Meet the green anaconda. It is one of the largest snakes in the world. The females are bigger than the males.

It lives in South America. It lives in swamps, marshes and slow streams.

It spends most of its time in the water. It is an excellent swimmer.

Its eyes and nose are on top of its head. Most of its body can be under the water. It can still see and breathe.

Young anacondas eat small animals, such as fish. Grown ones eat large animals, such as deer and capybaras.

After a big meal, it can go weeks without eating. It can even go months.

It rests in the sun. It lies on river banks. It lies on branches that hang over the water.

A mother does not lay eggs. She gives birth to live babies.

In the wild, it lives about 10 years on average. That is as of November 2026.

Words to know

• swamps: wet land
• marshes: soft wet land
• capybaras: water rodents