Black viper: differences, features and habitat. Family Viperidae Viper viviparous or not

Description

The common viper is usually medium in size - males reach 60 cm, females 70 cm. In the north of the range, rare specimens reach 1 meter in length. The head is separated from the body by a short neck, the muzzle is on top, in front of the line connecting the front edges of the eyes, has 3 large shields (one in the middle and two on the sides), as well as a number of smaller ones. The pupil is vertical. The muzzle is rounded at the end. The nasal opening is cut in the middle of the nasal shield. Coloration varies greatly from gray and bluish to coppery red and black, with a characteristic zigzag pattern on the back along the ridge. In the latter case, the pattern is practically indistinguishable.

Spreading

The range of the common viper includes Europe (Great Britain, Scandinavian countries, France, Italy, Albania, Bulgaria, northern Greece, Switzerland, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia - the middle and northern regions of the European part) and Asia (Russia - Siberia, the Far East to Sakhalin inclusive; North Korea and northern China). This is the only snake found far north (up to 68° north latitude) due to its poor sensitivity to low temperatures.

Lifestyle

The common viper lives on average 11-12 years. It quickly adapts to any terrain and can live at altitudes up to 3000 meters above sea level. The distribution is uneven depending on the availability of suitable wintering sites. The saddle, as a rule, does not move further than 50-100 meters. The exception is forced migration to a wintering place; in this case, snakes can move up to a distance of 5 km. Wintering usually occurs from October-November to March-April (depending on the climate), for which it chooses a depression in the ground (burrows, crevices, etc.) at a depth of up to 2 meters, where the temperature does not drop below +2... +4 °C. If there is a shortage of such places, several hundred individuals may accumulate in one place, and in the spring they crawl to the surface, which creates the impression of great crowding. Subsequently, the snakes crawl away.

In the summer, it often basks in the sun, the rest of the time it hides under old stumps, in crevices, etc. The snake is non-aggressive, and when a person approaches, it tries to use its camouflage coloring as much as possible, or to move away. Only in case of unexpected appearance of a person or in case of provocation on his part can she try to bite him. This cautious behavior is explained by the fact that it requires a lot of energy to reproduce venom in conditions of changing temperatures.

Reproduction

The mating season is in May, and the offspring appear in August or September, depending on the climate. The viper is viviparous - the eggs develop and the young hatch in the womb. Usually up to 8-12 young individuals appear, depending on the length of the female. It happens that during childbirth, the female wraps herself around a tree or stump, leaving her tail hanging, “scattering” the baby snakes onto the ground, which from the first moment begin an independent life. Juveniles are usually 15-20 cm long and are already poisonous. Many people believe that only born individuals are more poisonous, but this is not true. It is also not true that young individuals are more aggressive. Just after being born, snakes usually moult. Subsequently, molting of young and adults occurs 1 - 2 times a month. Before their first hibernation in October-November, they never eat, since before hibernation they must digest all the food they eat in order to avoid problems with metabolism.

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The common viper is deadly poisonous, and its venom is similar to that of rattlesnakes. However, it produces a much smaller amount of poison compared to the latter, and for this reason is considered less dangerous. The bite is rarely fatal. However, a person who is bitten should seek medical attention immediately.

The venom contains high molecular weight proteases with hemorrhagic, hemocoagulating and necrotizing effects and low molecular weight neurotropic cytotoxins. As a result of the bite, hemorrhagic edema, necrosis and hemorrhagic penetration of tissues in the area of ​​​​injection of the poison occur, accompanied by dizziness, lethargy, headache, nausea, and shortness of breath. Subsequently, progressive shock of complex origin, acute anemia, intravascular coagulation, and increased capillary permeability develop. In severe cases, degenerative changes occur in the liver and kidneys.

In spring, viper venom is more toxic than in summer.

Enemies in nature

The main enemies of the viper in nature are storks, herons, kites, eagles and owls. On the ground are hedgehogs, wild boars, or large rodents. Also, snakes often die under the hooves of cattle in pastures or at the hands of humans, including under the wheels of vehicles.

Notes

Literature

• “Amphibians and reptiles of the USSR”, A. G. Bannikov, I. S. Darevsky, A. K. Rustamov, ed. "Thought", 1971

Links

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See what “Common viper” is in other dictionaries:

Viper: The common viper is a species of poisonous snake of the genus of true vipers of the viper family. Real vipers are a genus of poisonous snakes of the Viper family. Viper family of poisonous snakes Viper (story) story by Alexei Tolstoy.... ... Wikipedia

- (common viper), snake family. vipers. Dl. 60-70 cm, sometimes up to 85 cm. The color is varied - from gray and sand to black tones. A characteristic dark zigzag stripe runs along the back, invisible in black individuals. On the top side... ... Biological encyclopedic dictionary

There is nowhere to put brands, toadstool, scoundrel, reptile, scum, scoundrel, nowhere to put brands, infection, bitch, creature, bastard, bitch, daboya, filth, sneak, scoundrel, vulture, bitch, scoundrel, snake, viper, rubbish, viper, bastard, viper, scoundrel... Dictionary of synonyms Handbook of homeopathy

Common viper Common viper Scientific classification Kingdom: Animals T ... Wikipedia

Snakes- Common viper. Common viper. Snakes are animals of the reptile class. They are characterized by an elongated body, devoid of limbs. Z.'s body is covered with scales and horny scutes. The top layer of Z.'s skin is periodically shed. Thin… … First aid - popular encyclopedia

Every spring, travel lovers face danger in the form of snakes. What does the viper, which is considered the most poisonous in our country, look like? How can we protect ourselves from its bites, and what other poisonous snakes can we encounter in the forests and waters of our country?

Every spring, travel enthusiasts face dangers in the form of snakes.

There are many varieties of snakes in our country. More than a dozen of them are poisonous. The most dangerous of them is the common viper (Vipera berus). In spring, it appears on the ground surface that begins to warm up. The time of their appearance refers to April and May. In the summer, vipers settle in animal burrows, in the hollows of rotten stumps, in bushes, in grass, in last year's hay, in old buildings, and in piles of building materials. Vipers are sometimes found near the river, as they swim well.

Vipers usually have different colors. But no matter its color, you can see a zigzag stripe along the back. These cold-blooded animals are not very active during the day. They often crawl out of their shelters into the sun to bask. And on a warm summer night they can crawl close to the fire. Having met a person, they usually try to crawl away from him.

Snakes have no hearing. They recognize approaching steps due to the vibrations of the ground. On soft soil it is not always possible to do this in time, so the vipers do not always have time to hide.

The viper snake in this position takes an active defensive position. She begins to hiss, make throws, and then bites, to which she is provoked by sudden movements of the pedestrian’s arms and legs. Therefore, it is better not to make such movements when meeting snakes. But thousands of bites are reported every year.

A viper snake usually bites on the arm or leg, leaving teeth marks in the form of two points on the limb. The pain occurs immediately and gradually increases.

Snake venom contains neurotropic cytotoxins that affect nerve cells person. It also contains other substances that cause:

• bleeding disorders;
• complete tissue necrosis;
• swelling of the bitten limb.

