Difference between revisions of "Anaconda" - New World Encyclopedia
({{Contracted}}) |
Katya Swarts (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Claimed}}{{Contracted}} | {{Claimed}}{{Contracted}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | {{Taxobox | ||
| + | | color = pink | ||
| + | | name = Anaconda | ||
| + | | image = Eunectes_notaeus.jpg | ||
| + | | image_caption = Yellow Anaconda, ''[[Yellow anaconda|Eunectes notaeus]]'' | ||
| + | | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | ||
| + | | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | ||
| + | | classis = [[Reptile|Reptilia]] | ||
| + | | ordo = [[Squamata]] | ||
| + | | subordo = [[Serpentes]] | ||
| + | | familia = [[Boidae]] | ||
| + | | subfamilia = [[Boinae]] | ||
| + | | genus = '''''Eunectes''''' | ||
| + | | genus_authority = [[Johann Georg Wagler|Wagler]], [[1830]] | ||
| + | | subdivision_ranks = Species | ||
| + | | subdivision = | ||
| + | ''E. beniensis''<br> | ||
| + | ''E. deschauenseei''<br> | ||
| + | ''E. murinus''<br> | ||
| + | ''E. notaeus'' | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Anacondas''' are four [[species]] of aquatic [[boa]] inhabiting the [[swamp]]s and rivers of the dense forests of tropical [[South America]]. The Yellow Anaconda can be found as far south as [[Argentina]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | There are two possible origins for the word 'anaconda.' It is perhaps an alteration of the [[Sinhalese language|Sinhalese]] word 'henakanday', meaning 'thunder snake', or alternatively, the [[Tamil language|Tamil]] word 'anaikondran', which means 'elephant killer'. It is unclear how the name originated so far from the snake's native habitat; it is likely due to its vague similarity to the large [[Asia]]n [[python]]s. Local names for the anaconda in South America include the Spanish term ''matatoro'', meaning 'bull killer', and the Native American terms ''sucuri'', ''yakumama'', and ''jibóia''. Anacondas as members of the boa family are sometimes called '''water boas'''. The Latin name for Anaconda is <i>Eunectes.</i> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Species == | ||
| + | |||
| + | * Bolivian Anaconda, ''[[Eunectes beniensis]]'' | ||
| + | * Dark-spotted Anaconda, ''[[Eunectes deschauenseei]]'' | ||
| + | * Green Anaconda, ''[[Eunectes murinus]]'' | ||
| + | * Yellow Anaconda, ''[[Yellow anaconda|Eunectes notaeus]]'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Giant Anacondas == | ||
| + | There is some debate about the maximum size of anacondas, and there have been unverified claims of enormous snakes alleged to be as long as 30-45m (100-150ft). | ||
| + | |||
| + | According to Lee Krystek <ref>[http://www.unmuseum.org/bigsnake.htm The Unmuseum: Big Snakes]</ref>, | ||
| + | a 1944 petroleum expedition in Colombia claimed to have measured an 11.4m (37.5ft) specimen, but this claim is not always regarded as reliable; perhaps a more credible report came from scientist Vincent Roth, who claimed to have shot and killed a 10.3m (34ft) anaconda in [[Guyana]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | There are some reports from early European explorers of the South American jungles seeing giant anacondas up to 18.2m (60ft) long, and some of the native peoples have reported seeing anacondas up to 15.2m (50ft) long.<ref>.[http://www.extremescience.com/BiggestSnake.htm Extreme Science: Which is the Biggest Snake?]</ref>, but these reports remain unverified. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Another claim of an extraordinary size anaconda was made by adventurer [[Percy Fawcett]]. During his [[1906]] expedition, Fawcett wrote that he had shot an anaconda that measured some 18.9m (62 ft) from nose to tail. <ref> [http://www.cryptozoology.com/cryptids/anaconda.php Cryptozoology: Sucuriju Gigante, by Aaron Justice] </ref> Once published, Fawcett’s account was widely ridiculed. Decades later, Belgian zoologist [[Bernard Heuvelmans]] came to Fawcett's defence, arguing that Fawcett's writing was generally honest and reliable. <ref> [http://www.trueauthority.com/cryptozoology/anaconda.htm Section Bernard Heuvelmans] </ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Historian [[Mike Dash]] writes <ref>Dash, Mike ''Borderlands: The Ultimate Exploration of the Unknown''; Overlook Press, 2000 ISBN 0-87951-724-7</ref> of claims of still larger anacondas, alleged to be as long as 30-45m (100-150ft) — some of the sightings supported with photos (although those photos lack scale). Dash notes that if a 50-60 ft anaconda strains credulity, then a 150ft long specimen is generally regarded as an outright impossibility. | ||
| + | |||
