Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I only just saw your question re. female sizes in the wild. The average breeding female we caught was just about 4 meters and change, although we of course got larger and smaller. The large females in the Llanos (flooded savannas)seem to have a size limit imposed by the water and their habitat requirements - during dry season in the Llanos, spots water deep enough for an anaconda to swim long distances are few and far between. We found the largest females, and saw even larger track, always near a deeper river - where it is almost impossible to methodically look for them IN the water. so, there are two reasons the females don't get as big: a researcher bias, since it is easier to find them in shallow water, but also I am convinced the really big ones just won't be found there (since even the biggest can be seen breeding in very shallow water to wet land.)

Renee

Hi, thanks for the info, very interesting. I am surprised at the average length you've found for breeding females, about 13 feet. I would have thought they would be longer, but of course I've probably been misguided by anaconda stories ever since I was knee high to a Venezualan grasshopper. I suspect 25' or even 22' anacondas are few and far between, kinda like 7' people, they are out there, but don't count on catching one. I
would like to know if you will or have ever published any statistics on your anaconda catches. Not much data out there, just lots of stories. Regards and thanks again.

No problem. We did catch females bigger, just under 6 meters was the largest - and that was in Ecuador. We are averaging here based on ALL females, and they do start breeding well before they reach formidable length.

Renee