After a snake attack, the bitten limb immediately begins to redden, its surface becomes hot, and swelling appears. Within 5-10 minutes, headaches and dizziness begin, nausea appears, movements become sluggish, the heartbeat quickens, and breathing becomes difficult. Consciousness is not always lost, but the person becomes like a drunk.

Reaction of the common viper to movement (video)

Gallery: viper (25 photos)

Help after a snake bite

Everyone has heard that snake venom needs to be sucked out. But not everyone knows that this can only be done in cases where there is no chance of medical assistance in the near future. If you have been attacked and bitten by a viper, you should immediately go to the doctor. If possible, it is better to call an ambulance. It is advisable to immobilize the wounded limb using scarves, sticks and other means. The victim should drink water or juices frequently. You can give him 1-2 antiallergic tablets such as Tavegil or Suprastin.

Under no circumstances should you ingest alcoholic beverages. It’s also better not to touch the wound. You cannot do the following:

• cauterize the bite site;
• cut the wound;
• inject potassium permanganate or a similar substance into the wound;
• apply a tourniquet.

All these points can only aggravate the situation of the victim, but do not help him.

When going into the forest, where there may be poisonous vipers, you need to dress and put on the right shoes. The following can protect a person from a snakebite:

• Wellingtons;
• trousers made of thick fabric;
• wool socks;
• an ordinary stick in the hand.

Clothes should not be tight fitting. And the stick will be useful for pushing apart the grass and the rotting stumps, which may contain a viper.

Appearance of vipers

The snake in ancient legends represents wisdom, intelligence and insight. Along with these qualities, the animal is credited with speed of reaction and enormous destructive power. This image can be fully confirmed if you know the habits of snakes. What do snakes look like? This is a reptile animal up to 1 m long. Males are significantly smaller in size. The head has a rounded triangular shape. The parietal and frontal scutes are clearly visible on it. The nasal opening is located in the center of the frontal shield.

The snake's pupil is vertical. It is able to expand and completely fill the space of the eye. Teeth are mobile. They are located on the front of the upper jaw. The demarcation of the neck and head gives the poisonous creature additional grace.

Nature is not at all stingy when it comes to the color of the snake. The viper can be gray and sandy brown, have patterns of greenish and light blue color, pinkish and lilac, dark brown and ashy. But no matter the color scheme, there is always a zigzag stripe on the back of the poisonous creature. Usually it is dark, but sometimes it is light. But it is precisely this zigzag that is its calling card. When you see it, you can immediately conclude that it is a common viper.

Males are most often colored purple or bluish-blue. The arsenal of females includes red and yellow tones, greenish-brown and sandy shades. Both females and males are painted black. But in any case, in males one can distinguish small white spots located on the upper lip. The bottom of their tail is also somewhat lighter than the body. Females have spots of red, pink and white on their lips. The lower part of their tail is colored bright yellow.

With such bright colors, all small individuals are born the same color. It is brownish-brown, the zigzag on the back is painted in terracotta tones. After 5-7 molts, a change in color will begin, this happens after about a year of life.

Poisonous vipers can live in flocks and nests. It is quite rare to see a snake nest. It can be small, or it can gather into a ball with a diameter of 50-70 cm. Snakes can live near people, vipers never. But lately as a result forest fires A snake’s lair may also end up in a natural disaster zone. Some animals will try to crawl to other places, while others will die. Vipers are poisonous snakes that can end up in gardening areas.

Despite the external similarity of snakes and vipers, there is a main difference - orange-yellow spots on the sides of the snake’s head. There are no lines or zigzag patterns on his back.

The body of the grass snake is much longer than that of a viper. The viper's head has small scutes and is covered with large scales. You can see round pupils in the snake's eyes. The viper is an excellent hunter of mice, frogs and toads. She has excellent reactions. These animals mate in May-June. The offspring are born until the end of August. The cubs are born alive, their length is 15-18 cm. They immediately spread out and begin their hunting life. In winter, snakes live in the ground, often in groups.

How not to confuse a snake with a viper (video)

The viper is a common poisonous snake in our country. There are 292 varieties of it. There are large steppe specimens and smaller plain ones. They are viviparous and can lay 4-24 eggs. Sexual maturity occurs at the age of 3 years. The snake swims beautifully, crawls along rocks and trees, destroys bird nests, and hunts mice, lizards, and grasshoppers. Viper venom is quite strong and useful in certain doses.

The animal does not seek a meeting with a person; it tries to hide from his eyes. But it doesn't always work out. The snake begins to hiss and lunge towards the enemy. You should not make sudden movements when meeting her. This provokes the animal to bite. The poisonous snake also has its enemies: hedgehogs, ferrets, badgers, foxes. Snake venom does not affect them at all. Eagles, storks and owls hunt snakes from above.

In general, the viper is a poisonous snake that brings more benefit to humans than harm. It destroys rats and mice, which are quite difficult to deal with. She avoids meeting people, so her bite is not an attack, but a measure of protection.

Attention, TODAY only!

Vipers cause fear and panic in many people, but they are still very beautiful animals with interesting external characteristics and habits. You can verify this by the example of the common viper, which is often called brown, gray, forest and rattling, Siberian.

Description and characteristics of the common viper

If little is known about some species of reptiles, then any herpetologist probably knows who the common viper is. General information about her can be found in many sources, but it is likely that not all aspects of her life have been thoroughly studied. Let's learn more about this type of poisonous snake.

What does it look like

The common viper belongs to the viper family, but has its own individual characteristics. They are inherent in both the habits of the animal and its appearance:

1. Body length- no more than 65 cm, but Scandinavian Peninsula specimens up to 90 cm long have been seen (females are always larger than males).
2. Weight- on average about 200 g, but there are individuals weighing 1 kg.
3. Head- flattened, and separated from the rest by a short neck, the muzzle is rounded, and in the upper part three large thyroid regions are clearly visible: the frontal and two parietal (sometimes another one develops between them). The nostrils are located at the bottom of the nasal shield, and above the eyes there are overhanging supraorbital shields, which make the snake appear angry.
4. Torso- in its middle part it is covered with 21 scales, while the number of abdominal growths varies between 132-158 pieces (a male from a female can also be distinguished by this feature, because males always have fewer scales). In the caudal zone there are 32-46 pairs of scales in males and 23-38 in females.
5. Color- changeable. The main background is gray, light brown, brown or reddish with a copper tint. Along the ridge, the main background is complemented by a zigzag pattern. The belly may be grey, grey-brown or completely black, in rare cases with white spots. General form complemented by a yellow, orange or red tail. In some regions where common vipers live, 50% are black varieties, the so-called melanistic vipers.

When studying information about the viper, it would be useful to find out: does it swim in water and can bite in aquatic environment. Representatives of the described species are good swimmers, which allows them to catch frogs and small fish. They usually do not attack first, but if a person catches a snake, then it is unlikely that they will be able to avoid the bite.

Did you know? The name “viper” comes from the word “gad,” which our ancestors meant “disgusting animal.”

Where are they found?

Meet the common viper in wildlife, is possible on the territory of European and Asian countries, but basically it lives only in places with reduced temperatures (it often settles in mountainous areas, at an altitude of up to 2.6 km above sea level). It makes its home in bushes, oak trees, birch groves and near swampy forest areas.
Life expectancy in natural environment habitat - 10-15 years, but many individuals do not live to see 10(this is especially true for females, who often give birth to offspring). To say exactly how long they live common vipers at home - it’s difficult, because a lot depends on the conditions of their maintenance and proper nutrition.

