Ana Julia: World's Largest Anaconda Discovered in Amazon, Reshaping Evolutionary Understanding

• A National Geographic expedition confirmed Ana Julia, a 20.7-foot, 441-pound green anaconda, in Ecuador's northern Amazon.
• Genetic analysis revealed a new species, Eunectes akayima, challenging previous evolutionary assumptions about green anacondas.
• Anacondas, known for their size and strength, primarily inhabit slow rivers, swamps, and marshes across South America.
• They are ambush predators, killing prey by constriction, and can remain submerged for nearly ten minutes.
• Despite their fearsome reputation, anacondas face threats from habitat loss, hunting, and illegal trade, necessitating conservation efforts.

Why It Matters: Discovery of Ana Julia, a new anaconda species, provides critical insights into anaconda evolution and conservation.