The Eunectes Notaeus is a nonvenomous boa species found in South America. No subspecies are currently recognized. The generic name Eunectes derives from Greek and means “good swimmer”; the Neo-Latin specific name notaeus derives from Greek νωταίοσ/nōtaios (poetic form of Greek νωτιαίοσ/nōtiaios), here meaning “dorsal.” In distinguishing his new species Eunectes notaeus from Eunectes murinus, Edward Drinker Cope stated: “Dorsal scales are larger and in fewer rows."
Description[]
Adults are not as large as the green anaconda, E. murinus, but nevertheless grow to an average of 3.3 to 4.4 m (11 to 14 ft) in length. They commonly weigh 25 to 35 kg (55 to 77 lb), though large specimens can weigh 40 to 55 kg (88 to 120 lb) or even more. The maximum size can certainly be larger, although confusion with its larger cousin may complicate matters. Female yellow anacondas have reportedly been measured up to 4.6 m (15 ft). Females are larger than males.
The color pattern consists of a yellow, golden-tan or greenish-yellow ground color overlaid with a series of black or dark brown saddles, blotches, spots and streaks.
Habitat[]
This species prefers mostly aquatic habitats, including swamps, marshes, and brush-covered banks of slow-moving rivers and streams. Invasive species in the Florida Everglades.
Food[]
These snakes were studied in regularly flooded areas in the Pantanal region of southwestern Brazil. The data collected were directly observed from predatory instances, analysis and examination of gut and waste contents, and affirmations by local residents and other researchers. These studies indicate the species is a generalist feeder. The prey list analyzed and other evidence suggests E. notaeus employs both "ambush predation" and "wide-foraging" strategies. The snakes forage predominately in open, flooded habitats, in relatively shallow water; most predation instances occur from June to November, when flooded areas have noticeably dried out, with wading birds being the most common prey. They have also been known to prey on fish, turtles, small-sized caimans, lizards, birds' eggs, small mammals and fish carrion. The prey to predator weight ratio is often much higher than those known for other types of Boidae.