World’s Largest Anaconda Amazon Rainforest Species Found by Scientists
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Fatima Saif
- . July 29, 2025
- . Update: July 29, 2025 4:13 pm
It is one of the greatest discoveries ever made by scientists deep in the Amazon rainforest, a completely new species, the anaconda amazon rainforest, reported to be by far the largest snake ever discovered. The discovery is remarkable because scientists at the University of Queensland made this special trip to the Amazon in Ecuador.
This began when local people of the Waorani in the Amazon rainforest invited the scientists to witness anacondas that were said to be the biggest in the world. Such local people were aware of such giant snakes, and they wanted the scientists to give them a serious study.
The report was based on a research team composed of Professor Bryan Fry, who spent 10 days in the region of Bameno exploring the Baihuaeri Waorani Territory. They canoed in rivers and discovered that several anacondas were lurking in shallow waters in preparation for attacking their victims. Their discovery was incredible.
Record-Breaking Anaconda Amazon Rainforest Discovery
The new animal has been referred to as the northern green anaconda or Eunectes akayima in scientific reference. The team has found one female anaconda, which was huge, with a length of 6.3 meters (20.7 feet). However, this was not everything because according to locals, the scientists heard about even larger anacondas in the Amazon rainforest, some of them were 7.5 meters (24.6 feet) and weighed 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds).
In appreciation of how unique this discovery is, it is okay to take note of the fact that green anacondas were already listed as the heaviest snakes in the world. The largest anaconda recorded was 8.43 meters, coupled with 227 kilograms (500 pounds). The reticulated pythons may be longer, but the anacondas are heavier and powerful.
Ancient Anaconda Amazon Rainforest Evolution Revealed
The fact that these anacondas were so large was not the most surprising part of this discovery. When the northern green anaconda’s DNA was examined by scientists, they discovered an amazing thing. The new species of anaconda broke off from the southern green anaconda nearly 10 million years ago. Their genetic difference stands at 5.5%, which is enormous – humans and the chimpanzees have a genetic difference of a mere 2%.
It was made during a filming project by the team in the new National Geographic series called Pole to Pole with Will Smith. The results of the work are presented in the scientific journal MDPI Diversity.
But the future of these beautiful anacondas in the Amazon rainforest is indeed a major issue to be worried about. The Amazon is under numerous threats that may affect these rare snakes in a negative way. Farming has already wiped out 20-31% of the habitat, and others have called it a danger that 40% of the Amazon forests may be wiped out in 2050.
These anacondas are also being threatened by climatic changes, forest fires, and droughts as well which can destroy their precarious ecosystems. Professor Fry and his team endeavour to ensure that their findings can be used to protect the anacondas and the Amazon rainforest where they reside.
