The next day, they were out exploring the Pantanal seeing what they can find. And so far, they saw a Savannah Hawk in a tree perched on a branch. A Jabiru Stork flying off, and as they pass some trees. They found a pool of water with some Spectacled Caimans.
They were either laying in the water, or basking on the sandbank.
Caimans are South American relatives of Alligators and Crocodiles.
As they were looking at the Caiman, Jimmy noticed one Caiman of the group with a very odd bend in its back.
"Hey guys, look at this one." Jimmy called to them. "His back is all twisted."
And they soon turn to him. And he looks at them.
"Wow, what happened to you, buddy?" Martin wondered.
The Caiman softly bellows at them, and then looks away and places his head down in the shallow part of the water.
Chris then took a body scan of the Caiman. "Okay, let's see. Whoa, it seems the area of the twisted spine was forcefully bent and twisted. It's almost like something was trying to crush it."
"I think I'll name you, Twist-Back." Martin said.
"But, what caused Twist-Back's back to be bent like that?" Koki asked.
"Yeah, another Caiman couldn't have done that." Aviva said.
"You're right, Aviva." Chris said. "It's a real mystery: The Mystery behind Twist-Back's back."
"Okay, let's see." Martin said, observing the twisted back Caiman. "Judging by the spine, it looked like something caught around him and wrapped around his body."
"Yeah, Caiman can't do that." Chris said. "Otherwise, there would've been a large scar from a bite."
"A Jaguar couldn't have done this." Martin added. "They're likely to go for the head of the Caiman and bite down, crushing the skull."
"So maybe, Twist-Back had a narrow escape from another predator." Aviva suggested.
"Perhaps he did." Martin said.
"But, what kind of creature could do that to him?" Koki wondered.
"Yeah, who could do that?" Jimmy frowned.
"Okay, let's see." Chris looking at the scan on his Creaturepod. "There aren't any tooth or claw marks in or around the injury. And it looked mostly crushed."
Chris and Martin begin to think as they added the puzzle pieces together.
And then they gasped, realizing something.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Chris asked.
"I think I'm thinking what you're thinking?" Martin replied.
"There's only one creature capable of going head to head with a Caiman. "Chris said. "And has incredible crushing power."
"Do you mind telling us?" Aviva inquired.
"There is only one predator capable of using strong crushing power on a Caiman like that." Chris said.
"It's the heaviest snake in the world: the giant Green Anaconda!" Martin said and brought a picture from his Creaturepod of a Green Anaconda.
"Anaconda? They're one of my favorites." Aviva said.
"Uh, how big do they get?" Koki asked.
"The Green Anaconda can reach 20 feet, plus 28." Chris said. "Making them the 2nd largest snake."
"And this is prime habitat of the Giant Anaconda." Martin said. "Waterways and sandbanks to get around, and plenty of prey to go around."
"So there has to be an Anaconda around here." Chris said.
"Hey, what's with the Caiman by that creek?" Koki gestured to some Caiman.
They looked over and saw some Caiman gathered at the base of a small raise. And they had their jaws open as the water flowed by.
"Hey, this is a classic trick of fishing." Chris said. "Caiman would sometimes gather at a base of water flowing down, and wait for fish to come to them."
"It's a great trick in this time of year, the dry season." Martin said.
"You see, he's waiting for the fish to swim up the ridge that leads to the larger lagoon." Chris explained. "Any fish that doesn't make it, will slide down and get snatched by one of the Caiman."
"But would he have trouble seeing the fish?" Aviva frowned.
"Actually, see those little dots on the Caiman's snout?" Martin gestured to them.
"Yeah." Aviva replied.
"Those are pressure sensors." Martin said. "All Crocodilians have them, and so do the spinosaurid dinosaurs, like Spinosaurus. They can detect any movement from a distance in the water."
"Even at night?" Koki wondered.
"Yeah. It's the croc's best hunting tool." Chris said.
"Oh, and they use them to detect movement close by and work similar to a metal detector." Aviva said. "Cool!"
"But, why aren't they drowning?" Koki wondered. "With all the water rushing by with their mouths open, Shouldn't they be shut?"
