LOS ANGELES, July 22: In an unexpected twist during the filming of "Pole to Pole with Will Smith," a team of scientists discovered a previously undocumented snake species in the Amazon rainforest. The discovery was made while filming a segment on the tropical forest biome for the show, which follows Smith's journey across Earth's biomes.

Led by University of Queensland professor Bryan Fry, the team was invited by the Waorani people to explore the northern basin of the Amazon. They aimed to collect samples from the local anacondas, rumored to be the largest in the world. Upon examining the genetic material of the snakes, they found that the anacondas were a completely new species, now named the northern green anaconda.

The genetic difference between the newly discovered northern green anaconda and the previously known southern green anaconda is 5.5 percent. "To put it in perspective, humans differ from chimpanzees by only about 2 percent," Fry noted in a press release.

Officially deemed the largest anaconda species, the northern green anaconda boasts impressive size. "One female anaconda we encountered measured an astounding 20.67 feet long," Fry said. Reports from the Waorani people suggest some anacondas in the area may exceed 24.6 feet in length and weigh around 1,102.3 pounds.

The discovery highlights the importance of preserving the Amazon rainforest. "The discovery of a new species of anaconda is exciting, but it is critical to highlight the urgent need to further research these threatened species and ecosystems," Fry emphasized. Northern green anacondas face challenges such as deforestation, climate change, and drought.

"Pole to Pole" is set to bring attention to these "magnificent creatures" and the efforts needed to protect them. The show aims to shed light on the diverse biomes of our planet and the unique species that inhabit them.