What do they eat?

The main components of the diet of the described predator are:

• small and medium-sized rodents;
• amphibians;
• lizards;
• small birds whose nests are located on the ground.

The specific type of potential “food” for a viper depends on its habitat and the availability of food. For example, Netherland snakes prefer frogs, but will eat lizards. In other zones, common vipers eat mainly wood voles, shrews and spindles. Young animals eat smaller foods, which can diversify their diet even at an older age.
The menu consists of the following insects:

• bugs;
• locusts;
• butterfly caterpillars;
• ants;
• slugs;
• earthworms.

How do they reproduce?

Common viper - viviparous snake, the mating season of which is in May (the birth of new individuals is towards the end of the summer season). However, whether offspring will appear or not depends on a number of factors, among which the first place is the age of the “future mother”. Unlike many other reptiles, this species of viper rarely survives after several years of active reproduction, but if you take into account the period before sexual maturity, the total life expectancy will average 5-7 years.

Young individuals emerge from eggs while still in the mother’s body, and fully formed and independent animals are born that do not require the mother’s help from the very first minutes after birth. Most of these snakes do not build nests, and their birthing process is very unusual. As soon as the female feels the approach of labor, she crawls onto a stump or tree trunk, wraps herself tightly around it, leaving only her tail hanging.
The baby snakes that appear fall to the ground and immediately crawl away. The longer the female, the more offspring she will give birth to, but on average she gives birth to 8-12 young individuals at a time.

Important! Before their first hibernation (usually occurs in October–November), young vipers stop looking for food in order to digest the food already in the body and prevent metabolic disorders during sleep.

Where and how do they winter

Wintering of common vipers begins from the moment hibernation begins (October–November) and continues until mid-spring ( exact dates depend on features climate region residence). When settling down for the winter, the snake looks for the most suitable depression in the soil - usually someone's burrows or just cracks in the ground - and descends to a depth of about two meters. At this distance from the surface of the earth, the temperature remains within +2...+4 °C all winter, which is perfect for these reptiles.
If there are few suitable places, then one hole can accommodate several vipers, which, with the arrival of spring, will crawl out and crawl in different directions.

Natural enemies

The biggest enemy of the common viper is man, who constantly cuts down forests and changes the landscape, thereby leaving the animal without shelter. In addition, in European countries these snakes are caught and resold in private terrariums, and in Romania poison is also extracted from them. However, people are not the only danger to vipers; in the forest itself there are enough people who can harm them.

Among animals, the main enemy is the hedgehog, which has good immunity to snake venom. When attacking, it bites its victim and immediately curls up into a ball, pointing its needles. This continues until she weakens and dies. The external attractiveness of a hedgehog is very deceptive, because it is one of the most active predators who happily eats snakes.
Other natural enemies of the common viper include:

• foxes;
• badgers;
• ferrets;
• eagles;
• sometimes storks.

Any of them is capable of turning a dangerous reptile from a hunter into prey.

Did you know? According to rough estimates, it takes 70 milliseconds for a gray viper to bite and jump back to its original place. It is unlikely that anyone will have time to sense the danger in such a time.

What you need to know about a viper bite

If we are talking about an ordinary viper, there is no doubt about the poisonousness of the snake. However, what happens after its bite depends on the reaction speed of the victim and his environment. For a healthy adult, the venom of this snake is rarely fatal, but if the animal bites a child, it is better to quickly take him to the hospital to definitely exclude the possibility of death.

Bite symptoms

Whether it is possible to die from a snake bite and whether the venom of a particular viper is fatal are undoubtedly important questions, but, in addition to this, there are a number of other symptoms that, although they cannot kill, are unpleasant consequences for a person of a snake attack. In the case of an ordinary variety of vipers, it is first worth highlighting:

• throbbing pain in the bite area;
• redness and swelling around the wound;
• intoxication of the body, accompanied by dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating and tachycardia;
• increase in body temperature.

If the body is hypersensitive to poison, loss of consciousness, swelling of the face, decreased blood pressure and excessive bleeding, sometimes occurring with the development of kidney failure, seizures, or coma.

Important! In rare cases, these symptoms can persist for up to a year, but this only happens with self-treatment.

First aid

Often people have no idea what to do if they are bitten by a snake, especially far from the city and emergency rooms. However, it is first aid that will help reduce the level of risk in each specific case.
Among the main recommendations are the following:

• try to calm down and apply a compression bandage (just do not tourniquet);
• reduce the load on the injured limb as much as possible, even to the point of immobilizing it;
• make sure you drink plenty of fluids;
• If possible, suck out the poison from the wound, after rinsing your mouth well (this will help reduce the likelihood of bacterial flora entering the body).

At the same time, even knowing the rules of first aid for a snake bite, you should not provoke such situations. When going on an excursion into the forest thickets, you must take a first aid kit with you and invite an experienced guide.

What is strictly forbidden to do

Knowing the rules of first aid after a viper bite will significantly shorten the rehabilitation period for the victim, but this is only if all actions are performed correctly. Along with the list of necessary manipulations, there is also a list of undesirable ones, among which it is worth highlighting:

• a transverse section of the bite site to extract the poison;
• cauterization of the wound;
• applying a pressure tourniquet;
• covering with snow.

Consequences of a viper bite All this has long proven to be ineffective, and in some cases such actions can only complicate the situation.

Medical treatment

An antidote for the bite of a common viper should be available at any paramedic station located in its habitat area. It is to such institutions that the victim must be taken, where the doctor will give the appropriate vaccine. The most popular antidote on the territory of the Russian Federation, in this case, is a drug with the eloquent name “Anti-viper”, the analogue of which in Ukraine is “Serum against the venom of the common viper, horse, purified, concentrated, liquid.”

The antibodies present in its composition neutralize toxins, but maximum effectiveness can be achieved only after a few hours. Until the victim’s condition improves, he is left in the hospital, providing symptomatic treatment.
First of all, this:

• organization of a plentiful drinking regime to quickly remove toxins along with urine;
• the use of antihistamines (for example, Suprastin, Diphenhydramine, Tavegil), in a dosage of 1-2 tablets, regardless of the age of the victim (in some cases, drugs are given before the antidote is administered);
• use of an antipyretic drug (for example, Aspirin);
• using a 0.5% Novocaine solution, which is used to inject the bite area;
• pain relief using any available composition, but only non-narcotic effects;
• prescription of "Dopamine", "Heptamil" or others similar drugs designed to normalize blood pressure when it sharply decreases;
• course of antibiotics.

You can take all this (except the vaccine) with you, because a traveling first aid kit can be useful in other unforeseen cases.

Did you know? Most snakes have well-developed infrared vision, but in order for them to “see” their prey, its temperature must be at least +28 °C.

