New Species of Giant Anaconda, World's Largest Snake, Discovered in Amazon

northern green anaconda species discovered amazon

A National Geographic expedition in the Amazon rainforest has led to the reclassification of the world’s largest snake as two genetically distinct species: the southern green anaconda and the newly-discovered northern green anaconda (Eunectes akayima).

Scientists were filming for the upcoming Nat Geo series Pole to Pole with Will Smith, as part of a nearly-two-decade-long effort to study the genetic differences among anaconda species, when they encountered a reptilian colossus measuring 26 feet and weighing 200 kg, in Ecuador.

The giant anaconda, it turns out, belonged to an entirely new species, researchers concluded after examining blood and tissue samples collected across the boa group’s distribution in nine South American countries, according to a new study published in the journal MDPI Diversity.

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“Genetically, the differences are massive,” explained Bryan Fry, the expedition’s leader, biologist at the University of Queensland and co-author of the research.

“They’re five-and-a-half percent different, genetically. To put that into context, we’re about two percent different from chimps.”

Although a few experts have long suspected that there could be more than one green anaconda species, their near-identical looks and nature ruled out such distinctions until now, despite evidence to the contrary.

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The study’s findings make it clear that the southern green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) inhabits Brazil, Peru, Bolivia and French Guiana while its northern counterpart’s home range extends across Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana.

The two species diverged in their evolutionary paths around 10 million years ago, the researchers said.

The discovery holds profound implications, extending beyond taxonomy. At present, the green anaconda is listed as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, this classification is primarily based on its widespread distribution.

“It’s important, because the newly described northern green anaconda has a much smaller range than the southern, and so that means it’s much more vulnerable,” said Fry.