If you have ever seen the Anaconda film series, you will be well aware of how that gigantic Anaconda swims through the water and often resides in it as well.
Similarly, we often see snakes swimming through the water on National Geographic as well. Therefore, it makes you wonder whether Anacondas like the water and if they do, why do Anacondas like the water?
The answer is yes; Anacondas do like the water. In fact, they are known for their swimming abilities and are even referred to as aquatic snakes. Why are they so fond of the water is yet another question that needs to be answered.
Anacondas and water
Anaconda is simply another name for the genus ‘Euenctes’, which stands for ‘good swimmer’ in Greek. They are known for their swimming ability and are often called aquatic snakes. As a result of their famousness for swimming and liking water, they also appear in South American mythology as creators of the water.
Watch this video of an Anaconda hunting through water:
Why do Anacondas like the water?
Anacondas prefer the water and are comfortable swimming around in it because of the abilities that they have. Most of their physical features favor them in the water rather than on land and therefore, they like the water.
Positioning of the eyes
Anacondas have long, narrow and thick necks with large heads. They have eyes and nostrils on the very top of their heads and hence, they can easily see above the water while remaining hidden in it completely.
The texture of the skin
Due to their smooth, soft skins, they are readily able to absorb a lot of water – unlike other reptiles – and can, therefore, spend a lot of time underneath the water with ease.
Furthermore, they have soft scales on their skin that become larger and larger as you move from their heads to their tails. These scales – similar to the action of the scales on fish – make moving through water seem like a piece of cake for Anacondas.
Color of the skin
You will often find Anacondas in water bodies in tropical rainforests. This is because most of the Anaconda species have yellow, green, and brown spots on them which enables them to easily blend with the surroundings in the water.
Huge size
Typically, Anacondas are giant snakes and each species tends to be very large in size. On average, Anacondas can be up to thirty feet long and weigh up to five-fifty pounds. Their enormous size makes it very hard for them to travel on land, as a lot of inertia is produced causing a lot of friction.
Moving in water with that size and weight is comparatively much easier, and they can move swiftly through the water. Therefore, it is easier to hunt and catch prey and as a result, Anacondas prefer the water.
Now you know that there is not just one reason for Anacondas liking the water, and what the Anaconda movies showed us all those years ago about the giant snake being fast in water is all true. So, share this newly found information with your friends too!
