Boyd Fetterolf age 10, Grand Junction, CO.

Is there a snake called the anaconda?

Yes, there is an anaconda snake. The big beauty is the giant snake of the New World. He ranges from northern Mexico to Argentina with smaller cousins spreading further to the north. He is a boa snake, cousin to the huge pythons of Asia, pythons are the only snakes that surpass our anaconda. in size, Boas and pythons are non poisonous snakes. They are constrictors who kill by coiling and squeezing.

Big as he is, our anaconda cannot live up to his reputation. He seems to have scared his human visitors out of their wits. For the gossip about his size and fierceness is most exaggerated. There are even tales that he attacks human beings and swallows them whole. So Andy decided to whisk down south and report only what he could prove with his tape measure. .

He found plenty of anacondas 20 feet long. One was 22 feet and tipped the scales at 200 pounds,  this is big enough for a snake. But Andy was not alarmed. The tales of anacondas who eat people have never been properly verified. Besides Andy is a pixie and too small for the big fellows to bother with. They like medium sized game. A small boy is too big for them.

There may have been 30 or 40 foot anacondas back in the jungles. But Andy did not see these. He did admire those he saw, for the anaconda is a handsome serpent. His coat is olive green, all dotted and circle with rows of black ovals run all the way down his graceful back. His sides are lined with white eyed circles. Underneath, he is whitish with black spots.

Andy saw most of the anacondas in the lazy rivers. There they rested for hours, submerged all but the top of their flat heads. They were waiting for dinner, One young crocodile swam too close. The great coils went into action, gently crushing until little Big Mouth was suffocated. Then he was swallowed whole.

Andy saw only one anaconda coiled gracefully among the branches. He was dreamily waiting for birds and small rodents to come his way. The big serpents are lazy in the day time,, They like to feed at night..

Unlike his python cousins, the anaconda loves the water. There is another big difference between them. The pythons lay eggs. All the boa snakes, big and little give birth to live babies. Mrs. Anaconda may give birth to a brood of 70 babies, each a yard long. Some of the youngsters are eaten by crocodiles in the water and big cats in the trees, But a full grown anaconda has a chance of enjoying life for 30 years or so. He has few enemies other than man.

The big serpent settles down happily to life in a zoo. He is content to feed on quinea pigs and chickens. A captive youngster enjoys fish. The anaconda hunts only when hungry, which isn't often, In captivity, after a spell of good feeding he may fast for a year or two.  All he needs through his long fast is water.