Hobbies And Interests
(Normally) Gentle Giants
A common misconception about anacondas is that they are bloodthirsty predators. Given their size and bright coloring, it is no surprise that these snakes are mistaken as being hyperaggressive. However, strangely enough, these massive animals are fairly passive; when they are not looking for prey, they prefer to slip silently into the water without being noticed when confronted with danger rather than attacking.
A Massive Creature
Most snakes are fairly small ̵2; a few feet, perhaps, and less thick than the average human arm. Anacondas, however, are massive. On average, they weigh in at about 300 lbs. and reach about 20 feet long. Some anacondas can reach up to 25 feet long. However, despite their significant size, they are shorter than the python, which can reach up to 33 feet long.
A Long Life
The life spans of animals vary a great deal ̵2; some flies live only a few minutes while certain marine turtles can live to more than 100 years. The anaconda lives a fairly long time ̵2; up to 50 years, which is above average for most animals.
Killer Instincts
While the anaconda is not aggressive unless it is on the hunt, it is a powerful animal. However, it does not kill by injecting its victims with venom. Instead, the anaconda kills by constriction. Constriction occurs when the anaconda wraps itself around its prey and squeezes until the prey suffocates. The anaconda then swallows the animal whole and can take up to several weeks to digest the kill.
Aggressive Maters
When mating, the male anaconda becomes very aggressive toward other anacondas. In fact, the male will engage in combat with other local males in order to win the female. In some cases, more than a dozen males will fight for the attention of a single female snake.