| Anaconda snakes extract similar responses | | | | kilograms each. Again, reality has been |
| from most of us, a response smeared by | | | | totally distorted by these myths. The biggest |
| hatred, fear and probably revulsion. The | | | | of these snakes grow up to thirty-five feet, |
| image of this serpent that we carry in our | | | | and do not generally cross one hundred and |
| mind is that of a creature that looks vile | | | | fifty kilos when weighed. When bred in |
| and is widely known to be monstrous. Apart | | | | captivity, they tend to grow to smaller |
| from a few of the wealthy and the adventurous | | | | sizes- think about that for a moment! |
| ones who want them as pets, most of us prefer | | | | |
| to see anaconda snakes in TV and glossy | | | | Another interesting fact is the physical |
| travel magazines rather than in our homes and | | | | superiority of females over males. As a |
| at the patio. | | | | matter of fact, female anacondas have known |
| | | | to grow as much as five times longer and |
| The natural habitat if these reptiles are | | | | heavier than its male counterparts. This is |
| the dense tropical forests in lovely South | | | | probably one of the extreme cases on physical |
| America. Found extensively in the Amazon | | | | disparity between two sexes of the same |
| River basin and also other tropical forests, | | | | species. |
| this serpentine creature is worlds one of the | | | | |
| largest snakes. | | | | Another interesting aspect of these majestic |
| | | | snakes is the way they swallow their preys. |
| These snakes are carnivores, and prey a range | | | | These constrictors have powerful jaws that |
| of aquatic as well as land based creatures. | | | | are loosely hinged to the skulls. While |
| While fish, turtles, frogs, dogs, sheep and | | | | swallowing their preys, the jaws are |
| deer are its favorite preys, anaconda snakes | | | | unhinged, and as a result they can swallow |
| are also know to have constricted and | | | | considerably bigger preys. The preys are |
| swallowed considerably bigger animals like | | | | always swallowed from their head side to |
| fully grown deer and even jaguars. | | | | ensure that sharp edges like feathers do not |
| | | | rupture the delicate internal membrane of the |
| Most of us city dwellers harbor perceptual | | | | snake digestive system. |
| pollution and think that anaconda snakes are | | | | |
| habituated man-eaters. In reality, it is | | | | Docile creatures they are, such reptiles have |
| exactly the opposite. If given a chance, | | | | been wrongly portrayed as the big, bad guys |
| these snakes will retreat when confronted, | | | | in novels as well as movies. Despite their |
| and will attack only as the last desperate | | | | projected bad guy image, this reptiles have |
| act of defense. Anacondas are known to attach | | | | been one of the most favored pet creatures |
| humans only when cornered, attacked, harmed | | | | for the wealthy and the adventurous people. |
| or startled. | | | | |
| | | | Be it the vast natural expanses of the Amazon |
| All anaconda snakes are perceived to be | | | | or the glass cage in the zoo, they will |
| gigantic having length in excess of fifty | | | | inspire the imagination of people. Long live |
| feet and weighing more than two hundred | | | | the king of the Amazon, the anaconda snakes. |