"Actually, they have a special way of blocking water." Chris said. "They have a special throat flap that they use to block the water out."
They all watched quietly as the Caimans lay motionless and blending in with the rocky fall. And Amber, who was with them, curiously placed her snout in the water to give a try. Tyrana, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby all watch her curiously from nearby.
It's all a waiting game.
And then, the fish started to appear as they started leaping over the fall to get above to the larger lagoon. And after a few tries, one of the Caiman caught a fish in his jaws in just a 15th of a second.
"Whoa, he got one!" Chris said.
"That was so fast, it was a blur!" Aviva said.
And then they heard a splash, and then, they saw Amber lifting her head from the water. And with a small fish in her mouth, as she chewed on it a bit then swallowed it whole.
"Whoa, Amber, did you copy that Caiman hunting skill?" Martin said, astonished.
Amber purred as she scratched her chin and then licked her chops.
The Caiman continue catching as much fish as they can, and with the dry season a few weeks away. Every fish and catch counts.
Shortly later, Koki, Jimmy, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby went back to the Tortuga as Chris, Martin, Aviva, Amber and Tyrana did a little more exploring before nightfall.
And soon, they near a large pool of water, and a sudden thrash of water made them jump a little. Likely which was a Caiman.
"Okay, that was tense." Aviva said.
"Yeah, I wonder if an Anaconda could be hiding underneath us." Chris said. "It would be cool to spot an Anaconda out here."
"Yeah, a large snake that loves the water." Martin said. "And actually has incredible water hunting and stealth power."
"Really?" Aviva frowned.
Amber and Tyrana confusedly tilted their heads.
"Yeah." Chris replied.
For their size, Green Anacondas are highly skilled for life in the water. They can stay underwater for 15 to 20 minutes before coming up for a breath.
"They're so good at swimming that they'll even stalk prey through the water." Chris added.
That last part suddenly got Chris nervous, and look back behind him.
"Um, Martin, you want a turn at the back?" Chris asked nervously.
"Hmm?" Aviva frowned confusedly.
"Sure!" Martin turns to Chris. "Wait a second." He then said, realizing something. "No way! I'm not taking up the back. I've heard of Anacondas literally dragging people underwater and drowning them! And even snatching a person from a boat!"
"Ah, well, I don't want the back either." Chris said nervously.
"No, no, no!" Aviva held her arms out. "There is no way you 2 are having me as snake bait."
Anacondas are expert underwater ambush predators, any unexpected prey animal that wanders too close will be snatched by the snake's strike, wrapped in the coils, and be squeezed to death. And Anacondas hunt almost everything they can catch, including Capybaras, and even Caimans. They have also been known to wrap themselves around Humans and even kill them.
"Okay, maybe we don't have to look around here much longer." Martin said.
"Say, wouldn't a 25 foot snake be easy to spot?" Aviva asked.
"Oh, of course." Chris smacking himself. "If there is an Anaconda here, we should be looking for the head."
"And that's the problem." Martin said. "It's a 6-inch head, behind a 20-foot-long body."
But the head of an Anaconda is capable of swallowing even a deer.
A little while later, there was no luck of finding an Anaconda. And they went back to the Tortuga for the night.
The next day, they decided to try the nearby Rio Negro river as Chris, Martin, Aviva, Amber and Tyrana took the Bass Boat and travel up the river. As Koki and Jimmy stayed behind in the Tortuga with Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby.
So far, they came across nothing. But in the early morning, they might be lucky to spot an Anaconda basking on the sandbank.
For their size, though, they are the world's 2nd biggest snake. Green Anacondas can be hard to come by, though some can grow to be 28 feet long. That's another 4 feet longer than 2 Bass Boats lined up.
But an Anaconda could be right underneath them and they wouldn't even know it. Anacondas have great camouflage, their green coloration and their black and yellow spots help blend in.
And when in the water, they stick their nostrils out to breathe while the rest of the body is completely submerged.
But the Green Anaconda has a smaller cousin in the same region, the Yellow Anaconda. Which is all yellow with black spots.
And then, something was seen in the river ahead of them. And they slowed the boat down, and saw climbing out of the water was a Tapir.
