TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A monster 26-foot anaconda was spotted gliding across the floor of an Amazonian river in Brazil.
Dutch biologist and Professor Freek Vonk was seen swimming next to the new species of anaconda found in the river in Brazil’s Mato Grosso do Sul state in July.
The southern green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) was thought to be the only anaconda in the Amazon. But recent discoveries show this species is now joined by the northern green anaconda (E. akayima).
“I have seen and filmed many different anacondas in my life, also huge ones, but this particular specimen was an absolute titan,” Professor Vonk said. “I have never ever seen a snake this big in my life, although I knew they had to be out there.”
Professor Vonk said he felt “dwarfed” by the snake, which was roughly 26 feet long and weighed over 200 kilograms (roughly 440 pounds).
The video shows the snake doing an occasional tongue flick to pick up a nearby scent.
Professor Vonk said that he and his cameraman followed the snake around for about an hour as it cruised the riverbed and scouted out the area.
“I traveled to over 100 countries and did many hundreds of expeditions, but this experience instantly went right on top of the list of my most ‘jaw-dropping moments’. Just talking about the experience sometimes gives me goosebumps again,” Professor Vonk added.
