New Anaconda Species Identified During Filming of Will Smith Show Could Be 'Largest in Existence'

Mar. 15, 2025

A group of scientists identified a new giant anaconda species on a trip to the Amazon rainforest for aWill Smithseries — and they say the snake species may “be the largest in existence.”

The scientists, a group from the University of Queensland, documented the exciting find while assisting with Smith’s new National Geographic travel seriesPole to Pole with Will Smithin Ecuador.According to a releasefrom the Australian school, the northern green anaconda(Eunectes akayima)was documented in the Bameno region of Baihuaeri Waorani Territory in the Ecuadorian Amazon, and the results were shared in a research paper published inMDPI Diversity.

Professor Bryan Fry, the expedition’s scientific leader and a National Geographicexplorer, shared in the release that a group of local indigenous Waorani hunters invited his team on the expedition that led to the discovery.

“Our team received a rare invitation from the Waorani people to explore the region and collect samples from a population of anacondas, rumored to be the largest in existence,” Fry said. “The indigenous hunters took us into the jungle on a 10-day expedition to search for these snakes, which they consider sacred.”

Bryan Fry

After paddling canoes through the Amazonian river system, the team spotted several of the giant northern green anaconda “lurking in the shallows, lying in wait for prey,” the professor shared.

“The size of these magnificent creatures was incredible – one female anaconda we encountered measured an astounding 6.3 meters [20.6 feet] long,” he added, noting that Waorani people have previously spotted even larger snakes “measuring more than 7.5 meters [24.6 feet] long and weighing around 500 kilograms [1102.3 pounds].”

Jesus Rivas

According toNational Geographic, green anacondas are non-venomous, constricting snakes native to South America and are members of the boa family. The reptiles are considered the heaviest snakes in the world. On average, they live up to 10 years in the wild.

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A northern green anaconda in the wild.Jesus Rivas

The northern green anaconda, the species Fry’s team documented and identified, appears to reach larger sizes and have a different, smaller geographic range in the Amazon than the southern green anaconda.

According to Fry, the contributions of the Waorani people to the expedition were essential to the discovery of this new species.

National Geographic’s new series, Pole to Pole with Will Smith, is set to release on Disney+ at a later date.

source: people.com