Scientists Find New Anaconda Species Over 20 Feet Long

Deep in Ecuador's Amazon rainforest, a team of scientists stumbled upon a discovery that rewrites what we know about the world's largest snakes. While filming National Geographic's upcoming series Pole to Pole with Will Smith, researchers identified an entirely new species of giant anaconda living in waters rarely explored by outsiders.

Professor Bryan Fry from the University of Queensland led the expedition into the remote Bameno region of Baihuaeri Waorani territory. Guided by indigenous hunters through dense jungle waterways, the team spent ten days paddling narrow river systems in search of the colossal serpents.

Their patience paid off spectacularly. The scientists captured and studied several specimens of the newly named northern green anaconda (Eunectes akayima), including one individual measuring an incredible 20.7 feet long.

The discovery challenges everything scientists thought they knew about anaconda populations. For years, researchers believed all green anacondas belonged to a single species, but this find proves multiple distinct species exist in the Amazon's vast wilderness.

The journey to find these giants required serious determination. The team navigated swampy river systems to reach flooded lowlands where the massive snakes wait for prey, lurking just beneath the water's surface.

Why This Inspires

This discovery shows how much wonder still waits to be found on our planet. Even in our age of satellites and technology, the Amazon continues to guard secrets that can only be revealed through collaboration between modern scientists and indigenous communities who've lived alongside these creatures for generations.

The Waorani people, who consider these serpents sacred, have long told stories of even larger anacondas dwelling in their territory. Local accounts describe individuals stretching beyond 24 feet, claims that could make the northern green anaconda the largest snake on Earth if verified.

The expedition proves that some of Earth's most incredible discoveries still require old-fashioned exploration. The combination of indigenous knowledge, scientific expertise, and sheer adventurous spirit led to a finding that might have remained hidden for decades longer.

Each new species discovered reminds us that protecting wild spaces like the Amazon isn't just about preserving what we know, but safeguarding the countless mysteries we haven't uncovered yet.