Researchers say there is a “genetically distinct” 5.5% difference between northern and southern green anacondas.
The anaconda snake has been split into two different species after experts discovered that the green anaconda, found mainly in the Amazon area of South America, is the longest of its species, growing to a length of around 26 feet. Fox News reported.
Previously, it was believed that only one species of enormous snake existed; However, scientists have now divided the snake into two different species: northern and southern green anacondas.
A study published in the journal MDPI Diversity used genetic data from four anaconda species recognized in nine countries.
Researchers and explorers found that there is a “genetically distinct” 5.5% difference between northern and southern green anacondas.
Humans and chimpanzees, on the other hand, only differ by 2%.
This finding was made by researchers using tissue and blood samples from green anacondas in Brazil, Ecuador and Venezuela.
It was reported exclusively by National Geographic for his upcoming series, “Pole to Pole: With Will Smith.”
The snakes were also closely examined to count their scales and record other physical traits that indicated “evolutionary divergence.” Nat Geo reported.
Geographic range is the main difference between species.
According to study co-author Bryan Fry, an explorer of National Geographic and biologist at the University of Queensland in Australia, the difference between species is due to geographical changes.
The Amazon is made up of two separate basins: the large southern Amazon basin and the “much smaller” northern Orinoco basin.
Fry explained: “The southern green anaconda, Eunectes murinus, is found in a wide range spanning Brazil, Bolivia, Peru and parts of French Guiana; in contrast, our recently described northern green anaconda, Eunectes akayima, is restricted to Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad, Venezuela and parts of French Guiana.”
