J.R. Accetturo, age 10, of Denton, Tex., for his question:
HOW LONG IS THE ANACONDA SNAKE?
Anaconda is the name of two large snakes found in tropical South America. They are also called water boas. One kind grows to be more than 30 feet long. All adult anacondas are more than 20 feet long.
Anacondas kill their prey by wrapping their coils tightly around them to keep them from breathing. The principal foods of anacondas are birds and small mammals.
Like other snakes, anacondas defend themselves from enemies by biting. Their teeth can inflict deep wounds. Only the largest anacondas ever attack large animals.
The snakes have olive green skin and many black rings or spots. They live near water, often swimming in rivers. They bear live young.
The anaconda is rivaled in size only by the reticulate python of southeastern Asia and the Philippines.