Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I typically wouldn’t show a feeding picture, but this one does illustrate an interesting behavioral aspect associated with anacondas. The constricting technique of anacondas appears to be much different than any of the other large python species. It is probably an inherited adaptation to deal with the larger, more energetic and dangerous prey species anacondas deal with, that the other larger python species never do. Caiman, tapir, and 150 lb capybara are species that are more difficult to subdue and restrain than most of the prey species that old world pythons attempt to take down. They are quite capable of inflicting serious damage on anacondas attempting to take them as prey.

I have seen all of the larger python species constrict prey on many occasions, and none of them ever use the number of coils around the prey animal that anacondas use on a routine basis. Greens will typically wrap 3 to 4, or sometimes more, complete coils around their prey when constricting. This effectively encloses most of the preys body within the coils and restrains it in a manner that doesn’t allow it much latitude to inflict any damage. Old world pythons rarely, if ever, use this number of coils. It appears to work well most of the time, but wild greens are not always able to make an efficient strike and constriction every time, as can be seen by the scarring on the bodies of the larger and older individuals.

All of my female greens are extremely calm snakes and easily handled. However, unlike the males, they all have very strong feeding responses and always vigorously constrict their rabbits even though they are always f/t when offered. The green below is one of my females I took a shot of a couple of years ago. At the time she was about 10 feet, and had just gotten through constricting a f/t rabbit of about five or six pounds. As can be seen, she has completely engulfed its entire body in coils.

Kelly

adaptions such as this is what helps them survive and pass their genes onto the next genre. Interesting post, makes me wonder how many had to die before this technique was set in their geonome, I would believe this is not learned but passed onto their offspring as a part of their feeding behavior. As I mean die, I mean their early ancesters develoment, where talking wayyyy back lol. Although these processes are very slow someone had to take the hit for things to adapt to the current technique of subduing prey in a way that ensures their survival. Good stuff Kelly!
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Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

Do you think that them being in the water has anything to do with this? As well. To keep the animal from floating away when it is taken under, and with each gulp it releases a coil, so it is a trait passed on.
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger
1.0 Amel Retic
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python
1.0 Green Ananconda
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa

could be!
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Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

Very nice observation Kelly! I've noticed that my hard hitting greens will do the same. A few of my non-food aggressive will typically take the prey a lot lighter and either barely wrap it or not at all as well. Thanks for pointing that out!

Just to help your point a little. I just fed these girls. You can find Yellows doing the same.

That is a very interesting topic and observation Kelly. I have noticed the same behavior in my pair of greens I got from you and Jud. They both remain the most docile, trustworthy, and affectionate snakes I have ever encountered. I never hesitate the least in reaching in their cages as they stop and evaluate what is entering the cage. But when they do decide to take a food item, the green anaconda strike is harder and faster than any constrictors-they leave my retics standing still. They wrap their prey fully as you described very rapidly. Seems like the strike and full wrap are all in one. One observation I would like to add is my greens seem to hold the prey in full constriction much longer than my other large constrictors and this is in line with dealing with larger and more dangerous prey. My greens will hold a food item in full constriction for at least 20 minutes before starting to swallow it. My retics and burm s will start the swallow positioning in as little as two minutes after constricting. Bill.
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...three years ago it was just another snake cult...
The Retic is King.
Anacondas-the other Dark Side.
Afrocks-the dark side of the Dark Side.

My pair of Greens have always exhibited the same characteristics; my female will always grab the rabbit and wrap at least 4 coils around it, my male will sniff out the head and start eating without ever constricting. Both have always been fed f/t and both are completely docile. Ron.
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"If it can't kill you, why keep it?"

Hey there Kelly,
I do not post here much. I do respect all you have to say regarding Greens. I have a Yellow. And Ducky does indeed 'wrap' all around his prey, mostly anyway. It happens less with him being fed f/t now.
An unusual technique, for me at least, Ducky uses when swallowing his prey is to turn his head upside down.
This behavior allowed me to learn something new (This can happen when you are not careful). I decided to try to feed him while holding, a la Jetzen.
I always wondered how a snake breathes while eating. I was treated to a demonstration. There seems to be a tracheal tube that extends all the way out to the bottom of the lower jaw. Periodically, during swallowing, I could see that tube extend and hear Ducky breathe in.

If you are interested it is called the glottis.
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Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

Yup, I have definitely noticed this in both my yellow anaconda, and my late green anaconda.

With the yellow, it seems to me that the actual strike isn't as powerful as, say, my blood pythons' strikes, but she definitely throws about half her body around that one tiny dead rat -- generally covers up the whole rat.

I know I have seen photos of anacondas in the wild completely coiled around prey ... It makes sense to me that the adults would have this adaptation (since they are taking down much bigger and more dangerous prey), but it does seem a little surprising that the babies do it, too.
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-- Kitt

Good point and great photo .. I have yellow Rats and Black Pines that constrict completly when fed live .... but thats about it .. everything else basically just throws a coil or 2 ...
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Safari Tom
See'em Touch'em Save'em
www.SafariTom.com

That is interesting...

I have a water python since 3-4 years at home. He does the same constricting attitude than the murinus.

Probably because he is also an aquatic species ???

What do you think about it guys ?

MarilyN