care. Should they survive, they reach sexual maturity in about 3 to 4 years. |
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== References == |
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*[http://www.nashvillezoo.org/anaconda.htm Nashville Zoo: Green Anaconda] |
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*{{EMBL species|genus=Eunectes|species=murinus}} |
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*[http://pages.prodigy.net/anaconda/canib.htm Reports about green Anaconda's cannibalism] |
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*[http://www.anacondas.org Reports general information on Anacondas] |
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<references /> |
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[[bg:Зелена анаконда]] |
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[[cs:Anakonda velká]] |
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[[da:Stor Anakonda]] |
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[[de:Große Anakonda]] |
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[[es:Eunectes murinus]] |
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[[fr:Grand anaconda]] |
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[[gl:Eunectes murinus]] |
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[[he:אנקונדה כהה]] |
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[[hu:Zöld anakonda]] |
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[[it:Eunectes murinus]] |
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[[ja:オオアナコンダ]] |
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[[ka:ანაკონდა]] |
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[[lt:Anakonda]] |
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[[nl:Anaconda (slang)]] |
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[[no:Anakonda]] |
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[[pl:Anakonda zielona]] |
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[[pt:Sucuri-preta]] |
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[[ru:Анаконда]] |
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[[sr:Зелена анаконда]] |
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[[sv:Grön anakonda]] |
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[[tr:Yeşil anakonda]] |
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[[uk:Анаконда]] |
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[[zh:森蚺]] |
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Revision as of 14:24, 5 June 2008
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