Amazonia. A new species of snake was accidentally discovered during a show with Will Smith
A film set is not usually associated with scientific breakthroughs. However, during the recording of the program “Pole to Pole with Will Smith”, an exceptional situation occurred.
“Pole to Pole with Will Smith” is a new program popularizing knowledge about our planet, its fauna and flora. It shows the famous actor’s journeys through various ecosystems, and in the episode discussed here, he takes viewers to the Amazon rainforest.
Discovery of a new species of anaconda
In this episode, a team of researchers led by Professor Bryan Fry from the University of Queensland was invited to the lands inhabited by the Waorani tribe. During the visit, the scientists collected and studied samples of genetic material, including local snakes. To their surprise, they found a completely new, previously undocumented species.
The researchers concluded that the creature they had discovered was closest to the green anaconda. To emphasize the similarity, they named the snake the northern green anaconda, and the previously known species began to be called the southern green anaconda. They also stated that it was the largest species of snake in the world.
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“The size of this magnificent creature is incredible. One female anaconda I encountered measured a staggering 6.3 metres,” Professor Fry said. “There are tales among the Waorani of anacondas in the region measuring up to 7.4 metres and weighing half a ton.”
“The discovery of a new species of anaconda is exciting, but a critical issue is the urgent need to continue studying these endangered species and ecosystems,” the scientist added. Green anacondas are facing challenges that have not been explored for thousands of years, including deforestation, climate change and drought.
