Do anacondas smell? The answer is yes. Feared by many, the species has a specific smell that allows fishermen, biologists and people in general to recognize and sense when one or more of them are nearby. But what is that smell? Despite the disagreements, with the following reports it is possible to have an idea and determine if there is an anaconda nearby.
For some fishermen and residents of the riverside regions of Mato Grosso do Sul, the smell of the anaconda is reminiscent of a rotten egg. Vilmar Teixeira, the “father” of these snakes in MS or Velho do Rio in real life, confirms this but adds another aroma also similar to that of the species, emphasizing that anacondas stink a lot.
“It’s not always like that, but she smells like rancid fish, the smell is very strong. This rotten egg smell is real and is released when she passes a very smelly droppings,” says the guide from the Bonito region Mediamax newspaper.
According to him, the snake usually releases horrible smells when touched by humans as a form of repellent. The odor is so foul that it can cause chills and chills to anyone who smells it.
“I remember the day one of them ate and was very fat when she started walking and giving off gas. This very strong catinga occurs mainly when they have a full stomach,” Vilmar points out.
Disagreements about the scent of anaconda
Photographer, biologist and journalist Daniel de Granville, known for having lived with anacondas in Mato Grosso do Sul for more than 14 years, also comments MediaMORE Your opinion on the flavor of the species you are an expert at.
Describing the smell is something very complicated for him. “Yes, sometimes it gives off a strong and unpleasant smell. Especially if you touch it (I had a chance to smell it while accompanying the catch with a researcher). But we also smelled this strong odor in the air, in a region where we know anacondas live,” explains Daniel.
We asked him to compare the “scent” of the snake with a scent known to man. “Hard to know, isn’t it? It’s a whole different flavor. But their opinion makes sense,” the biologist acknowledges Vilmar’s considerations.
For De Granville, however, it’s not quite so “lazy”. “For me, it’s a slightly sour smell mixed with animal feces. It’s not the smell of carrion or anything rotten in my opinion. Describing smell is very complicated,” he says, laughing about the report.
Finally, Daniel jokes about the controversial smell of anacondas. “Smell of snake armpits,” concludes the photographer, laughing. Now you know, if you’re in a river region and you smell rotten eggs, an anaconda can be really close.
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