| + | It should be noted that the Wildlife Conservation Society has, since the early 20th century, offered a large cash reward (now grown to $50,000 USD) for live delivery of any snake of 30 feet or more in length. The prize has never been claimed. Also, in a study of 1000 wild anacondas in Brazil, the largest captured was 17 feet long.<ref>.[http://ca.encarta.msn.com/encnet/Features/Columns/?article=sciencesnakes The Search for the $50,000 Snake]</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | == References == | ||
| + | <references /> | ||
| + | * {{cite book|author=Bernard Heuvelmans|title=On the Track of Unknown Animals|publisher=Hill and Wang|year=1958|isbn= 0710304986}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==External links== | ||
| + | *[http://www.anacondas.org Anacondas.org - Jesus Rivas Home Page] | ||
| + | *[http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Eunectes_murinus.html Animal Diversity Web: ''Eunectes murinus'' (green anaconda)] | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category:Life sciences]] | ||
| + | {{credit|152262659}} | ||
Revision as of 15:59, 20 August 2007
| Anaconda | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Yellow Anaconda, Eunectes notaeus
| ||||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
|
E. beniensis |
Anacondas are four species of aquatic boa inhabiting the swamps and rivers of the dense forests of tropical South America. The Yellow Anaconda can be found as far south as Argentina.
There are two possible origins for the word 'anaconda.' It is perhaps an alteration of the Sinhalese word 'henakanday', meaning 'thunder snake', or alternatively, the Tamil word 'anaikondran', which means 'elephant killer'. It is unclear how the name originated so far from the snake's native habitat; it is likely due to its vague similarity to the large Asian pythons. Local names for the anaconda in South America include the Spanish term matatoro, meaning 'bull killer', and the Native American terms sucuri, yakumama, and jibóia. Anacondas as members of the boa family are sometimes called water boas. The Latin name for Anaconda is Eunectes.
Species
- Bolivian Anaconda, Eunectes beniensis
- Dark-spotted Anaconda, Eunectes deschauenseei
- Green Anaconda, Eunectes murinus
- Yellow Anaconda, Eunectes notaeus
Giant Anacondas
There is some debate about the maximum size of anacondas, and there have been unverified claims of enormous snakes alleged to be as long as 30-45m (100-150ft).
According to Lee Krystek [1], a 1944 petroleum expedition in Colombia claimed to have measured an 11.4m (37.5ft) specimen, but this claim is not always regarded as reliable; perhaps a more credible report came from scientist Vincent Roth, who claimed to have shot and killed a 10.3m (34ft) anaconda in Guyana.
There are some reports from early European explorers of the South American jungles seeing giant anacondas up to 18.2m (60ft) long, and some of the native peoples have reported seeing anacondas up to 15.2m (50ft) long.[2], but these reports remain unverified.
Another claim of an extraordinary size anaconda was made by adventurer Percy Fawcett. During his 1906 expedition, Fawcett wrote that he had shot an anaconda that measured some 18.9m (62 ft) from nose to tail. [3] Once published, Fawcett’s account was widely ridiculed. Decades later, Belgian zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans came to Fawcett's defence, arguing that Fawcett's writing was generally honest and reliable. [4]
Historian Mike Dash writes [5] of claims of still larger anacondas, alleged to be as long as 30-45m (100-150ft) — some of the sightings supported with photos (although those photos lack scale). Dash notes that if a 50-60 ft anaconda strains credulity, then a 150ft long specimen is generally regarded as an outright impossibility.
It should be noted that the Wildlife Conservation Society has, since the early 20th century, offered a large cash reward (now grown to $50,000 USD) for live delivery of any snake of 30 feet or more in length. The prize has never been claimed. Also, in a study of 1000 wild anacondas in Brazil, the largest captured was 17 feet long.[6]
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- ↑ The Unmuseum: Big Snakes
- ↑ .Extreme Science: Which is the Biggest Snake?
- ↑ Cryptozoology: Sucuriju Gigante, by Aaron Justice
- ↑ Section Bernard Heuvelmans
- ↑ Dash, Mike Borderlands: The Ultimate Exploration of the Unknown; Overlook Press, 2000 ISBN 0-87951-724-7
- ↑ .The Search for the $50,000 Snake
- Bernard Heuvelmans (1958). On the Track of Unknown Animals. Hill and Wang. ISBN 0710304986.
External links
Credits
New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:
The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:
Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.