Prevention

Even if the venom of a common viper does not kill you, the bite is not pleasant, so it is better to prevent it than to deal with the consequences.
The main preventive measures in this case include:

• using high rubber shoes when hiking in the forest;
• a thorough inspection of the place chosen for rest (it is likely that there is a snake coiled somewhere under a stone);
• maintaining calm when meeting a reptile (without unnecessary screams and hysterics, just step aside);
• constant supervision of children (do not allow children to climb bushes and trees);
• if the animal is preparing for an attack and demonstrates this with its appearance, you can retreat only by backing away, without turning your back to the predator and without putting your hands forward.

To eliminate the possibility of an attack on your territory, promptly destroy rodents, since they are the ones that attract vipers.

Features of some types of viper

In addition to the common viper, there are many other types of real vipers in nature: poisonous and not so poisonous. Some are found in Russia and nearby countries, and when faced with them, it is advisable to understand who exactly you are dealing with.

Nikolsky

Like the snake described above, Nikolsky’s viper is often found in certain regions of the Russian Federation and Ukraine (mainly in the direction Kanev - Kursk - Tambov - Buzuluk, although representatives of the species often penetrate into the steppe areas of the Samara and Saratov regions, into the Southern and Middle Urals).
The average individual of this species reaches a length of 76.5 cm, with a tail length of 8 cm (females are always larger than males). Young snakes are colored Brown color and have a dark zigzag pattern on the back, which becomes even darker as they approach three years of age.

Nikolsky's viper is poisonous, but the poison is not fatal and does not pose a serious danger to healthy person(completely neutralized by regular serum).

Kaznakova’s viper, or as it is also called “Caucasian”, is also a representative of the genus of real vipers, and received its name in honor of the director of the Caucasus Museum A.N. Kaznakova. It differs from the steppe bright color(mainly with red, orange and black tones), and it does not matter which population the individual in question is a representative of. This is not the most big snake, but it is difficult to confuse it with others. The body length of the reptile is 45-47 cm, the head is wide, slightly flattened on top with a clearly visible neck.
Habitat - the territory of Turkey, Georgia, Abkhazia and Russia, and on the lands of the latter it is found mainly in the foothills. Krasnodar region. Kaznakova's viper prefers to settle on alpine meadows and in broadleaf forests.

Did you know? Representatives of this species are included in the International Red List.

Melanistic (black)

The melanistic black viper is, in fact, the same ordinary viper, only with a completely black body. Even the iris of the snake’s eyes does not differ from its general color, although reddish-copper individuals are sometimes found. The body length does not exceed 75 cm, the head is more oval than triangular, slightly flattened in the upper part.
Adults are always completely black, while juveniles are gray-brown with a zigzag pattern on the back. The snake's habitat is the steppe regions of the European part of the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Snakes usually live in massifs and oak forests of broad-leaved regions.

A poisonous snake from the genus of African vipers. It grows up to 1.2 m in length, has a flat triangular head with 2-3 pointed scales at the end of the muzzle. It is because of them that the viper got its name. The body is thick and short, covered with a beautiful pattern: on the back there are double trapezoids of blue color, with a yellow border and joints in the form of black diamonds. Representatives of the species are usually found in the equatorial part of the African continent and, unlike previous species, are more dangerous to humans. The rhinoceros viper settles mainly in humid tropical forests, in swampy areas and on the banks of streams and lakes.

Levant

The viper viper (this is what representatives of this species are called) belongs to the genus of giant vipers, the Viper family. Together with the tail part, the length of its body reaches 2 m, with a mass of 3 kg. The head is large and wide, with an equally large muzzle. The upper part of the body is grayish-brown in color, but the pattern can vary: for example, relatively large dark brown spots on the back often turn into small spots on the sides. Habitat: desert, semi-desert and mountain-steppe zones of Africa, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan. It can be found in the Transcaucasus and in the southern part of Kazakhstan.

Stepnaya

A relatively large viper, growing on average up to 60 cm in length. The head is slightly elongated, with raised edges of the muzzle. The body is not very massive, brownish-gray in the upper part and light in the middle of the back. A black, zigzag pattern runs along the ridge, although in some cases it is divided into several separate spots. It feeds on small vertebrates and insects.

It lives mainly in European and Asian territory, but is found in some regions of Russia and Ukraine. Feels equally good both on flat terrain and in mountainous areas.

A characteristic feature of representatives of this species is the unusual structure of scales on the body, which is why it appears bristly. Males are larger than females and grow up to 73 cm in length, while the length of females does not exceed 58 cm. Body color can be completely different: from red and black, to yellow-green and orange-blue. Found in Central Africa, mainly in the provinces of Congo and Kenya.

Desert

Another big one and enough poisonous viper, found mostly on the semi-arid rocky mountains of southern Morocco, Libya, Algeria and Tunisia (sometimes called sandy or "Sakhalin"). Representatives of this species reach 1.3-1.6 m in length and are distinguished by a grayish-cream body color. On most of the body, gray-brown spots are clearly visible, forming a zigzag pattern.
The so-called Sakhalin viper (distinguished by its smaller body size, but outwardly very similar to the desert one) is found in mountain and lowland coniferous-small-leaved forests of some regions of the Russian Federation.

Did you know?Snakes are different high level survivability, which has very interesting evidence in history. So, in 1846, two desert vipers, which at that time were considered dead, were exhibited at the British Museum. However, after museum workers lowered one of them into warm water, it began to move and eat again (there has still been no rational explanation for this fact).

Asia Minor

Belongs to the group of medium-sized vipers, with a body length of 60-75 cm. In the upper part, the color is gray with a brown tint, and along the ridge there is a row of yellow-orange or brown spots, often merging into one zigzag line. There are two very noticeable dark stripes on the back of the head, and small blackish spots can be seen on the belly. A species of Asia Minor viper is the Radde viper.
Habitat - European territory Greece and Turkey, Armenia, certain mountainous regions of Azerbaijan.

The genus of African vipers has many species, representatives of which reach a length from several tens of centimeters to two meters or even more. One of the popular and numerous types are dwarf African vipers, with a body length of no more than 32 cm. They have a thick body, gray or reddish-yellow color, with several longitudinal rows of dark spots. The tip of the tail is traditionally black. Found mainly in southern and South East Africa, in desert regions with little vegetation.

Ruzelya

The Ruzel's viper (also known as the Russell's snake, the chain viper and the daboya) is the most famous venomous reptile in South Asia and India, where the snake is one of the four most poisonous. The maximum body length of the Russell's viper is 166 cm, although in the mainland part of its range these figures do not exceed 120 cm.

An arrow-like pattern with a straight white border is clearly visible on the head, and on the gray-brown body there are dark brown spots with a white border (sometimes they are connected to each other).

Woody

African tree vipers are a genus of venomous snakes found in tropical regions African continent. Representatives different types(for example, rough or green vipers) do not grow more than 75 cm in length, and their color can vary from rich green to yellow-red or even blue. Almost all of them choose moist forests to live.

How to get rid of vipers in the country

The experience of experienced summer residents confirms the possibility of encountering a viper on their site. Snakes crawl not only into the most remote places, but also into houses, so the issue of quickly eliminating them often comes first. To distract them from your home, you can take the following measures:

• mow tall vegetation;
• endure big stones, lumber and other debris that can serve as shelter for reptiles;
• eliminate small rodents and eliminate their burrows, which also attract snakes;
• surround the area with a fence dug into the soil 5 cm and with cells no larger than 5 cm.

