Yacumama (giant anaconda)

Many people are terrified of snakes. So you can imagine the fear inspired by the mythical giant anaconda of South America, known to some Peruvians as 'Yacu-mama' or 'mother of the water'. Normal anacondas can grow to an impressive 6 meters (20 feet) long, but, according to believers, the giant anaconda can reach 50 meters (164 feet) or more in length! It’s said that the Yacumama lives in the waters of the Amazon and will swallow anyone who dares to come within snacking distance!

As far back as the time of the first European explorers of South America, many people have claimed to see giant anacondas. So far, however, no one has produced any proof of this terrifying creature's existence – despite a reward offer of $50,000 from the Wildlife Conservation Society for a live specimen. In 2009, a father and son duo from Belfast claimed to have captured a giant snake on camera, but scientists remain unconvinced.