In the South American tropical rainforest a carnivorous reptile that is the longest snake lives there. Anacondas live in the rainforest where they can eat and swallow animals to survive. Anacondas are at the top of the food chain of the rainforest but they are endangered animals because humans hunt them. Other animals hunt small anacondas because after reproduction they live by themselves. Anacondas have adapted with their anatomy and characteristics.

The anaconda is the longest snake in the world that can reach 37.5 ft. long. Anacondas live until they are 30 years old. Their scaly dry skin has a greenish-brown color with black oval spots on the back and has black and whit markings on the sides. Its nostrils are on the top of its head to breathe easier when they are in shallow water waiting for their prey. Anacondas have very wide jaws to swallow animals twice its size. Anacondas weigh 550 pounds and females are a little heavier. Anacondas are cold-blooded snakes and have the same temperature as their environment.

Anacondas live in the South American tropical rainforest. They live in Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, and Bolivia. They live in the Amazonian region. They live in the tropical swamp areas where their temperature is like there own, cold and tropical. They spend a lot of time in the water waiting for their prey there because they are also excellent swimmers.

Anacondas are carnivore snakes, which means they only eat meat. Anacondas have small teeth even though they swallow their prey. Anacondas can even swallow animals twice their size. Anacondas eat pigs, deer, caimans, birds, fish, rodents, frogs, and smaller snakes. Anacondas are nocturnal predators, which mean they hunt at night. Anacondas digest their food with acids in its stomach. After eating anacondas can go without food for weeks. Even though anacondas are in the top of the food chain but they still have many enemies and predators.

The enemies or predators of the anaconda are the humans. The humans are destroying their habitat by cutting down trees. Humans also hunt the anacondas to make shoes, purses, and other goods from their skin. Also humans capture anacondas to put them into zoos for entertainment. As humans destroy their environment more and more anacondas die. Some humans kill anacondas out of fear. Anacondas are endangered animals because humans hunt because anacondas know how to protect themselves from humans.

Anacondas know how to protect themselves but not from humans. Anacondas hide in shallow water and wait to surprise its prey by constricting them or drowning them. Anacondas also have special adaptations to survive.

Anacondas have adapted overtime to its environment to be more protected. Their color camouflages with its environment so animals can't see them. Anacondas are also excellent swimmers and hunters. Their born also adapt quickly to its environment.

Anacondas have a different way of reproducing and raising their young from other animals. Anacondas who are female attract males with a chemical presence. Anacondas reproduce underwater. When males and females reproduce the males spurs erect and they rub against the females vent region of their body. Females then begin to copulate. The female is pregnant for six months and then 20-40 young are born. After birth anacondas do not take care of their young. The young anacondas learn to hunt and protect themselves alone until they have grown.

We can help protect the anaconda in many ways. We can protect the anaconda in many ways. We can protect it by not destroying the rainforest and by putting laws against the people who hunt. It is important to protect the anaconda because it is such a fantastic animal. It is the longest snake and one of the most dangerous and interesting. The anaconda has brought such entertainment to people like in the movies and in the zoos. In many cultures of the Amazon people worship the anaconda for being an elephant and bull killer. The anaconda does not kill people because it wants too but because it is defending them. They have the right to live as an animal. Also the anaconda would change the food cycle and other animals would not adapt to the rainforest. This is why we should protect the anaconda.

http://www.animalsoftherainforest.org/frames.htm