Among the folk methods of fighting reptiles, the following are especially valuable:

• spreading mustard (1 kg is enough for 10 acres);
• planting garlic in different corners of the site;
• burning car tires(the smell will scare away vipers);
• scattering mothballs, saltpeter, ammophoska, garden herbicide (you can soak rags in them and scatter them in the garden and around the house);
• hanging rattles, Chinese bells and other items that make noise in the wind in the garden (snakes love peace and quiet, and this will disturb it).

Video: How to get rid of snakes on your property Using all these methods, most likely, you will not have to think about how to kill the vipers, but if they still gather en masse on your territory, then you will have to call in the professionals. There are services that specialize in catching snakes and removing them far from private property. In addition, they know how to properly eliminate the reason for their constant return (for example, poisoning rodents). When going into the forest or being on private property, do not forget to follow safety rules. Even when meeting a dangerous animal, an attack can be avoided if you know exactly who you are dealing with and what the behavioral characteristics of a particular viper are.

Vipers are snakes whose name is identified with evil; it has become a common noun for all reptiles (“reptiles”). These reptiles are all the more interesting because they often turn out to be human neighbors, but how little truth people know about them, underestimating and demonizing them at the same time. Meanwhile, vipers are one of the most advanced snakes on the planet. They constitute a separate family of vipers, numbering about 70 species. Their relatives include the same unattractive creatures as themselves - cobras and pit snakes, among which there are many dangerous to humans.

Females of the Moldavian steppe viper (Vipera ursinii moldavica) - an endangered species. The venom of these snakes is so weak that it does not pose a threat to humans.

Despite their menacing name, vipers are small to medium-sized snakes. The tiniest of them - the dwarf viper - reaches only 30 cm in length, and the largest - the Gabon viper (cassava) - can grow up to 2 m. The length of most species lies in the range of 50-75 cm. Flexibility and grace for which it is famous Most snakes are not included in the virtues of vipers. Their body is short but thick, their tail is short, but their head is large. If you look at it from above, you can easily see the triangular silhouette common to all vipers, due to the fact that the interception of the neck under the head is narrow, the base of the skull is very wide, and the muzzle is blunt and quickly tapering towards the end. The body of vipers is covered with small scales, often rough to the touch. This is explained by the fact that in many species of vipers the scales have a longitudinal keel. In addition, on the head, individual scales can stand upright, forming a kind of paired or single horns.

Horned viper (Cerastes cerastes).

The coloring of these snakes is varied, but not flashy. A signature outfit can be considered a light zigzag or diamond pattern located on the back and sides along the main background, which depends on the habitat of a particular species. In the desert and steppe vipers the background color will be sand, light gray, for forest and swamp inhabitants - black, dark gray or brown.

The Gaboon viper, or cassava (Bitis gabonica) wears a contrasting outfit of light and dark spots, but this does not prevent it from remaining completely invisible under the dead wood.

Tropical tree vipers are bright green to match the evergreen vegetation of the south. Some species, such as Nikolsky's viper, wear a sombre, monochromatic outfit.

The rough tree viper (Atheris squamigera) is in most cases bright green, but occasionally individual individuals can be colored in colors unusual for vipers: red, bright yellow, bluish-gray.

However, none of the described features reveals to the outside observer the main advantage of vipers - a perfect hunting apparatus. Like all snakes, vipers have a pair of poisonous teeth in the upper jaw, but due to the unique structure of the skull, these teeth, when the mouth is closed, lie almost horizontally in the mouth, with their points back. This arrangement allows them to have disproportionately long poisonous teeth - a luxury that other snakes can only dream of. In addition, these teeth are not placed in the mouth automatically, but at the whim of their owner. Thus, a yawning viper is able to open its mouth without demonstrating its weapon, and earth vipers, on the contrary, know how to set their teeth vertically even with closed mouth, while they place them on the sides of the lower jaw. Like sharks, vipers undergo a change of teeth, and poisonous teeth are replaced with new ones both in an emergency (for example, if an old tooth breaks during an unsuccessful attack) and routinely. The halves of the upper jaw in vipers move independently of one another, which significantly increases the extensibility of the mouth. By the way, the oral mucosa of these snakes often has a bluish-purple tint.

Vipers are characterized by significant intraspecific variability. All four snakes shown in this photo are the gray and brown color forms of the common pit viper (Vipera berus). In addition to them, this species has black individuals.

Very large poisonous glands, located at the base of the skull, and sometimes in the front part of the body, are connected by ducts to poisonous teeth. The venom channel runs inside the tooth and opens outward on its front surface, almost at the very tip. Thus, the teeth of vipers act like syringes, literally injecting poison into the body of the victim, but unlike other snakes, the toxin of vipers, due to the large length of the tooth, gets into the depths of the tissue. This significantly increases the effectiveness of the bite, so vipers do not need to acquire any special poisons - the toxicity of these snakes can be described as average.

However, average toxicity does not mean harmless, because vipers know how to use the strong side of their weapons when hunting. Unlike other snakes, vipers are phlegmatic and inactive. Crawling, they explore the thickets mainly at night, when they do not have to rely on their eyesight, and during the day they prefer to sit in ambush. Their goal is not to catch up with the victim, but to wait until she herself almost steps on the viper. And it doesn’t matter what the size of the animal is - the vipers rush at both potential prey and potential enemies without delay, biting immediately and for real. Cobras, which alert large (that is, potentially inedible) animals of their location with a characteristic stance and often make false throws without biting, seem like noble knights in comparison with vipers.

Vipers are masters of camouflage. This male Greek steppe viper (Vipera ursinii graeca) is not immediately visible among the rocks.

Viper venom has a hemolytic effect, that is, when it enters the bloodstream, it destroys red blood cells and releases the hemoglobin they contain, which in its free form is itself extremely toxic. In addition, the venom of vipers can interfere with blood clotting, and in two ways: when it decreases, the victim’s body is affected by hemorrhages, and when it increases, vascular thrombosis occurs. All these delights are quite enough to kill a small animal or bird in a couple of minutes. As for humans, few (mostly southern) species are deadly to them.

The favorite food of vipers are mouse-like rodents, lizards and small birds. In search of this prey, they slowly examine scattered stones, thickets of grass and bushes, hoping to find a hole or nest. As a rule, in such cases, death threatens not only adult individuals, but also chicks and even eggs. However, vipers have a special relationship with birds. In seasonal migration or wintering areas, these snakes behave like real hunters, organizing “roundups” for pichugs. But unlike huntsmen-beaters, vipers do not move, but sit in the bushes, choosing the most comfortable positions for themselves. Considering the high density of birds in such places, regular breakfasts, lunches and dinners are provided for them. It happens that after such a seasonal hunt, a snake, having eaten enough, can starve for several months without harm to itself. The rare spider-tailed viper, discovered only in 2006, is particularly cunning. This snake has a thickening with spines at the end of its tail, similar to a spider; By moving its tail, the predator attracts the bird's attention, and as soon as it approaches, it grabs the prey. Desert species of vipers (dwarf, horned, spore) are able to bury themselves in the sand, vibrating their bodies; such camouflage significantly increases the likelihood of meeting prey.

