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ANIMALS – Weighing more than 220 kg and measuring more than 8.5 meters in length, the Green Anaconda gives nightmares to the world's most dangerous animals. Also called the giant anaconda, this aquatic reptile is the largest snake in the world… and there are several species.
In fact, researchers have just discovered that there is not just one type of green anaconda, but two: as you can see in the video at the top of this article. These giant snakes live in the forests of the Amazon and spend most of their lives in the murky waters of swamps, swamps, streams and rivers.
According to a new study published February 16 in the journal Diversity, it is actually necessary to distinguish individuals in the north of this region of South America from those in the south, who are genetically very different. However, at first glance the two snakes look almost identical.
Less in common than humans and chimpanzees
When analyzing blood and tissue samples collected during the filming of a Disney+ documentary series with National Geographic, researchers found that the DNA of anacondas in Peru and Venezuela was not identical.
Even more astonishing is that the genetic differences between the two specimens were truly enormous, on the order of 5.5%. To understand why these numbers are so significant, consider that there is only a 2% difference between humans and chimpanzees.
Researchers carefully studied animals in Ecuador, Venezuela and Brazil to identify different physical characteristics between the two species. At the moment we do not know when they differentiated and took different development paths. However, the two groups appear never to have reproduced with each other, although they coexist in certain parts of the world, such as French Guiana.
Dangerous and… smelly
Observing these giant snakes up close is a very complicated task, but not for the reasons you imagined. The areas of the body that are most interesting for analysis are often on the lower body of the animal. However, this is where the digestive system is located. When reptile expert and enthusiast Bryan Fry tried to count their scales, the anacondas shot a gallon and a half of foul air into his face.
The fact that these animals are so difficult to study is not just due to their digestive problems. Giant anacondas are very dangerous and extremely powerful predators. Their hunting technique is sophisticated: they wrap themselves around the neck of their prey, suffocating it before swallowing it whole. The largest anacondas are even capable of killing and swallowing a human.
However, don't let the giant anaconda's reputation fool you. Despite their impressive size, green anacondas are considered an endangered species under the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Least Concern category. Climate change and deforestation seriously threaten the Amazon ecosystem.
The discovery has important implications for the conservation of these animals. In fact, the classification of species varies depending on their distribution area. Because northern green anacondas live in a much smaller area than previously thought, they are even more endangered than previously thought.
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