The green anaconda lives in the South American jungle and can grow up to 200 kilograms in weight and 8 meters in length. This makes it one of the longest snake species in the world. The existence of the green anaconda has been known for centuries, but DNA research now shows that it is not just one species.
The green anacondas that live in northern Brazil, Venezuela, Suriname and French Guiana – in the north of South America – appear to be a separate species. No difference can be seen with the naked eye, but the genetic material between the two species differs by 5.5 percent, according to the scientists, more than, for example, the difference in DNA between humans and chimpanzees.
READ ALSO. Up to 8 meters long and 200 kilos heavy: new species of giant snake discovered in the Amazon rainforest
The discovery was announced a month ago, including by the Dutch biologist and TV presenter Freek Vonk, who was involved in the discovery. Vonk spoke in February about “a highlight in my career”, but a few weeks later the snake, which was named Ana Julia, was unfortunately found dead.
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“It is with great pain in my heart that I would like to let you know that the mighty, large green anaconda that I swam with was found dead this weekend,” Vonk wrote in a message on Instagram, where he has 377,000 followers. “I have heard from various sources that she was shot dead,” he initially reported on Monday.
Research
Today the biologist reports that authorities in Brazil are still investigating the cause of death and have not yet found evidence that the anaconda was shot dead. “It is therefore also possible that she died of natural causes,” said Vonk, who believed his first report that the reptile was in good health.
“In any case, her death was not in vain, because the worldwide attention to her death has increased awareness about the fragility of nature, and that is thanks to this exceptional animal,” the Dutchman concludes.
The new snake species, which is described in the magazine Diversitydiverged from the long-known southern green anaconda about 10 million years ago.
Tags: discovered giant snake dead Amazon rainforest death mystery