The spider-tailed viper (Pseudocerastes urarachnoides) is both enticing and stealthy.

To some extent, a viper childhood can correct this unpleasant reputation. IN early age all vipers (and the smallest species even as adults) feed exclusively on insects, of which a considerable proportion are harmful locusts. Toad vipers, as their name suggests, specialize in eating frogs and toads.

A diamondback toad viper (Causus rhombeatus) lies in the water waiting for a catch.

It is believed that the ancient homeland of vipers was Africa, from where they came to Europe and Asia, but Australia, which separated early from the African continent, is devoid of vipers. You will not find these snakes in the Northern and South America, and in the Old World their distribution is very uneven. The largest number of vipers is in Africa; their numbers and species diversity are quite high in adjacent areas: in the Near and Middle East, but only a couple of species live in the Far East and Europe. The common viper, which can be found even beyond the Arctic Circle, penetrates the farthest north. It is clear that such geographical coverage makes the habitats of vipers very diverse. Certain species can be found in dense forests, on the banks of lakes and rivers, among swamps, in steppes, jungles, in mountains at an altitude of about 3000 m, in deserts among shifting sands. According to their lifestyle, vipers can be divided into three groups: most species - terrestrial reptiles crawling on a flat surface and avoiding woody vegetation (they can only crawl onto a low bush); the genus of tree vipers is distinguished by a more slender body; these snakes deftly climb trees and, even frozen in ambush, imitate a dry twig with their pose; The genus of earthen vipers leads an underground burrowing lifestyle; they can be seen on the surface only by accident, for example, when digging up soil. Both tree and ground vipers live exclusively in Africa.

The southern pit viper (Atractaspis bibronii) lacks the characteristic neck and triangular head. This worm-like body shape is an adaptation to living underground.

In the tropics, these snakes are active all year round; in the subtropics and temperate zones they fall into torpor during the winter cold. Vipers overwinter in the soil at a depth of up to 2 m. As shelters, they choose burrows of moles and rodents, gullies and voids formed by rotten roots, deep rock crevices, and sometimes hide under haystacks. Winter shelters are the main factor limiting the spread of the common viper to the north. Where there are few of them, snakes show extraordinary friendliness, sometimes hiding in one place in dozens and even hundreds of individuals. Necessity forces them to coexist peacefully even with potential victims: spindles, toads, newts. But even in the warm season, vipers do not quarrel with each other, which is explained by their sedentary lifestyle. Typically, a snake’s hunting area is limited to a radius of several hundred meters; in this zone, the same individual can be seen for years. But when there is a shortage of food, vipers sometimes make short migrations, moving a couple of kilometers; at such moments, snakes can be seen crossing large rivers.

In search of shelters for wintering, sleeping, and ambush, vipers are very inventive and can find them, like this controversial viper (Eristicophis macmahoni), literally out of the blue. In deserts, such digging of sand also allows snakes to wait out the heat of the day.

Mating in temperate species occurs in the spring. During this period, males actively search for females, and when they meet them, they organize mating tournaments. The contenders wrap each other's backs around their bodies and raise their fronts; in this position, they push each other with their necks and cheeks, but do not use their poisonous teeth. After mating, the male leaves his girlfriend. Pregnancy in different species lasts from 3 to 6 months.

Mating tournament of Nikolsky's vipers (Vipera nikolskii).

Most viper species are ovoviviparous. This means that the female carries the eggs in her body, and immediately after laying, the baby snakes hatch from them. It happens that the cubs leave the egg while still in the female’s genital tract. Some primitive species of vipers lay eggs, but even in this case their maturation period is quite short. It is noteworthy that in many species of vipers, embryos in the mother’s body form a primitive placenta; in this regard, vipers are closer to people than birds. The fertility of these snakes varies widely: the smallest species give birth to 2-15 baby snakes, large ones can make the world happy with 40-70 offspring at once. Newborns are poisonous from the first hours of life, but due to their small size they can so far only use their weapons against spiders and insects. These snakes reach sexual maturity by 2-5 years, small species live up to 7-8 years, and large ones - up to 14-15 (in captivity up to 22).

The moment of birth in a noisy viper (Bitis arietans).

Despite the poisonousness of vipers, there are many animals in nature that can somehow avoid fatal bite. Hedgehogs who are immune to snake venom love to hunt them. Other animals - foxes, badgers, ferrets, sand cats, mongooses, meerkats - take with dexterity. It is difficult for vipers to resist danger from the air, when a feathered predator quickly dives and with one blow of its beak stuns a snake that has been mauled in the sun. Thus, they often end up in the beaks of eagles, harriers, kites, storks, owls, ravens, secretary birds and, especially, short-tailed snakes. Steppe vipers have a personal enemy - the lizard snake. She hunts her own kind and can eat 2-3 vipers at a time.

Vipers do not have special means of protection. When caught, they desperately wriggle, make lightning-fast throws across the entire length of their body and try to bite the offender. The noisy viper uses a technique somewhat reminiscent of the self-defense of cobras: it inflates its body (although it does not have a hood) and hisses very loudly, which is why it got its name. It is noteworthy that this sound does not come from the snake’s throat at all - its vocal cords replace scales. Wriggling, the viper rubs one side against the other, this friction gives rise to hissing. The same terrifying “voice”, born in the same way, is possessed by the chain viper (daboya), Avicenna’s viper, and horned viper. But among these snakes there are also cowards. The tailed, tufted-browed, Palestinian and dwarf vipers that live in deserts do not rely on their own strength and run away at the slightest danger. It is interesting that when escaping, they use a special method of movement - a lateral move. In this case, the snake rests on the surface with the front and rear ends of the body, throws the middle part of the body to the side, then, leaning on it, moves its head and tail, and so on. At a critical moment in the chase, such a movement can develop into a series of masterly lateral jumps. The ability to bury itself in the sand also helps desert vipers escape persecution. But the largest Gaboon viper is peaceful. Once caught, she does not resist, and it takes a lot of effort to anger her.

Pygmy viper (Bitis peringueyi).

It must be said that the bad reputation of these snakes is greatly exaggerated, because even the bites of the most dangerous Gaboon and chained vipers lead to fatal outcome only in 15-20% of cases. When bitten by an ordinary viper - the most common representative of the family in the middle zone - increasing pain develops, severe swelling that does not subside for several days or even weeks, dizziness, but, as a rule, the matter is limited to these unpleasant symptoms. Death occurs in 1% of cases, and even then only under unfavorable circumstances (most often small children die after being bitten in the face). Knowing the habits of vipers, it is not difficult to prevent an unpleasant encounter: staying in dense thickets, you need to carefully look at your feet; do not explore spaces under stones, hollows, stumps with bare hands; when meeting a viper, do not try to crush it with your feet, it is better to throw it aside with a long stick or simply leave - the slow snake will never pursue you. If the victim is bitten, the victim must be taken to the hospital, a tonic drink (tea) should be given on the way, and a cold compress can be applied to the bite site to reduce pain and swelling. It is unacceptable to tug at the bitten limb or cauterize it; Due to the great depth of the viper’s bite, sucking out (squeezing out) the poison is also ineffective. With proper assistance, recovery occurs in 2-5 days; with self-medication, it can take several weeks.

