Hobbies And Interests
Courtship
With the beginning of the rain season, anacondas become more social than usual. The male anaconda seeks out a female who is releasing specific breeding pheromones, or scent chemicals. Scientists do not know whether the female releases pheromones in a trail for males to follow, or if the chemicals are airborne, but the courtship phase in this snake can last for several months.
Copulation
Females releasing pheromones can attract multiple mates, and the female may mate with all of them. Courtship, then copulation, are most often performed in the water. Copulation in this case, is accomplished by the male wrapping himself around the female. The snakes can remain this way for up to four weeks. Although anacondas produce eggs, the eggs hatch inside of the female prior to birth.
Birth
The snake bears live young after a gestation period of about six months. Full litters tend to be between 20 and 40 babies in number, though some litters of up to 100 babies have been observed. A baby anaconda is known as a neonate, and is approximately 2 feet long at the time of birth.
Newborn
Within hours of birth, neonates learn to swim, though their small stature makes them easy prey for many other types of animals. Despite their small size, neonates can also hunt and care for themselves within hours of birth. These snakes grow to sexual maturity at about four years, but continue to slowly grow afterwards.