"Hey, a Tapir!" Martin said.
"Whoa, he's huge." Aviva said.
"Hey, that's the biggest Mammal in South America, right there." Chris said.
"Wait, didn't you guys say that Jaguars hunt them?" Aviva inquired.
"Yeah, but Tapirs know how to avoid being dinner." Martin said. "A Tapir can swim, and even dive underwater."
And then they saw the Tapir approach a bush, and then it begins feeding on the leaves and using his trunk-like nose.
"Look how the Tapir uses his nose to feed." Chris said.
"Nose, you mean it's like a trunk?" Aviva wondered. "Like an Elephant's?"
"Yeah, you might think that Tapirs are relatives of Elephants, but they're not." Chris said.
"The Tapirs closest relatives are actually Horses and Rhinos." Martin said.
"Really?" Aviva said.
"Yeah, look at his feet." Chris gestured to the Tapir's foot. "They are shaped in the same way as a Rhino's."
"But you know." Martin said, looking at him closely. "He kinda looks like the Elephant's earliest ancestor, Moeritherium." He then brought up a picture of a Moeritherium from Walking with Beasts.
"Huh, it kinda looks like a Tapir, a Pig, and a Hippo, all rolled into one." Aviva said. "And there's only a hint of a trunk."
"Yeah, it's funny how they look alike." Chris said.
"From what we learned from Walking with Beasts, although they are shaped like Hippos, and look a bit like Pigs, Moeritherium are related to neither." Martin said. "With their distinctive noses, which are, in fact, a type of trunk, these benign herbivores are early relatives of the Elephants."
And soon, they headed up the river as the Tapir was left feeding on the bush.
Hours later, there was no luck of finding even a glimpse of an Anaconda.
And as night got closer, they decided to make camp.
"Sorry, Martin, but your Discs aren't very organized." Chris said. "Compared to my Discs."
"What are you talking about?" Martin inquired. "I know where they all are. Test me."
"This should be good." Aviva said.
"Okay. Peregrine Falcon." Chris said.
Martin held his right hand up, and flipped it a couple times. And then his Peregrine Falcon Disc appeared.
"Hmm... Cheetah." Chris said.
Martin reaches into his shirt, and brought out his Cheetah Power Disc.
Chris thinks for a second. "Dolphin."
Martin lifts his boot up, and brought out his Dolphin Power Disc.
Chris suddenly frowned and then noticed that the boot was actually his as his right boot was off.
"Hey!" Chris said.
Aviva laughed from that. "Let me try one, uh... Aardvark."
Martin then went into his side pocket and brought his Aardvark Power Disc.
"Uh... Seahorse." Aviva said.
Martin reached behind his back, and brought out his Seahorse Power Disc.
"Okay, here's a good one." Aviva is now testing him. "Uh... Sperm Whale, Hippo, Zebra, Giraffe, Elephant and Rhino. And Rattlesnake."
Martin smirked as he flipped his hands a few times, and then 2 purple and white shoes, and then brought a Sperm Whale, Hippo, Zebra, Giraffe, Elephant, Rhino and Rattlesnake Power Disc.
Aviva suddenly noticed those shoes were actually familiar.
"What?" Aviva blinked.
She then looked down and saw she was only in her socks.
"What? How?" Aviva said, completely stunned. "You're sneaky."
"Told you I'm good in my own way of organizing." Martin said.
And then the 3 laughed.
The next morning, and Day 3 into their search of the Giant Anaconda, they headed up the river.
And as the sun grew higher, and as they came to a next bend. They then saw a group of several Capybara resting on the sandbank of the river.
"Capybaras, 2:00!" Martin announced
"The world's largest rodent." Chris said.
"Really?" Aviva frowned.
"Yeah, and these guys are an Anaconda's favorite prey." Chris said. "So, there's a small chance one could be lurking nearby."
They slowly cruised onto the shore of the river, and slowly got out of the Bass Boat and watched as the Capybaras were relaxing and some feeding on the grass.
"Those guys can weigh 150 pounds." Martin said. "And a mouse can only weigh 1 ounce compared to these giants.
"They kinda look like giant Guinea Pigs." Aviva said.
