{"id":36581,"date":"2024-02-28T16:21:24","date_gmt":"2024-02-28T15:21:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/a8edb675-65b9-4981-8cf7-c67d09836113"},"modified":"2024-02-28T17:35:42","modified_gmt":"2024-02-28T16:35:42","slug":"largest-snake-species-in-the-world-discovered-in-amazon-rainforest-and-its-a-whopper","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/largest-snake-species-in-the-world-discovered-in-amazon-rainforest-and-its-a-whopper\/","title":{"rendered":"Largest snake species in the world discovered in Amazon rainforest \u2013 and it’s a whopper!"},"content":{"rendered":"

A 17-year study has led to the discovery of a new species of green anaconda \u2013 the largest and heaviest snake in the world. <\/p>

By Megan Shersby\n <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 28 February 2024 at 15:21 PM<\/p>

\n\n

A recent paper<\/a> published in\u00a0MDPI Diversity<\/em> has revealed that the world\u2019s biggest and heaviest (but not the longest) snake \u2013 the\u00a0green anaconda<\/a>\u00a0(Eunectes murinus<\/em>) \u2013 is actually two distinct species, thought to have split almost ten million years ago.<\/p>

Although they look identical, the genetic difference between them is five and a half per cent. This may not seem like much, but it is actually an astonishing amount for what was, until recently, thought to be one species. For context, the difference between humans and our closest great ape relatives is roughly two per cent.\u00a0<\/p>

New study reveals that there are two genetically different species of green anaconda, the largest snake in the world. Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>
What is the longest snake in the world?<\/a><\/li>
What’s the smallest snake in the world?<\/a><\/li>
10 deadliest snakes in the world<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
A quest to discover the northern green anaconda<\/h3>
Despite green anacondas being such large and impressive animals, the team didn’t have an easy time studying the snakes, with the study taking 17 years to complete.\u00a0<\/p>
\u201cWe faced all the difficulties you may want \u2013 this is a secretive animal. Even though it is big, it is hard to find and hard to see when it is in front of you,\u201d says Jes\u00fas Rivers, Professor of Biology at the New Mexico Highlands University<\/a> and lead author of the paper.\u00a0<\/p>
\u201cThen you need to catch it in the water, where they have the upper hand. Plus, the strength and home field advantage.\u00a0After capturing it and collecting the sample, the sample needs to be moved across countries, requiring some very time-burdensome permits, followed by costly molecular analysis sequencing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>
\u201cYou need to catch it in the water, where they have the upper hand.”<\/p><\/blockquote>
Samples were taken from across South America, including on an expedition joined by the actor, rapper and producer Will Smith for his upcoming National Geographic and Disney series\u00a0Pole to Pole<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>
The genetic difference between the two species of green anaconda is five and a half per cent. Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>
New green species, rethinking yellows<\/h3>
The paper suggests naming the two green anacondas as the southern green anaconda, which keeps the scientific name of\u00a0E. murinus\u00a0<\/em>due to historical reasons and its larger distribution, and the northern green anaconda, which has been given the scientific name of\u00a0E. akayima<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 with \u2018akayima\u2019<\/em>\u00a0referencing the word for anaconda in Cariban languages.\u00a0<\/p>
Green anacondas are aquatic snakes that live in South America. Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The study also examined the genetics of the other three anaconda species \u2013 dark spotted anaconda (E. deschauenseei<\/em>), Beni anaconda (E. beniensis<\/em>) and yellow anaconda (E. notaeus<\/em>) \u2013 and concluded that they should actually all be grouped together as one species \u2013\u00a0E. notaeus<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>
\u201cWe did not find a big difference between the three of them, and our findings meant the previous arguments for morphological difference and geographical separation between\u00a0E. deschauenseei\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0E. beniensis\u00a0<\/em>fell apart,\u201d explains Rivers. <\/p>
“There was no way to keep them.\u00a0We consider downgrading them to subspecies.\u00a0However,\u00a0E. notaeus<\/em>\u00a0flanks both groups so making them anything would have rendered\u00a0E. notaeus<\/em>\u00a0paraphyletic.\u201d<\/p>
$\"Jesus$ Jes\u00fas Rivers is Professor of Biology at the New Mexico Highlands University. Credit: New Mexico Highlands University <\/figcaption><\/figure>
Find out more about the study: Disentangling the anacondas: Revealing a new green species and rethinking yellows<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
Main image: The new discovery suggests that green anacondas \u2013 a type of aquatic snake \u2013 are actually two separate species<\/em>. Credit: Getty<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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A quest to discover the northern green anaconda<\/h3>Despite green anacondas being such large and impressive animals, the team didn’t have an easy time studying the snakes, with the study taking 17 years to complete.\u00a0<\/p>