A groundbreaking study has been published in the scientific journal Diversity on the 16th of February that has revealed the discovery of a new species of giant anaconda in the Amazon region. This Northern Green Anaconda is three times the weight of the average human and measures at a whopping 26ft long.
The new species has been named Eunectes akayima, meaning “great snake” in several indigenous languages of northern South America. This exciting discovery was made by TV wildlife presenter Professor Freek Vonk, who also starred in a video where he can be seen swimming alongside the monstrous creature.
The Northern Green Anaconda is far larger than the previously known largest species, the reticulated python, which averages at a mere 20ft 5ins long. The discovery was made by Vonk in remote Brazil, and has been likened to a giant and thick car tire.
The green anaconda is a widely known species, but this latest finding has changed our understanding of the animal. Before now, it was thought that there is only one species of Green Anaconda in the Amazon, but this study has revealed that there are actually two different species.
What makes this finding even more fascinating is that the Northern Green Anaconda has been living unnoticed for years, humbling the mind in regards to the true diversity of the South American region. Professor Jesus Rivas, the lead author of the study, had been studying anacondas for 32 years and was shocked by this discovery. He stated, “If such an iconic animal went unnoticed for so many years, what about the less conspicuous and less studied animals and plants?”
While this discovery is exciting for the scientific community, it is also a reminder of the severe pressure that the Amazon region is facing from climate change and deforestation. More than a fifth of the Amazon has already been destroyed, and the survival of these giant snakes is directly linked to protecting their natural habitat. The publication of this study is not only important for the recognition of a new species, but it also sheds light on the urgent need to protect their environment.
The study was a truly international effort, with collaborators from nine countries including Belgium, Australia, the Netherlands, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, the US, Ecuador, and Venezuela. It took over a decade to gather enough samples and evidence to confirm the existence of this new species.
Professor Rivas’s wife, Dr. Sarah Corey-Rivas, did most of the heavy lifting, sequencing genes and doing the phylogenetic analysis. Professor Bryan Fry, the biologist at the University of Queensland and co-author of the study, emphasizes the significance of this discovery, stating, “It’s important because the newly described northern green anaconda has a much smaller range than the southern, and so that means it’s much more vulnerable.”
The discovery of the Northern Green Anaconda is just the beginning, and it raises questions about how many other species of animals and plants remain unknown to us.
In the words of Professor Vonk, “You can see in the video the biggest anaconda I have ever seen, as thick as a car tire, 26 feet long and weighing over 440 lbs – with a head as big as my head.” This news report serves as a reminder of the vast and diverse world that exists beyond our knowledge and highlights the importance of preserving it for future generations.