"Yeah, Sheep-sized Guinea Pigs for that matter, and also Capybaras are great in the water." Chris added.
"Capybaras are great swimmers, they can stay under for 5 minutes at a time." Martin said. "And they can close their nostrils when underwater."
Among the group, there were several adults and a few youngsters. And there was even a mom with 3 babies.
And slowly, the group started to wander near them as they watched in amazement of these rodent giants.
But Capybaras are prey to lots of animals, like large birds of prey for the youngsters. And Jaguars, but there's always a Capybara on watch for predators. And they are also a favorite for Anacondas. And the snakes are sometimes bitten by the Capybara trying to fight back.
Anacondas, like all snakes, have a special jaw that they can dislocate when feeding on something bigger than their own heads. And their skin can stretch as they swallow, and they have 4 rows of teeth in the upper jaw to help walk the prey through their mouths.
Large snakes like an African Rock Python feeding on an Antelope can go for many months, or even a year, without eating again.
Though sometimes the skin can rip from stretching too far, they heal very quickly.
And soon, they watch as the Capybara group begins to head to the river and swim off and away.
Later that day, they decide to look around a clear field to find an Anaconda crossing between waterways.
And then, they came across a Giant Anteater wandering around, only this time, a male.
They watched as the Anteater sticks his snout to the ground sniffing for ants or termites.
Later, as dusk approaches, they soon came across another large pool of water and found a few Caimans.
And as night soon draws, they soon came across a smaller tree-dwelling cousin of the Giant Anteater.
The Tamandua.
Tamanduas are more of a tree-dwelling Anteater also feeding on ants and termites. Another difference was they have the same shoulder stripe but have a golden color instead of a gray color.
A little later, they soon turned in for the night.
A week into their search, and there has still been no sign of the Green Anaconda.
And as Chris came out of his tent, he then saw a large bird called a Rhea. South America's largest flightless bird.
And there was a whole flock of them.
Soon Martin and Aviva appeared with Amber and Tyrana, and they got a closer look. And they even saw that one was a mother with a clutch of 12 eggs.
They even came across maybe the same Tamandua from last night.
But they also realize that they were having no luck in the Pantanal. So, they called the Tortuga to try and look somewhere else.
So they decided on an area outside the Pantanal near Cerrado. And took the Bass Boat and found where there's more water.
As they paddled through the crystal clear water with the motor off. They kept their eyes open for a long shape and any movement among the plants.
Chris has a tripod and camera under the water in front of the boat keeping watch.
"Anything?" Martin asked.
"Nothing yet." Chris said.
Amber soon yawned and fell asleep against Tyrana, who then nudged her awake.
Soon, they decided to go for a different approach and grabbed their masks and they went into the water and swam as some Dorado Fish swam by them. And as they swam, they soon came across a more open section of water.
After having no luck, they got back in the boat. And paddled through the reeds as Chris watched on the tripod.
"Wait, wait, wait." Chris suddenly said.
"What is it?" Aviva asked.
"I got something!" Chris said.
In the tripod, a long green shape slither underneath them.
"It's an Anaconda!" Chris said. "We found one!"
"Let's get in for a closer look." Martin said.
They quickly got their masks on, and quietly got in the water as they followed the tail. And soon found the head of the Anaconda, and saw it was well over 13 feet. And they followed it for a while as the Anaconda then begins to disappear among the reeds.
Shortly after it's gone, they went up the waterway to see if they can find a bigger one.
And then Martin noticed something among the reeds near them.
"Hey, what's that?" Martin frowned.
"What?" Chris wondered.
"I see something." Martin said, holding his hand over to make it out.
"Ooh, it's another Anaconda." Chris said.
They quietly paddled closer to the large snake basking, and it looked bigger than the first one. And soon, they got within 8 feet of the snake. And Chris carefully inches the tripod closer to the snake's head as its tongue flicked in and out.
"Oh, look at the size of this guy." Chris said in awe.
"He's gotta be twice as long as the boat itself." Aviva said.
"Think we can get closer?" Martin said.
"Maybe." Chris said.
Martin then carefully got out of the boat and slowly approached the snake trying not to disturb him. And Martin hopes that he doesn't view him as food.
