World’s biggest snake is discovered in the Amazon rainforest: Huge anaconda measures 26ft-long and weighs 440lbs – and its head is the same size as a human’s

If you’re not a fan of snakes, look away now.

The world’s largest snake has been discovered in the Amazon rainforest – and at 7.5 meters long and weighing 200kg, it’s an absolute stunner.

The Northern Green Anaconda was found by TV nature presenter Professor Freek Vonk and is as thick as a car tire.

Despite having a head the size of a human, it seems Professor Vonk, 40, was not afraid to get up close and personal with the snake.

Incredible footage shows the Dutch biologist swimming next to the enormous anaconda.

To date, only one species of Green Anaconda has been recognized in the Amazon, also called the Giant Anaconda.

However, a new study published this month in Diversity has confirmed that the Northern Green Anaconda is a separate species.

‘Together with fourteen other scientists from nine countries, we discovered that the largest snake species in the world is the green anaconda,’ says Professor Vonk.

‘As we all know from movies and stories about giant snakes – they are actually two different species.

‘The green anacondas found in the north of their range in South America – including Venezuela, Suriname and French Guiana – appear to belong to a completely different species.

‘Although they look almost identical at first glance, the genetic difference between the two is 5.5% and that is huge.

‘To put this into perspective, humans and chimpanzees are only genetically different by about 2%.’

The researchers have given the new species the Latin name Eunectes akayima, which means the Northern Green Anaconda.

Despite having only just been discovered, researchers say the new species is already endangered.

Despite having a head as big as a human, it seems Professor Vonk, 40, wasn’t afraid to get up close and personal with the snake

Incredible footage shows Dutch biologist Professor Freek Vonk swimming next to the enormous anaconda

Professor Vonk explains: ‘The Amazon region is under severe pressure from climate change and persistent deforestation.

‘More than a fifth of the Amazon region has already disappeared, which is more than thirty times the area of ​​the Netherlands.

‘The survival of these iconic giant snakes is inextricably linked to protecting their natural habitat.’

Professor Jesus Rivas, the lead author of the study, explained that he first realized that there was more than one species of green anaconda more than fifteen years ago.

Together with his wife, Dr. Sarah Corey-Rivas, they began analyzing samples to look for genetic differences.

However, it took until now for their findings to be published.

Professor Rivas said: ‘Sarah and I started working on this in 2007 when we first noticed that there was a big genetic difference between the Venezuelan samples and some samples from Peru.

To date, only one species of Green Anaconda has been recognized in the Amazon, also called the Giant Anaconda. However, a new study published this month in Diversity has confirmed that the Northern Green Anaconda is a separate species

Professor Jesus Rivas, the lead author of the study, explained that he first realized that there was more than one species of green anaconda more than fifteen years ago.

‘We then began collecting samples and collaborators across South America and beyond to complete the mosaic of samples that allowed us to piece together the study.

‘I worked with several colleagues in different countries to collect the samples and Sarah did most of the heavy lifting, sequencing genes and carrying out the phylogenetic analysis.

‘This was a truly international project, looking at the list of authors there is one from Belgium, one from Australia, one from the Netherlands, one from Colombia, one from Brazil, two from Bolivia, two from the US, three from Ecuador, and three from Venezuela.

‘I’ve been studying anacondas for 32 years, so this begs the question of how many other species there are that we don’t know about.

‘If such an iconic animal went unnoticed for so many years, what about the less noticeable and less studied animals and plants?

“This finding humbles the spirit when it comes to the true diversity of South America.”