Green Anaconda Devours The Spectacled Caiman Alligator!!! (Warning: Not for the faint-hearted)

CHUA CHING HOCK — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:16:00 GMT

Never thought that an adult Spectacled Caiman alligator (Caiman crocodilus) can be eaten alive by another predator? Well, think again!! Especially when you have this chap around:

(Image Source: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/green-anaconda.html)

Introducing.... The Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) !!!

Well, I have always thought that anacondas' diet consist only of fishes, birds, rodents, mammals, and other small reptiles. But little did I expect to discover that this particular species, the Green Anaconda, actually feeds on full-grown Spectacled Caimans (which can grow up to 2.5m) as well!

Devouring a fellow fearsome predator? Wow.

My interest in inter-species conflict originally led me to stumble upon the incredible videos listed below. And upon closer research, I discovered that the Green Anaconda, located primarily in South America, is actually the largest snake in the world in terms of weight. They can grow up to 30 feet (9 meters) long, weigh 1,200 pounds (550 kilograms), and measure more than 12 inches (30 centimeters) in diameter.

Youtube Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acVlIJeY9ws&feature=related

As illustrated in the video above, the Green Anaconda kills with power, not poison. By coiling its muscular body around its prey, the Green Anaconda can even crush the armoured Caiman until it can no longer breathe. This constriction tactic allows the Green Anaconda to take down other prey as large as adult capybaras (giant rodents), adult white-tailed deers, adult jaguars, and even humans of approximately 55kg or more.

At the same time, this brutal predator can be really covert and sleek in the water, with its dull colour and black blotches enhancing its camouflaging capabilities in the marshes and swamps. Its eyes and nasal openings are on top of its head, allowing it to wait and ambush its prey while remaining almost completely submerged.

Youtube Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc06MVH6W98

Interestingly, while all the videos here highlight the Green Anaconda prevailing over the Spectacled Caiman, my research indicates that this is not always the case. In fact, renowned anaconda specialist Jesus Rivas once documented an intriguing event of the Spectacled Caiman preying on a green anaconda in return:

"On 25 of May 1996 we discovered a large caiman (>90 cm svl) firmly gripping the head of a radio-implanted female anaconda (494 cm TL, 29 kg), who in turn had wrapped herself around the caiman’s head and neck. After approximately 15 min the snake relaxed her coils, apparently losing the struggle with the caiman.

We interrupted the event to recover the transmitter when the snake stopped struggling. One of the teeth of the caiman had gone right through the skull and into the brain region, other tooth mark where present in the first fifth but did not look life threatening. The snake died two months later in captivity due to a generalized infection. As we had found this snake severely wounded from 2 months previous to being preyed on by the caiman, it is likely that she was not in top physical shape and this may have played some role in the attack."

Certainly, there appears to be a history of inter-species conflict between these two large predators. One possible reason could be due to the fact that both share very similar habitats in the seasonally flooded savannahs of South America and the Amazon Basin.

Youtube Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMwt_fEe3CY&feature=related
(Warning: Do not watch this if you just had a heavy meal.)

As seen in the fascinating video above, the Green Anaconda possesses jaws attached by pliable ligaments, which enables it to swallow the Caiman as a whole. Such a sizeable and yummy meal can allow it to go for weeks or even months without food.

At the same time, the Green Anaconda's unique adaptation and natural selection allow it to experience an incredible change in body size from birth to adulthood, as compared to other snakes. This explains how it can grow to such a massive bulk despite the occasional meal. Moreover, the role of nature has also dictated that baby Green Anacondas can almost immediately be able to swim and hunt once they are born. A top, ectothermic predator indeed.

Poor Caiman.

Finally, just to make you feel a little better, Green Anacondas are not known for being fond of attacking humans, despite their mythical reputation as man-eaters. Thankfully. =)

References:

BBC Science and Nature, Amazon Abyss (Apr 2005)
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/amazon/creatures.shtml> 16 Mar 2008

Isho, Fady D., AllExperts, Interspecies Conflict: Saltwater Crocodile vs Green Anaconda (26 Jan 2008)
<http://en.allexperts.com/q/Interspecies-Conflict-3754/2008/1/Saltwater-Crocodile-vs-Green.htm> 17 Mar 2008

Mayell, Hillary, National Geographic News, Anaconda Expert Wades Barefoot in Venezuela's Swamps (13 Mar 2003)
<http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/04/0430_020503_anacondaman.html> 16 Mar 2008