"How big do you think he is?" Aviva asked.
"I don't know." Martin said.
And then he used his fingers to try and measure the curled up snake.
"Whoa, he's actually 28 feet long." Martin said.
"Wow! That's big." Chris said.
"Hey, wait a second." Martin said, realizing something. "Chris, I think he's a "she"."
"Oh, of course, female Anacondas tend to be bigger and 4% longer than the males." Chris said.
"I'll name you Green Ana." Martin naming the snake.
And soon, Green Ana begins to move as her head begins to slither under the water. And Aviva quickly puts a small tracker on her back as she slowly slithers into the water.
"Wow, that body is solid muscle." Chris said. "She can easily squeeze the life out of any prey item."
And soon, her tail disappeared under the green patch of reeds.
Later that day, they were back in the Tortuga, looking at the big screen showing Green Ana's location.
Amber, Tyrana, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby were all having a peaceful nap.
"She sure is a big snake." Koki said.
"Yeah, Green Anacondas are the heaviest of all snakes." Chris said.
"But did you know there was once a much larger snake in South America?" Martin said.
"Really?" Aviva said.
"Yeah, it was the largest of all snakes." Chris said. "It lived just 5 million years after the extinction of the dinosaurs."
"It was... Titanoboa." Martin said. "The biggest snake of all time."
"How big?" Koki asked.
"Titanoboa was so big, it was 2.5 feet wide." Chris said. "It would have trouble squeezing through a doorway."
"And weighing over a ton, it's 4 times heavier than a Green Anaconda." Martin said.
"And Titanoboa was 40 - 45 feet long." Chris added. "It was as long as a school bus, and even a T-Rex."
And then the screen showed a Titanoboa next to a school bus and a full-grown adult Tyrannosaurus rex.
"Whoa! That's a giant snake." Aviva exclaimed.
"Yeah, it's even thought that Green Anacondas, and most Pythons, are actually close relatives to them." Chris said.
"It's possible that Titanoboa had the same pattern and scale color of a Green Anaconda." Martin said.
"Um, what did they eat?" Koki asked.
"Oh, a lot of things were huge during the time of Titanoboa." Martin said. "So, Large fish, large turtles, and crocodiles."
Titanoboa was a true monster-sized snake, its constricting strength could crush animals as big as a Rhino or an Elephant. Up to 110 pounds per square inch, that's like having an 8-ton truck on a Human's chest.
Titanoboa was a true solid muscle-powered brute.
"Hey guys, let's do a body scan to get a health check." Aviva suggested. "Maybe she's hungry and heading somewhere where there's a better source of food."
And soon, a body scan of Green Ana was deployed from the tracker on her back.
"Receiving image and..." Chris said.
And soon, a body scan image of Green Ana appeared.
"Cool, we even got the skeleton." Chris said.
And Aviva begins to check on the scan.
"And there's her stomach, and further down there's... Wait a second." Aviva said, suddenly noticing something.
Aviva then noticed among Green Ana's internal anatomy, the reproductive organs, there were some unusual shapes within the womb. When the results came clear, she noticed several smaller Anacondas. And that could only mean one thing…
Green Ana was pregnant.
"She's... she's going to have babies!" Aviva exclaimed. "Baby snakes!"
Upon hearing this, Amber, Tyrana, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby instantly awoke, then perked their heads up and turned to the big screen.
"Babies?" Koki exclaimed at her station.
Jimmy at his station was about to take a bite of his pepperoni pizza. "Babies?!" He exclaimed as he threw the slice up and turns to the screen. And then, the pizza slice drops and lands on his head.
"Baby snakes!" Chris and Martin said in unison.
Koki then rushed over to Aviva for a better look.
Amber, Tyrana, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby did the same.
"Aww... they're cute!" Aviva and Koki said.
"That's impossible!" Jimmy said, completely skeptical. "Snakes are reptiles, like Dinosaurs. And reptiles lay eggs. I'll prove it!"
He then tossed the remaining piece of pizza in his mouth, and rushed over to his station.
"You see, last time we were in North America, I stumbled upon this." Jimmy explained and brought out an old eggshell from a snake. "It's a snake egg, well, or what's left of it, anyway."
