The green anaconda is indeed the largest snake in the world, when both weight and length are taken into account. These massive reptiles can reach extraordinary lengths of up to 30 feet (9 meters) and tip the scales at an astonishing 550 pounds (227 kilograms). To put this into perspective, envision approximately five ten-year-olds lying down head to foot; they would roughly match the length of this colossal snake.
The green anaconda is a member of a family of snakes called constrictors. Constrictors are not venomous snakes. They don’t kill prey by delivering venom through a bite. Instead, constrictors wrap their bodies around their prey and squeeze until it stops breathing.
he giant snake opens its mouth wide enough to swallow its victim—sometimes fish or caiman (relatives of crocodiles) and even jaguars and small deer.
Anaconda jaws are held together with stretchy ligaments so they can open wide enough to swallow prey whole.
