How long do snakes live in nature? How long do reptiles live like turtles, snakes, crocodiles? The photo shows the birth of a viviparous snake

Snakes are the most unusual creatures on the planet. Even with complete absence limbs, they are capable of instilling fear in any person, because the main weapon of reptiles is poison. Of course, not all varieties of snakes are poisonous, but at first glance it is almost impossible to distinguish them, especially for an inexperienced person. According to statistics, more than half of all inhabitants of the planet are wary of these animals, and only 1/5 boldly declare that they are not afraid of any snakes.

For many years, humanity has attributed unusual abilities to these reptiles, describing in their legends and tales snake-like talking creatures capable of striking a person with one glance. All this has led to the fact that today only real snakes are loved. connoisseurs cold-blooded, but even they are wary of sharp teeth and a death grip.

Description

It is quite easy to distinguish a snake from other animals. Only these reptiles have no legs at all, but this is clearly visible only upon close contact. It can be almost impossible to see a snake in its natural environment. They are all skilled camouflages, capable of lying motionless for hours waiting for prey. Many may mistake a snake for an ordinary lizard, since from a distance their manner is similar movement.

Interestingly, snakes need teeth solely for spraying venom into their prey, firmly grasping it, and further pushing it into the esophagus. These reptiles do not chew their prey at all, swallowing it whole, which is why the teeth of snakes are very sharp, thin and curved back.

Snakes can hunt in different time days, in which Jacobson’s sense organ helps them a lot. Thanks to him, cold-blooded animals accurately determine location victims. Their tongue is constantly in motion, as if feeling the area around and transmitting information to the sky, where the characteristic pits are located - Jacobson's organ, which perform further chemical analysis.

These reptiles have no hearing at all, and their eyesight is very weak, but at the same time they were able to live on Earth for many years unchanged. How? Some common species have an additional thermolocation organ that can detect the heat of prey at a great distance. This allows predators to hunt without making eye contact.

In captivity, legless reptiles are considered long-lived, since all the necessary conditions are artificially created for them. On average, in wildlife snakes live about 40 years, but it all depends on their species. Many live to an older age. According to various legends, anacondas more than 100 years old live in the rivers of the Amazon, but this information has not yet been confirmed.

Reptiles are capable of living in captivity both in spacious terrariums of zoos and at home. If you properly care for an indoor snake, it can live for several decades, but how long is measured out to its owner depends only on his behavior. Absolutely all representatives of the species are predators by nature, and it is impossible to tame them. They are all very dangerous and, if handled incorrectly, can bite their owner at any time with a lightning-fast reaction.

First snake

If a person has a desire to have such a slippery killer in his own home, then experienced reptile experts advise choosing corn snake. This snake is easy to care for and is ideal for being your first cold-blooded pet.

It is important to understand that you will have to feed the reptile with living creatures. Meat, sausages and other food from the table are not suitable for a complete diet. Depending on the species and preferences, snakes eat:

Terrarium for snake

Features of the reptile’s place of residence depend on its species, but there are also general rules. The terrarium itself can be made of plastic or glass, the main thing is that it has ventilation, but does not give the animal the opportunity to leave the designated area without permission. The size of a snake's home depends on the animal itself. In a terrarium that is too spacious, the reptile will feel uncomfortable, since in nature they spend most of their lives in ambush.

The general rule for a snake to live in is the presence of a temperature gradient in the terrarium, so that the animal can independently choose a comfortable environment for itself at a certain moment. It is also important to have a pool in which everything cold-blooded can fit completely. In the terrarium you need to build a shelter, provide heating and select soil.

In order for the snake to live as many years as possible with its owner, experienced people advise growing their own food. This will prevent your reptile from becoming sick from contaminated food.

Important Rules

Since snakes are not lap dogs and cats, when kept strictly forbidden:

If, through negligence, a snake nevertheless bites a person, you must not force it away from the bitten part of the body, this will only provoke it to further aggression. A person will have to wait until the reptile itself opens its mouth and releases “its prey.”

Poisonous snakes from the viper family have perfectly adapted to existing in any climatic conditions and landscapes. Vipers live in Europe, Russia, Asia, Africa, North and South America. Vipers do not live only in Australia, New Zealand and other islands of Oceania.

Basically, vipers lead a sedentary lifestyle, occasionally making forced migrations to their winter habitats, which are several kilometers along the way. Vipers spend most of the summer basking in the sun or hiding in the heat under stones, uprooted tree roots and in rock crevices.

Where and how do viper snakes winter?

