National Geographic reported on June 24, 2026, an incident where a Green Anaconda swallowed the world's largest rodent, the capybara, in a single gulp. The capybara is an animal found in South America that prefers to live near water and resembles a large, bulky rat, typically weighing between 35 and 65 kilograms.
According to the report, the anaconda cannot cut large prey into small pieces, so it must swallow it whole. Its jaw ligaments are very flexible, allowing it to swallow prey much larger than its head.
The Green Anaconda, found in the Amazon region of South America, is considered one of the heaviest snakes in the world, and its hunting strategy is as fascinating as its power. Instead of chasing prey on land, it often hides in the water, waiting for the right opportunity.
Since the Green Anaconda's eyes and nose are located on the top of its head, it can monitor surrounding activities even while being almost completely submerged in the water. According to National Geographic, the anaconda spends a significant amount of time waiting for prey in the water.
As soon as prey comes within reach, the anaconda attacks rapidly. It captures the prey with its strong jaws and teeth and then wraps its muscular body around it. Subsequently, the body constricts continuously, giving the prey little chance to react; meaning the prey is caught in the blink of an eye.
This snake is not venomous. The Green Anaconda kills its prey not with poison, but by constricting it with its body. According to the Smithsonian, its prey can include animals such as capybaras, caimans, deer, and large birds.
Water also provides a kind of natural cover for the Green Anaconda. According to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, it often remains almost completely submerged in or near the water, waiting for an unfamiliar animal to approach. Because of this, the Green Anaconda hidden in the calm waters of the Amazon is not visible until it moves forward to attack.
Although there are reports of Green Anaconda attacks on humans, incidents of humans being hunted and eaten are extremely rare. A Green Anaconda may attack or try to constrict a human, but humans are not considered its normal prey. The number of reliably documented cases of humans being eaten is very limited and uncertain.