Extensive hematomas (hemorrhages) caused by the bite of a common viper.

Viper toxin also has a downside. Due to its ability to increase blood clotting, the venom of some species is used in diagnostic practice and for the manufacture of hemostatic drugs. The effectiveness of these drugs is so high that they are prescribed even to patients with hemophilia, for whom conventional clotting agents do not help. The role of vipers in agriculture is also twofold. On the one hand, the bites of these snakes lead to the death of small livestock (this happens in remote areas of transhumance), on the other hand, this harm is compensated by the benefits from the destruction of rodents and locusts. It should be noted that although the ranges of vipers are vast, among them there are many small species listed in the international and national Red Books. These include steppe, Caucasian, Asia Minor and long-nosed vipers. So if you happen to encounter one of these snakes, don't kill it—by doing so, you'll not only be demonstrating environmental awareness, but you'll also be helping to conserve biological diversity of our planet.

Nitsche's tree viper (Atheris nitschei).

Common viper (Vipera berus) is a very widespread snake. It can be found throughout the northern part of Eurasia from Northern Portugal, Spain and England to northeastern China, Sakhalin Island, and northern Korea. It rises into the mountains to a height of 3 km above sea level. In Russia, the common viper is distributed throughout Middle lane from the Arctic (in the west, east of Arkhangelsk, the range boundary runs further south) to the steppe zone in the south. But vipers are distributed unevenly throughout the territory; they usually form “foci” in areas with the most favorable living conditions for them, with the presence of convenient wintering shelters. In such places, vipers can be seen on the outskirts and islands of moss swamps, in clearings, overgrown forest burnt areas, near clearings of mixed (less often coniferous) forests.

The viper, unlike the snake, does not tolerate the proximity of people and their economic activities. Occasionally it can be found near buildings and vegetable gardens in forest areas, on reclamation canals, on little-visited islands next to the city - the viper swims well, successfully crosses rivers and lakes and, when it gets to the islands, can take root there. But a truly cultivated landscape - fields, gardens, parks, villages, etc. – these snakes clearly avoid and disappear from places intensively developed by humans. This is the reason for the decrease in their numbers. IN Western Europe a big problem are the numerous broad car roads, through which reptiles cannot crawl. These roads fragment the habitats of lizards and snakes into small, isolated areas. This fragmentation of populations leads to a gradual decrease in the number of reptiles and the extinction of individual populations that find themselves isolated.

People directly destroy vipers, often striving to kill every snake they encounter. At one time, vipers were caught in large numbers to obtain poison, and recently they have also been caught by terrarium lovers. Vipers also suffer from disturbance in areas where there are large numbers of people and domestic animals. For example, according to observations in Sweden, mass walking of dogs in the forests frightens snakes in the spring, during the mating season, and frightened females do not reproduce this year. In the forest zone of the Volga region, where places of mass recreation arise near the Volga, the viper becomes rare. In the forests near Kiev, the viper began to disappear since clearings and roads were cut and a significant number of vacationers appeared. In addition, zoologists and students caught vipers here every year. As a result, by the end of the 20th century. The viper near Kiev was on the verge of complete extinction.

But in vast, inaccessible forest areas, in places not affected by human economic activity, the viper is still common. Most of it is now in the north-west of the European part of Russia and in Western Siberia– at least 10 million snakes.

The common viper is an ovoviviparous species. In the north and in the center of the forest zone, female vipers, according to some observations, reproduce every other year, in the south - annually. Young snakes are usually born at the end of August and September. There are up to 8–12 of them in a brood. The female can give birth to babies gradually, every other day. For two or three days, young vipers stay in the place of birth, molt, and then crawl away and begin to try to catch insects, although they may starve for several days and weeks, subsisting on the remains of the egg yolk. The female does not show care for her offspring. Young vipers reach maturity at 4–5 years of life.

In the second half of September and October, vipers go to winter - they hide in underground and peat voids, under stumps, in deep holes, under haystacks. A large number of snakes can gather in suitable shelters, for example in Southern Finland there were up to 800 in one place. Such convenient shelters have been used by snakes for many years.

Mass appearance of vipers in spring is observed from the end of March and in April. In the Carpathians, vipers coming to the surface were observed even in February at an air temperature of +12 °C and soil temperature of +4 °C. In spring, vipers can be seen more often during the day - they bask in the sun and hunt. The breeding season begins 2–4 weeks after leaving wintering grounds. Males can gather near the female and organize tournaments: raising the front part of the body, they intertwine and move slowly, sometimes getting closer, sometimes moving away and changing places, then unexpectedly attack each other, trying to press the opponent’s head to the ground (but without biting). This fight continues until the weaker male gives in and crawls away.

Later, the vipers crawl into their areas, which can be 2–3 km away from the wintering site. In these areas, the area of ​​which for a pair of snakes ranges from 1.5 to 4 hectares, vipers stay all summer, usually not crawling further than 100 m from their shelters: cracks in stumps, burrows, voids under tree roots. Near such shelters they bask in the sun in the first half of the day, and hunt at dusk and at night. In the warm season greatest number Vipers can be found at air temperatures of +19 ... +24 °C. The optimal temperature for them is 25–28 °C, and at a temperature of +37 °C these snakes get heat shock and may die. In extreme heat, they can crawl 200–300 m to wetter places or climb onto the branches of bushes to a height of up to 1 m.

The viper's favorite food is small rodents, but, depending on the circumstances, these snakes can also feed on frogs, lizards, and chicks of birds nesting on the ground. Young vipers catch insects, less often slugs and earthworms. The viper usually hunts simply by lying in wait for its prey in ambush. But it can also slowly pursue the prey or actively search for it (for example, examining rodent burrows). Having quickly struck with its poisonous teeth, the snake waits for the victim to die and then begins to swallow it. A mouse dies from a viper bite within a few minutes.

When in danger, the viper tends to crawl to the side and hide. She bites in defense only when she is grabbed or pressed down, preventing her from crawling away. Experiments in captivity showed that vipers were slightly aggressive: when handled carefully, they remained calm and did not bite, even when picked up. When disturbed, the snakes bit a hand wearing a thick glove only in one case out of nine, and in the remaining eight they limited themselves to a false lunge with their head. So the danger of suffering from a viper’s bite is not very great unless it is specifically caught or accidentally crushed. But in places where there are an abundance of snakes, you should wear thick shoes and thick trousers and carefully watch your step. If you have to move the grass apart, for example when picking berries, you should do this carefully. In order to scare away vipers from a certain place in advance, you need to step hard on the ground - snakes sensitively detect the shaking of the soil and crawl away.

The venom of the common viper is not very strong. It causes pain, swelling at the site of the bite, and a rise in temperature, but after a few days recovery usually occurs, especially when using modern drugs. For many years in Europe, isolated cases of death from the bite of a common viper have been known, mostly among children, mainly in the first half of the 20th century. In most cases it was a bite to the face.

