Anacondas have always aroused fear and sent chills down our spines through the ages. Just imagine, have you ever thought about anaconda eating people? Lately, their portrayal in Hollywood movies has resulted in people dreading them.
But what actually is the anaconda? Is it an organism to be really feared, or it's just fear factor just a tall tale? Here are some additional facts that may shade some light on what kind of a creature an anaconda actually has become through history and not from the Hollywood point of view:
The Term Anaconda:
Some people believe that the term "anaconda" is derived from the word "henakandeya". In the Sinhalese language, this means ‘a whip snake’ or ‘a thing with an enormous body’. Apart from this, the more accepted version is that the anaconda got its name from the Tamil word "anaikondran" which means ‘an elephant killer’.
Other than these two versions, people from different places have given the anaconda different names. The ancient Spaniards called it ‘Matatoro’ meaning ‘a bull killer’, the people of North America called it by the names of ‘sucuri’ and ‘yukumama’.
Did You Know about John Kricher? According to the expert John Kricher, the anaconda is the only natural predator that can prey on a Jaguar. The anaconda is the largest predator of the mammalian type in the whole of Arizona.
Contrary to the popular myth, anacondas do not prey on human beings. In fact, when an anaconda smells the scent of a human being it moves away from the place. So it’s not them that pose a danger to us, but it is we who are a threat to them.
An anaconda is a constrictor. It kills its prey by wrapping and constricting itself around its prey till the prey dies of asphyxiation or lack of air. The fangs of the anaconda are non-poisonous. They only help the anaconda to get a tight hold of the prey so that wrapping itself around the prey becomes easier.
Once the anaconda bites a prey, it coils around its victim and suffocates the animal. Every time the animal releases its breath, the coils tighten, thereby stopping the prey from breathing. Post that, the lifeless body is swallowed whole by the predator. The best aspect about an anaconda is the fact that it does not waste anything since it swallows the victim whole along with feathers, beak, horns, heels - everything.
So next time you see an Anaconda snake, do not be afraid - it is just a harmless, gentle giant that is trying to live its life. Then of course, if you try to make the animal perceive you will endanger its habitat – you’re surely in for a surprise.
Touching it while in the steps through South America will probably be one of those adventures available only in your mind, however, if you happen to be in such position and thinking of touching comes to your current state of mind – beware!
You’ve been caution and informed about these giant reptiles. As a reminder and closing, have you ever thought about an anaconda snake eating people? It probably will never happen, only in pictures or coming close to it – but there have never been a reported case.
Authors : Michael Gutemberg
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=345796&ca=Pets
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