Green Anaconda predation

[epaiva]

Predation of Green Anacondas and Caiman crocodilus in the Venezuelan Llanos
Caimans are a very important prey of Green Anacondas, large female Green Anacondas capture even the larger caimans over 180 cm long, according to the observations in the Venezuelan Llanos Caimans seem to be an important predator of anacondas as the following events reported by Rivas et al. (1999) suggest. On May 25 1996, he discovered a large caiman (over 180 cm TL) firmly gripping the head of big female (Olivia, 494 cm tl) who in turn had wrapped herself around the caiman`s head and neck. After approximately 15 minutes the snake relaxed her coils, apparently losing the struggle, it died. This was a large snake that he had seen eating a caimans of comparable size to this one. Since he found the snake severely wounded 2 and a half months previous to this event, it is likely that she was not in top physical shape and this may have played some role in the outcome of the event, she lost a lot of weight when it happened, it weighted only 29 kg. half her normal weigth.
Caiman crocodilus appear to exert a hight predation pressure on male anacondas during the dry season as can be seen in attached table, (males are smaller and leaner than females), Caimans predate on small and young anacondas.

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

Almost all large Green Anacondas have big scars produced by their prey as can be seen in pictures above.
Book Natural History of the Green Anaconda (Jesus Rivas) Reply