After a viper bite, you need to remain calm and drink more water, coffee, tea (but not alcohol!). It is now not recommended to cut or cauterize the bite site, or to tighten the limb with a tourniquet - this can cause complications and tissue necrosis. Sometimes it is recommended to suck out the poison if there are no damaged teeth or abrasions in the mouth. It is best to go to a medical center for help. You can use antiallergic drugs: diphenhydramine, suprastin, etc., sometimes novocaine blockade is used. A special serum against viper bites is now being produced in Stavropol. It is better to be careful and not provoke vipers with your behavior.

The enemies of vipers in nature are hedgehogs, ferrets, badgers, foxes, storks, owls, and snake-eating eagle. Even their poisonousness does not save snakes from these predators.

Snake venom, a valuable raw material for medicine, is obtained from vipers. These snakes also bring benefits by exterminating mouse-like rodents. Therefore, vipers should be protected, especially since, perhaps, only in Russia they are still preserved in sufficient numbers - unlike other countries where the number of these snakes is rapidly decreasing. You should be careful about “snake hot spots” - places where vipers accumulate in small areas where there are a lot of rodents and convenient holes for these reptiles. It is very easy to destroy these foci, and as a result, vipers can disappear from a large surrounding area.

Vipers come in many color forms. In the European part of Russia there is a black viper - Nikolsky's viper. Some zoologists describe it as a separate species Vipera nikolskii, others consider it a subspecies of the common viper. 1

Nikolsky's viper is included in the Red Book of Russia; in biology it is similar to an ordinary viper, but has not yet been sufficiently studied. Recently, the Far Eastern form of the common viper, found east of Baikal, has begun to be identified as a separate species - Sakhalin viper (Vipera sachalinensis).

IN steppe zone, gravitating towards dry open areas, occurs steppe viper (Vipera ursini) - in the south of Central and Eastern Europe, in the Ciscaucasia and the Caucasus, in the south of the Volga region and Western Siberia, in Kazakhstan and in the north-west of Central Asia. The steppe viper is smaller and lighter than the common viper. In its diet, a significantly larger share is made up of insects, primarily locusts. The venom of the steppe viper is weaker than that of the common viper, and no deaths from its bite have been observed. The steppe viper is also viviparous and at the end of summer gives birth to from 3 to 16 already formed snakes.

The plowing of the steppes led to a sharp decrease in the number of steppe vipers in Central and Eastern Europe. Any other development of the territory also has a negative effect on it. The steppe viper is included as a species subject to protection in the Berne Convention for the Conservation of European Fauna and in the Red Book of Ukraine. But perhaps this species is still quite prosperous in the east of its range, in semi-deserts, on mountain slopes and in mountain steppes.

Multiple bites from steppe vipers can cause severe pain and sometimes kill sheep and horses. But the poison does not save this snake from predators - ferrets, hedgehogs, steppe and marsh harriers, herons. Also eats steppe vipers lizard snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) - she is insensitive to viper venom, and her own kills lizards and small snakes almost instantly. For humans and large animals, the venom of a lizard snake is probably of little toxicity; moreover, its grooved poisonous teeth are located deep in the mouth and cannot be used to bite a large animal. They only take out the victim that the snake has already swallowed. In captivity, young steppe vipers are eaten and copperhead (Coronella austriaca) - her saliva is probably also poisonous to lizards and small snakes (paralyzes them), but has no effect on humans.

The Caucasian viper lives in the Caucasus mountains. At the beginning of the 20th century. some zoologists considered it a subspecies of the common viper, then identified it as a separate species, and at the end of the 20th century, based on this species, several more species were described, very similar friends on each other both in appearance and in biological features. Within Russia this is Caucasian viper (Vipera kaznakovi), alpine viper Dinnika (Vipera dinniki), rare and little studied Lotieva's viper (Vipera lotievi). 2

Caucasian vipers are somewhat denser than the common viper, shorter, and brighter. Among these snakes, the predominant ones are red-brown, orangish, with black sides, and often have a row of spots on the back instead of a stripe. Sometimes there are almost black individuals. Caucasian vipers feed mainly on mouse-like rodents, reproduce once every 2–3 years and are preserved mainly in alpine mountain meadows, where few people visit. Dinnik's viper and Caucasian viper (Kaznakova) are listed in the Red Book of Russia, because have a limited habitat.

On the territory of Russia, in Dagestan, another species is occasionally found, the largest of the vipers - viper (Vipera lebetina). Its length can exceed 1 m, and its thickness can be as thick as an arm. Males up to 1.6 m long and females up to 1.3 m long are described.

The color of the viper is grayish or brownish with faint dark spots - matching the color of the soil and stones. Indeed, in nature, a stationary viper is not easy to notice. This snake feeds mainly on small animals, but also successfully hunts small birds, climbing bushes and small trees. A large viper can even grab a hare, turtledove, or turtle. Young snakes eat lizards and turtle eggs.

Vipers regularly make seasonal migrations: in the spring they spread out from wintering places in mountain crevices, often concentrating near bodies of water, where they hunt, drink water and willingly swim. In the fall, vipers again crawl to their wintering places. In spring and autumn, these snakes are more active during the day, and in the hot season of summer - at dusk and at night. In different parts of its range, the viper can give birth to live young or lay eggs (as happens, for example, in Central Asia).

The viper is a truly dangerous poisonous snake; more than 10% of victims die from its bites. Even with treatment, complications often occur - tissue necrosis at the bite sites.

When a viper bites, it tightly clings to the victim and injects a lot of poison into it. The movements of the viper are fast, the body is strong, and it can inflict a bite by lunging from a distance of the length of its body. It is especially difficult to notice the viper, lurking in anticipation of prey in the vineyard, on the branches of bushes and trees. In the spring, during the breeding season, males can be quite aggressive, and there are known cases of viper attacks on a person who was simply passing nearby.

However, humans are no less dangerous for the viper. At the beginning of the 20th century. in all places of its distribution - in North Africa, Asia Minor and Central Asia, Transcaucasia, on the islands Mediterranean Sea –
The viper was common, but now its numbers have greatly decreased everywhere. In the USSR, it was the most abundant snake in serpentariums, where venom was taken from it for the production of serums and medications. As a result of mass fishing, the number of viper in a number of regions of Central Asia and the Transcaucasus was undermined and at the end of the 20th century. the question arose about limiting and temporarily stopping its catching. In Dagestan, the viper is protected and is included in the Red Book of Russia.

Currently, vipers are breeding in some zoos and there is hope that captive breeding of this viper will become more widespread and accessible. This is necessary to obtain its valuable poison.

Poisonous snakes have their own value for people. Unfortunately, we still observe a negative attitude towards them, attempts to kill them when they meet, including from schoolchildren. It is advisable to inform children more about the importance of snakes in nature, about their benefits, in particular about the benefits of vipers, so that later they do not regret their disappearance...

Literature

Botansky A.T. Biology, conservation and rational use common and Caucasian viper: Author's abstract. – M., 1986.

Garanin V.I. Amphibians and reptiles of the Volga-Kama region. – M.: Nauka, 1983.

Key to amphibians and reptiles of the fauna of the USSR. – M.: Education, 1977.

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1 Nikolsky’s viper differs from the ordinary one not only in its black color (ordinary vipers are also black), but also in some other features. It is widespread in the southern, forest-steppe and steppe regions between the Dnieper and Volga - in eastern regions Ukraine and in the Russian Chernozem region. – Prim. edit.