Ancient giant that never shrank: Study shows Anacondas have been massive for 12 million years
Anacondas reached their enormous size about 12.4 million years ago and, unlike most other Miocene giants, have barely changed since. Fossils from Venezuela reveal that early anacondas were already as large as modern ones, defying climate cooling, habitat loss and new predators. Their enduring gigantism hints at remarkable resilience and ecological adaptability that future research now aims to explain.
Anacondas reached their enormous size about 12.4 million years ago and, unlike most other Miocene giants, have barely changed since. Fossils from Venezuela reveal that early anacondas were already as large as modern ones, defying climate cooling, habitat loss and new predators. Their enduring gigantism hints at remarkable resilience and ecological adaptability that future research now aims to explain.
