--- title: "12 Frightening Anaconda Facts" url: https://www.kickassfacts.com/anaconda-facts/ date: 2024-09-25 modified: 2024-09-25 lang: en author: "Editor" description: "In tropical South America lies a massive snake species called the anaconda. It’s the heaviest snake in the world and can grow up to 9 meters (approximately 30 feet). Anacondas..." categories: - "Animals & Plants" - "Science" image: https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/green-anaconda.jpg word_count: 915 --- # 12 Frightening Anaconda Facts In tropical South America lies a massive snake species called the anaconda. It’s the heaviest snake in the world and can grow up to 9 meters (approximately 30 feet). Anacondas are constrictors; they do not produce venom but instead wrap their bodies around prey and squeeze them to death. Ever since anacondas were featured in the 1997 film directed by Luis Llosa, they have been surrounded by an aura of mystery. Below are the top 12 mind-blowing facts about anacondas. ## 1. Anaconda Translates to Elephant Killer in Tamil The anaconda goes by many names depending on the cultures and locations. For instance, [in Tamil, anaconda translates to “anaikolra” or elephant killer](https://louisvillezoo.org/animalsandplants/anaconda/#:~:text=The%20Tamil%20word%20for%20Anaconda,before%20they%20succumb%20to%20constriction.). This correlates with Matatoro or bull killer which was the preferred phrase for early Spanish settlers. Interestingly, the term anaconda came from an Indian language known as Sinhalese. It remains a mystery how this name found its way to South America. Still on names, the anaconda’s scientific name, Eunectes murinus, translates to “a good swimmer” in Greek. This makes sense because anacondas can reach a speed of 16 km/h (10 miles per hour) in water. ## 2. The CGI for Anaconda Movie Cost $100,000 per Second Back then, computer-generated image (CGI) technology was quite expensive. Therefore, the Anaconda filmmakers parted with $100,000 for every second the CGI snakes were featured on TV. The reason the producers used CGI was because some of the cast members were extremely afraid of snakes. Therefore, CGI was the only solution. ## 3. The Stuntmen in Swiss family Robinson Fought a Real 250-Pound Anaconda Swiss Family Robinson is one of the best Box Office hits of the 1900s. This Family Adventure follows the lives of five who are faced with numerous dangers after a shipwreck. In the movie, a stuntman, James MacArthur, fights off a 250-pound anaconda. It gets so serious that other crewmembers have to intervene and pull him out of the swampy waters. ## 4. Paul Rosolie Volunteered to Be Eaten Alive by an Anaconda Paul Rosolie, a renowned conservationist, [volunteered to be eaten alive by an anaconda](https://www.ladbible.com/news/animals/paul-rosolie-eaten-alive-green-anaconda-snake-amazon-557635-20240523) to save the rainforest. Those involved were exploring ways they could drum up support for their cause, and they thought that getting eaten by an anaconda would get the job done. They searched for the perfect anaconda and found one in the Peruvian Amazon. According to the plan, Paul Rosolie wore a carbon fiber suit made using 3D tech that would prevent him from getting constricted. He was also covered in pig blood to make him appetizing for the snake. The snake then grabbed Paul and wrapped itself around him before swallowing his head. Because of the trauma, Paul called it in, and his team, which was standing close by, intervened. ## 5. Anacondas Have Tiny "Legs" ![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/snake-legs.jpg) From a distance, anacondas may seem only to have scales on their body. However, [the Green Anaconda has tiny legs around its body](https://k12.thoughtfullearning.com/assessmentmodels/green-anaconda#:~:text=This%20species). This characteristic is common in all snakes from the “boa” species. ## 6. Anacondas Mate in a Giant Breeding Ball In anacondas, females tend to be bigger than the males. When it comes to breeding, females can mate with up to 12 males in a large breeding ball because of their huge sizes. Sometimes, after mating, female anacondas can eat smaller males. Though cannibalism isn’t a good trait in these animals, it comes in handy in replenishing females with nutrients during their seven-month fast. ## 7. Anacondas Give Birth to Live Young Ones 70% of snakes lay eggs, but not the anaconda. Like all members of the Boas species, anacondas give birth to live young ones. [Baby anacondas come in a yolk sac that is surrounded by a membrane and not an eggshell](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV31senz7Vc). This sac develops in the mother’s womb, and it acts like an egg by protecting the infant and maintaining its temperature. Female anacondas can deliver up to 40 live babies at a time. ## 8. The Biggest Confirmed Anaconda was 8.43 Meters Long Among wildlife enthusiasts, there are reports of the existence of 30-to-40-foot anacondas in the Amazon. However, [the largest anaconda ever caught was recorded to be 8.43 meters (28 feet) long and 1.11 meters (3.6 feet) wide](https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/what-is-the-biggest-snake-in-the-world.html#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20heaviest%20snake%20in%20the%20world%3F&text=Read%20more-,Green%20anacondas%20are%20the%20heaviest%20snakes%20in%20the%20world.,a%20girth%20of%201.11%20metres.). It also measured 227 kilograms. Animal experts have ruled out that anacondas can reach up to 9m (about 30 feet) long. ## 9. The Squeeze of an Anaconda Can Be Compared to Being Crushed By a Bus [Anacondas squeeze their victims with a force of 90 psi](https://power-level-world.fandom.com/wiki/Green_Anaconda_(Real_Life)#:~:text=Its%20squeeze%20is%20comparable%20to,equivalent%20to%20an%20elephant%20stepping.), which is the equivalent of a bus being pressed down your chest or being stepped on by an elephant. ## 10. Anacondas Have Teeth Most people assume that because anacondas swallow their prey hole, they do not have teeth. [Like all snakes,](https://www.kickassfacts.com/25-kickass-and-interesting-facts-about-snakes-part-1/) anacondas have four rows of re-curved teeth. These teeth allow prey to easily “walk” down their throats. If a human being escapes being swallowed by an anaconda, they must undergo minor surgery to correct the dents made by their teeth. However, anacondas are not venomous. ## 11. Anacondas are Not the Tallest Snakes in the World While anacondas are undoubtedly the heaviest snakes in the world, they are not the longest. That title belongs to reticulated pythons. [The current record of the longest snake](https://www.awsfzoo.com/top-3-biggest-snakes-in-the-world/#:~:text=Reticulated%20pythons%20are%20considered%20to,ft%20and%209%20%C2%BD%20inches!) is for a reticulated python that measures 32 ft and 9 ½ inches. ## 12. Anacondas are Ambush Predators Like most animals, anacondas are ambush predators. Besides having the power and strength to attack their prey directly, anacondas hide and use their color to camouflage with the forest. They then attack their prey by surprise.