"Jimmy's right, most snakes do lay eggs." Koki said at her station. "Just like with other reptiles, including Dinosaurs."
"Ha! Boo-yah!" Jimmy cheered. "Knew I was right!"
"But, just like you JZ, Aviva's scan is right too." Koki added.
"Ha! So that makes a double Boo-yay... or whatever." Aviva said.
"With some snakes like Anacondas, they give birth to live young." Koki said.
"Wow! That's totally different from most other reptiles." Jimmy said, now convinced.
Chris chuckled in amazement. "I can't believe it. Green Ana's gonna be a mom."
"Hey, this kinda reminds me of the Stuck on Sharks adventure with Razor-Mouth." Aviva said.
"Hey, and if Green Ana is having babies, then she's probably looking for somewhere to have them." Chris said.
"Yeah, a calm quiet pool of water or quiet section on land with no predators." Martin said.
"Anacondas having babies is hardly seen." Chris said. "We gotta stick with her."
And the Tortuga takes into the air, and begins to head to Green Ana's location.
A few days later, Green Ana slithers in the water near the shore on the river.
It's morning right now, and feeling chilly. And she begins to slither onto land to warm up. Like with all reptiles, except Dinosaurs, she uses the sun's heat to warm up. And reptiles are like nature's solar panels.
And slowly, the day begins to warm up.
Soon it was getting a little too hot, and she begins to head back into the water to cool off. And keeping a perfect temperature for the developing babies within her, which is vital for them as well.
But she won't give birth here and now.
Caiman are lurking nearby.
And soon she heads off, away from the Caiman-infested waters.
An hour later, at last, Green Ana finds a calm quiet pool that she needs.
And close by, The Wild Kratts and their young dinosaurs were on the shore watching as she begins to slither behind a log.
"I think she found the place she came all this way for." Martin said.
And Green Ana begins to slowly disappear behind the log.
"Yes, this could be it." Chris said. "A rare nursery of a Green Anaconda."
"It's the perfect place." Martin said. "A calm, quiet pool and out of the way of the dangers, like Birds of Prey, Jaguars and Caimans."
"Yeah, some snakes have other places to have babies. "Chris said." It's just that people hardly see where Anacondas go."
"And you won't either if you don't... Look! It's happening." Aviva said.
And then the last of Green Ana's tail slithered behind the log. And after a few moments, a little 2 foot long baby Green Anaconda appeared into view from the log, and took its first breath of air.
"Amazing!" Chris gasped. "A newly-born Green Anaconda!"
And soon, several more followed, and 20 newborn Anacondas appeared. And that's a lot of babies, but Green Anacondas can have as many as 40.
"Whoa, 20 baby Green Anacondas!" Martin beamed.
And they all watched as the newly born snakes swam around in the water.
"Aww, they're cute." Aviva and Koki said in unison.
They watched as the baby snakes swam off, and one curiously went up to Martin and Amber, as well as Tyrana. And then Koki noticed Green Ana soon slithering over the log, and then heading out.
"Wait, where's Green Ana going?" Koki wondered.
Green Ana soon disappeared underwater, and swam away.
"It's okay, Koki." Chris said. "She's heading back out. These baby snakes have everything they need to survive. All those amazing Anaconda features, ready to go."
And soon, some of the babies begin to part ways.
"And they're on their own from the moment they're born." Martin said.
"So they're all alone?" Aviva said.
"Well, that's just the way it is with most reptiles." Chris said.
Most of the babies will be lucky to get through their first year. And each baby will increase its size 500 times before reaching full size. If a Human baby did that, it would end up as big as a Humpback Whale.
And the surviving babies will grow to become the next generation of giant snakes their mother is.
And even, fill in the shadows of Titanoboa, and raise their ghosts from their 60 million year old grave just a few short years ago.
Who was the biggest and most ferocious snake…
of all time.
Author's Note:
Oh yeah, I love Snakes.
This was based from the episode of one of the previous series of the Kratts Brothers, Be The Creature from National Geographic.
And the last section from Stuck on Sharks.
And it's been 16 years since Titanoboa was first discovered.