By Charles Nwoke

In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have identified two distinct species of the formidable green anaconda, a colossal aquatic snake renowned for its dominance in South America’s Amazon region. Initially thought to be a single species, the green anaconda has now been classified as the northern green anaconda and the southern green anaconda.

Published in the prestigious journal MDPI Diversity, the study utilized genetic analysis from four recognized anaconda species spanning nine countries. The findings revealed a significant genetic divergence of 5.5% between the northern and southern varieties, surpassing the genetic disparity between humans and chimpanzees, which stands at a mere 2%.

Explorers and researchers embarked on an extensive expedition, collecting blood and tissue samples from green anacondas in Ecuador, Venezuela, and Brazil. These samples, alongside meticulous physical examinations, including scale counts and other morphological traits, provided crucial insights into the evolutionary divergence of these awe-inspiring serpents.

National Geographic’s upcoming series “Pole to Pole: With Will Smith” exclusively documented this groundbreaking discovery, shedding light on the remarkable biodiversity of the Amazon region. According to NatGeo, the research team discovered that the green anacondas inhabiting the Waorani lands are among the largest of their kind.

Study co-author Bryan Fry, a National Geographic explorer and biologist at the University of Queensland in Australia, explained that the primary distinction between the two species lies in their geographic distribution. While the southern green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) roams across the expansive southern Amazon basin, its newly described counterpart, the northern green anaconda (Eunectes akayima), is confined to the northern Orinoco basin and surrounding regions.

Furthermore, the study revealed that the northern green anaconda exhibits the potential to attain even larger sizes compared to its southern counterpart. Fry emphasized the significance of their expedition into the Ecuadorian eastern rainforest, a remote and virtually unexplored territory, to unveil the secrets of these elusive giants.

“The Ecuadorian eastern rainforest has long been rumored to hold the largest of all anacondas, but until our expedition with Will Smith for National Geographic’s ‘Pole to Pole’ series, this had never been investigated,” Fry stated. “Not only because the area is so incredibly remote, but also because it’s the autonomous lands of the Waorani indigenous people.”

This groundbreaking research not only expands our understanding of the green anaconda’s evolutionary history but also underscores the importance of conservation efforts to preserve the unique biodiversity of the Amazon region. With further exploration and scientific inquiry, we continue to unravel the mysteries of one of the world’s most enigmatic creatures—the giant green anaconda.