PORTO VELHO, BRAZIL - A resident of the municipality of Nova Mamoré, in the Brazilian state of Rondônia, recorded a group of giant anacondas entwined along the banks of a small river that runs through the pasture of a private property. According to a biologist, the snakes were engaged in a mating ritual.

The video was recorded by Lucas Gabriel, who said he was startled when he came across so many anacondas gathered in the same place.

"I was really frightened because I had never seen a snake that big. I had never even seen one by itself. Then I came across that whole group of snakes," Lucas said.

According to biologist Flávio Terassini, the footage shows a single female surrounded by approximately five to seven males during the breeding season. During this ritual, the female releases pheromones to attract the males.

"After mating, which can last up to 72 hours, the female becomes pregnant and undergoes a gestation period of several months. As a viviparous species, she can give birth to as many as 80 offspring," Terassini explained.

The green anaconda is considered the world's heaviest snake. Although it is non-venomous, it kills its prey through constriction by coiling its body around the animal until it suffocates.

The biologist warned that snakes may become more aggressive during the mating period and could attack if they feel threatened. For that reason, people are advised to keep a safe distance and avoid interfering with the animals' natural behavior.

Amazon Agency