Jaguar vs Anaconda - In The Event of a Face-Off

The jaguar or Panthera onca belongs to the family of big cats which are supposed to be the best predators with physical attributes that support their viciousness. It has long and sharp, retractile claws that bend at an angle to ensure a firmer grip on the prey, razor sharp canines modified especially for tearing flesh of its prey and a speed unparalleled by most of its land dwelling counterparts.

Despite all that, there’s a good chance of it losing a battle against another cold-blooded hunter, the Anaconda or Eunectes murinus. The reason is that the big cats, while extremely agile, have a limited period of strength after which their dexterity weakens and the body succumbs to tiredness. This means that jaguars have high speeds but low endurance [this in no way refers to the car Jaguar, or maybe it does, I have no way of knowing.]

This, however, is not any hindrance to the anaconda; which, although a sluggish animal on land; is capable of resisting its attacker for prolonged periods of time, unlike the jaguar or similar big cats.

The big cats after each spurt of energy, lasting for only a few moments, become extremely vulnerable on account of their body being spent out. The anaconda, in such a situation might take advantage of the jaguar’s tiredness and use all of its remaining energy and its massive strength that had been conserved, to take the jaguar by surprise, thus effectively strangling the wild cat to death.

This doubtlessly proves that the anaconda which is a reptile and so allegedly has no complexity of thoughts, however, does know its own advantages and weaknesses in a fight and is capable of strategizing better than most humans faced with life or death situations. Does this then, make the anaconda a smarter warrior than humans?

16 July is World Snake Day. A good day to create Hiss-tory. 

What other traits of an anaconda do you admire? Do tell us in the comments below.