Scientists Have Identified a Massive New Species of Green Anaconda in the Amazon

A team of researchers exploring the Ecuadorian Amazon has discovered that the region’s massive green anacondas belong to an entirely separate species than their counterparts in the rest of South America. The findings, published in the journal Diversity, identify this newly recognized snake as the northern green anaconda, scientifically classified as Eunectes akayima.

The discovery emerged from a collaborative expedition with Waorani hunters in the Orellana and Pastaza provinces. While the team was initially in the region to support a National Geographic documentary project featuring Will Smith, the biological survey yielded a significant scientific breakthrough. By collecting and analyzing genetic samples from snakes in both Ecuador and Brazil, scientists confirmed that the populations are distinct.

Although these two lineages appear physically identical to the naked eye, the DNA evidence reveals a staggering 5.5 percent genetic divergence. Researchers estimate that the two species branched off from a common ancestor approximately 10 million years ago, a timeline that predates the final uplift of the Andes mountains, which fundamentally altered the continent’s river systems.

Leading the research, Professor Bryan Fry of the University of Queensland and anaconda specialist Dr. Jesus Rivas of New Mexico Highlands University noted that while the species share a similar look, the northern variants tend to reach longer lengths. During their 10-day canoe journey through the Bameno region, the team encountered one female specimen measuring 6.3 meters in length. While local Waorani oral history accounts describe significantly larger snakes, the team focused on verifiable measurements to confirm the species’ characteristics.

Environmental Indicators in a Changing Habitat

Beyond taxonomy, the expedition sought to investigate how industrial oil drilling impacts the Amazonian food web. Because anacondas serve as apex predators, they are uniquely positioned to reflect the health of their ecosystem. The researchers discovered that the snakes’ sex-based hunting patterns lead to different exposure levels to pollutants.

Males, which primarily consume long-legged wading birds, showed significantly higher concentrations of lead and cadmium compared to females. These heavy metals appear to accumulate in the birds from contaminated water sources before being passed up the food chain to the snakes. In contrast, female anacondas, which tend to hunt terrestrial grazers, displayed lower levels of these industrial toxins.

Conservation Implications for Amazonian Biodiversity

The formal recognition of Eunectes akayima highlights the urgent need for habitat protection within the Waorani ancestral lands, which have faced decades of pressure from logging and oil extraction. The Waorani people, who have managed these territories for generations, were vital partners in this research and are credited as co-authors on the study.

As the scientific community processes this taxonomic split, conservationists are turning their attention to the Brazilian green anaconda, Eunectes murinus. Researchers warn that this species may face a more precarious future due to a more restricted range. Future studies are already being planned to further evaluate how petrochemical runoff from oil spills influences the reproductive success and long-term viability of these apex predators.