Giant anaconda wraps its massive coils around a huge rainforest alligator as it slowly squeezes the life out of it.
The footage, filmed on the Ivinhema River, in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, shows the enormous snake completely wrapped around the motionless gator.
Anacondas slowly restrict the breathing and blood flow of their prey so tightly that they stop oxygen from getting to their heart, brain and lungs.
As it gradually kills the river reptile it can be seen waiting with its huge head and jaws poised to strike if its prey tries to wriggle free.
The rare scene was originally captured in August but has recently been gaining huge attention on social media.
According to the fishermen who recorded the moment, the giant snake remained in the same position for more than a day to successfully kill the alligator.
In the video, the group can be heard expressing their surprise at encountering the snake.
One of them remarks that the snake “is hungry.” Another one says: “It’s the famous death hug.”
The one behind the camera can be heard saying (in Portuguese): “She caught the alligator, coiled around it, waiting for it to die.
“Look, her head is poking out of the water; she says she’s hungry. She’s been hugging this alligator since yesterday.”
Afterwards, the unidentified fisherman questions whether the anaconda will be able to eat the animal.
He says: “Look at the size, do you think she’ll be able to swallow it?”
Biologist Henrique Abrahao Charles explained how the snake was behaving.
He said: “She is in the process of constriction, which is the method of killing prey used by various snake species.
“She wraps herself around the prey’s body so tightly that blood flow to vital organs is prevented, leading the animal, in this case, the alligator, to its death.”
There is no information on whether the animal managed to eat the alligator.
The anaconda, also known as the water boa, is a species native to South America and can grow to be over 30 feet in length.
The snakes are incredibly fast in the water and can stay submerged for about 30 minutes without breathing.
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Story By: Simona Kitanovska, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
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