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Deschauensee's Anaconda Facts

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DeSchauensee's anacondas (Eunectes deschauenseei) are semi-aquatic South American snakes that are also frequently referred to as dark-spotted anacondas. The naming of the species is an homage to Rodolphe Meyer de Schauensee, a bird curator who, back in 1924, offered one of these creatures to the Philadelphia Zoo.

Geography

DeSchauensee's anacondas are native both to French Guiana and to Brazil. In Brazil, they exist solely in the Amapa and Para states. Some may possibly reside in Suriname, indicates The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, their Surinamese presence is not verified. They are not often seen in zoo environments.

Natural Habitat

Members of this species inhabit savannas of the Amazon region, particularly in wet and marshy locales. They are adept swimmers. DeSchauensee's anacondas often gravitate to settings that experience a lot of flooding throughout the year. The savannas of their region are seriously at risk because of the growth and development of farming sites. Despite the dangers of their habitat's future, the effects on DeSchauensee's anacondas are as yet uncertain.

Physical Appearance

These family Boidae snakes, purely physically speaking, look almost exactly like yellow anacondas (Eunectes notaeus). Despite their clear similarities, however, their basic body coloration slightly differs from yellow anacondas, and has a more greenish tinge, although it is mostly brown. The dark blots that appears on their backs and sides are also wider and bigger than in their yellow counterparts. As with all anacondas, the male DeSchauensee's anacondas are smaller than the females. They generally grow to lengths of between 8 and 9 feet, which is similar to the size range of yellow anacondas.

Diet

The basic diet of DeSchauensee's anacondas consists of flesh -- think components such as fish, birds and mammals. They also most likely consume caimans, which are alligator-like reptiles. If these anacondas get the opportunity to enjoy a lot of food all at once, they can survive for weeks or even months without taking in any more sustenance.

Reproduction

DeSchauensee's anacondas are classified as viviparous animals, which means that their youngsters emerge from their mothers' bodies alive, after having undergone development internally. They do not "give birth" to eggs, unlike certain other types of snakes. The sizes of their litters are unconfirmed. However, anacondas on the whole tend to produce between 24 and 36 youngsters at a time. Their gestational periods last for roughly six months. At birth, the little ones are usually around 2 feet long.