Eunectes

The genus Eunectes includes the largest snakes in Venezuela and the Americas. They are non-venomous constrictor boas, adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle, with robust, muscular bodies and a remarkable ability to move underwater.

They primarily inhabit rivers, streams, lagoons, and floodplains, where they hunt by ambush. Their diet is broad and includes fish, aquatic birds, mammals, and other vertebrates, depending on the size of the individual.

Despite their reputation, anacondas do not pose a common threat to humans and avoid contact whenever possible. Their ecological importance is substantial, as they act as apex predators in aquatic ecosystems and regulate populations of multiple species.