National Geographic, Green Anaconda
<http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/green-anaconda.html> 16 Mar 2008

Peach, Natasha, BBC Oxford, New Arrivals and Happy Feet (7 Jan 2008)
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/oxford/content/articles/2008/01/07/happy_feet_feature.shtml> 16 Mar 2008

Rivas, Jesus A., The Life History of the Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus), with emphasis on its reproductive biology, Introduction (2000)
<www.anacondas.org/diss/intro.pdf> 17 Mar 2008

Rivas, Jesus A., Life history and conservation of the green anaconda - Eunectes murinus (2000)
<http://pages.prodigy.net/anaconda/research.htm> 16 Mar 2008

Rivas, Jesus A., Herpetological Review, Eunectes murinus: caiman predation (1999)
<http://pages.prodigy.net/anaconda/fight.htm> 16 Mar 2008

Rivas, Jesus A., Herpetological Review, Eunectes murinus: Juvenile predation (2001)
<http://pages.prodigy.net/anaconda/juvpred.htm> 16 Mar 2008

Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, AquaFacts: Green Anaconda - Eunectes murinus
<http://www.vanaqua.org/education/aquafacts/anaconda.html> 16 Mar 2008

Wikipedia, Anaconda (16 Mar 2008)
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaconda> 16 Mar 2008

Wikipedia, Green Anaconda (4 Mar 2008)
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Anaconda> 16 Mar 2008

Wikipedia, Alligatoridae (10 Mar 2008)
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caiman> 16 Mar 2008

Wikipedia, Spectacled Caiman (11 Mar 2008)
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectacled_Caiman> 16 Mar 2008

Jesus Christ!

YEO WAN TING — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:48:00 GMT

Reptiles - the mere mention of the word will send shivers down the spines of many I know, and it's perhaps with little wonder. Oftentimes, the word 'reptiles' evoke the mental image of something slimy, aggressive, dangerous, and hence, repulsive. Despite their less than appealing appearance (though this is, of course, subjective), I find reptiles to be utterly fascinating creatures, at least in terms of the way they move and adapt to their environment.

One such reptile is the green basilisk lizard (basiliscus plumifrons), "also called a plumed or double-crested basilisk but its amazing ability to run on water gives this species its most recognizable moniker: the Jesus Christ lizard." (Green Basilisk Lizard, National Geographic.) Yes, you read it right - the green basilisk lizard can run on water!

It is said in the Bible that Jesus once walked on water, and it is after this that the green basilisk was named. Harry Potter fans will also recognize the word 'basilisk'. Sorry to disappoint you Harry Potter fans, but this lizard is not exactly the type of basilisks mentioned by Rowling in her books!

Instead, it is a lizard that is part of the iguana family. They are most commonly found on the trees of the Central American rainforests, and are never too far from a body of water. (Green Basilisk Lizard, National Geographic.) When threatened by predators, the basilisk lizards take off at lightning speed, often over water bodies.

Here's a picture of a green basilisk scrambling for its dear life:

Image source

On average, basilisk lizards weigh between 200 to 600 grams - sure, that is light, but it is also far from being light enough to stand on a water surface without breaking the water tension (ala the waterboat man insect). (How Lizards Walk on Water, BBC News.)

How then, do the basilisks achieve this amazing feat?

The basilisk lizard has large hind feet with flaps of skin between each toe. According to Harvard University's Dr Tonia Hsieh, a large upward force is produced each time the lizard slaps its feet on the water surface. It is this force that keeps the lizard's body above the water surface - that is, until the lizard tires and falls into the water, where it will swim and/or dive with ease. It also follows that younger basilisks can usually run further than older ones, with the former being capable of running about 10 to 20 meters on water without sinking. (Jesus Christ Lizard, World Wildlife News.)

I don't know about you, but I found this lizard to be amazing. Imagine being able to generate enough force with your feet to run on a water surface! Here's an awesome clip from YouTube (National Geographic channel) of the basilisk running on water, as well as a bit of information on the lizard's diet:

Watch it because:

1) it will amaze you to no end (well, it amazed me at least!), and
2) as can be seen from the photo above, it really is quite hilarious to watch.

Enjoy!

References:
Green Basilisk Lizard, National Geographic

How Lizards Walk on Water, BBC News

Jesus Christ Lizard, World Wildlife News

LSM1303 Animal Behaviour Student Blog : reptiles

Green Anaconda Devours The Spectacled Caiman Alligator!!! (Warning: Not for the faint-hearted)

Jesus Christ!