New Species Of Green Anaconda Discovered In Amazon, Could Be The Biggest Ever Recorded
The discovery was made by a group of scientists while filming for the National Geographics Disney+ series 'with Will Smith' Previously it was believed that there was just one species of green anaconda, but the scientists came across two genetically different boa species.
A group of scientists has discovered a previously unknown species of Green Anaconda in the Amazon Rain Forest.
The discovery was made by a group of scientists while filming for the National Geographics Disney+ series 'Pole to Pole' with Will Smith.
Professor Freek Vonk
New Green Anaconda species
Previously it was believed that there was just one species of green anaconda, but during the exploration, the scientists came across two genetically different boa species, despite looking almost identical.
According to Bryan G Fry, Professor of Toxicology, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, who was part of the researchers, the surprising finding opens a new chapter in the conservation of this top jungle predator.
"My colleagues and I were shocked to discover significant genetic differences between the two anaconda species. Given the reptile is such a large vertebrate, it¡¯s remarkable this difference has slipped under the radar until now," he said.
Northern Green Anaconda
The new species has been named Eunectes akayima, which in Latin means the Northern Green Anaconda.
Professor Freek Vonk
And the specimen the group of 14 scientists from across the world found measured 26 feet long (7m) making it the biggest snake in the world.
Trekked in jungle for 10 days
The discovery was made in the Amazon's Orinoco basin after the team was invited by the Waorani people, an indigenous tribe in Ecuador, who consider the anacondas sacred.
It took the team a 10-day trek in the jungle before they stumbled upon the giant anacondas.
As they came across several snakes lurking in the shallows they noticed that the females were much larger than the previously recorded green anacondas.
Professor Freek Vonk
26-feet-long Anaconda
Professor Freek Vonk who was part of the team recorded a video of a 26-feet-long green anaconda.
"The BIGGEST anaconda I've ever seen can be seen in the video, as thick as a car tyre, eight meters long and over 200 kg heavy - with a head as big as my head. From total awe and admiration a 'monster'!," he wrote on Instagram.
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Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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