Reproduction

How does the yellow anaconda produce its young?

Mating takes place from August to October in Argentina but there may be some variations to this across their range.

Breeding takes place in the water. At the start of the breeding season females will emit pheromones to attract males. They may gather in large groups and create what is known as a breeding ball. The largest male will emerge the victor and gain breeding rights.

After a period of 160-180 days the female will give birth to her young. She does not lay eggs instead giving birth to live young. Each clutch can include anywhere between 5 and 37 hatchlings.

Young emerge from their mother surrounded by a protective membrane which they must break out of.

At birth they measure an average 60cm (23.6in) long. Within the first year of life they double in size.

Young are independent as soon as they are born.

Sexual maturity is reached between two and three years old.

Females tend to produce young once every two years. Males will attempt to mate each breeding season.

Behavior

What does the yellow anaconda do with its day?

A group of anacondas is known as a bed or a knot.

These animals are considered solitary and only come together during mating season.

Credit: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Predators and Threats

What is impacting the survival of the yellow anaconda?

As adults these animals face no major predators. Juveniles may be taken by crab-eating foxes, lizards such as tegus and caiman. Larger individuals may cannibalize smaller individuals.

The fast growth rate of young helps them to reach a size where they can evade predation. They also produce a strong odor to prevent predators attacking them.

The yellow anaconda appears to be a common species in much of its range and the population is currently considered stable.

A range of threats are faced by this species including habitat loss as wetlands are converted to agriculture.

They are also killed for their skin and meat or as retaliation when they take livestock. Some small numbers are collected for the pet trade but this is believed to have little effect on their numbers.

These animals may be impacted in the future as hydroelectric power is being developed in greater amounts across their range.

They have benefited from the creation of man-made habitat such as artificial ponds, reservoirs and rice fields.

Quick facts

These animals may also be known as "water boas." This name may also be applied to the closely related green anaconda. Another name for this species is the Paraguayan anaconda.