Wintering of vipers begins in October-November. For winter “apartments”, various burrows are selected, going into the ground to a depth of 2 m, where the air temperature remains above zero. At high population densities, several hundred individuals often accumulate in one burrow. The duration of wintering depends on the area: northern species Vipers hibernate for up to 9 months a year; inhabitants of temperate latitudes crawl to the surface in March-April and immediately begin to reproduce.

Viper venom - consequences of a snake bite and symptoms

The viper's venom is considered potentially dangerous to humans, and the bite of some members of the viper family can be fatal and result in death.

However, viper venom has found its application, because it is a valuable raw material for making medical supplies and even cosmetics. The poison is a cocktail of proteins, lipids, peptides, amino acids, sugar and salt of inorganic origin. Preparations obtained from viper venom are used as an analgesic for neuralgia and rheumatism, hypertension and skin diseases, to relieve asthma attacks, inflammation and bleeding.

The viper's venom enters the human or animal body through the lymph nodes and instantly enters the blood. The consequences of a viper bite are manifested by burning pain, redness and swelling form around the wound, which disappear after 2-3 days without any symptoms. serious consequences. In case of severe intoxication of the body, the following symptoms appear 15-20 minutes after a viper bite: the bitten person feels dizziness, nausea, chills, and rapid heartbeat. With increased concentrations of toxic substances, fainting, convulsions and coma occur.

Viper bite - first aid

What to do if bitten by a viper:

• First of all, immediately after a viper bite, be sure to provide rest to the bitten organ (usually the limbs), securing it with something like a splint or, for example, simply tying your arm in a bent position with a scarf. Limit any active movements to avoid the rapid spread of viper venom throughout the body.
• A viper bite is dangerous and can be fatal to humans, so in any case, regardless of the severity of the victim’s condition, you should call an ambulance!
• By pressing your fingers at the bite site, try to slightly open the wound and suck out the poison. This can be done with your mouth, periodically spitting saliva, but the method is only permissible if there is no damage to the oral mucosa in the form of cracks, scratches or ulcers. You can try to reduce the concentration of poison in the wound using a regular glass glass, using it according to the principle of placing medical cups. The venom is sucked out continuously for 15-20 minutes.
• Then the viper bite site should be disinfected with any available means: cologne, vodka, alcohol, iodine, and a clean, lightly pressing bandage should be applied.
• If possible, it is advisable to take an antihistamine tablet to reduce the allergic reaction to the viper venom.
• Take as much liquid as possible - weak tea, water, but give up coffee: this drink increases arterial pressure and increases excitability.
• In case of serious injury, as first aid after a viper bite, a person is given artificial respiration and prolonged cardiac massage.

Sometimes vipers are confused with representatives of the colubrid family - snakes and copperheads, which often leads to the killing of innocent animals. You can distinguish a poisonous snake from a harmless one by a number of signs.

How is it different from a viper? Similarities and differences of snakes

The snake is a non-venomous snake; the viper is poisonous and deadly to humans. The similarity between a snake and a viper is obvious: both snakes can have a similar color and can be encountered by a person in a forest, meadow or near a pond. And yet, these reptiles have certain characteristics by which they can be distinguished:

• The appearance of the snake and the black viper differs, despite the same skin color. U common snake there are 2 yellow or orange spots on the head, similar to miniature ears, but the viper does not have such markings.

• You should not focus solely on the color of snakes, since both snakes and vipers can be similar in color. For example, the color of a water snake can be olive, brown or black, with various spots. In addition, black water snake there are no yellow markings on the head, which is why it can be easily confused with a viper. The color of the viper can also be olive, black or brown, with a variety of spots scattered throughout the body.

• And yet, if you look closely at the spots, you can see the following difference between snakes: in snakes the spots on the body are arranged in a checkerboard pattern, many types of vipers have a zigzag stripe on the back, running along the entire body, and there are also spots on the sides of the body.

• Another difference between a snake and a viper is that the pupil of a viper is vertical, while in snakes it is round.

• The viper's mouth contains sharp teeth, which are clearly visible when the snake opens its mouth. Snakes have no teeth.

• Longer than a viper. The body length of the snake is usually 1-1.3 meters. The length of the viper usually varies between 60-75 cm, although there are species reaching 3-4 meters (bushmaster). In addition, vipers look much more well-fed.
• The tail of the viper is shortened and thick, while that of the snake is thinner and longer. In addition, in vipers the transition from the body to the tail is clearly defined.
• Vipers differ from snakes in the triangular shape of the skull with clearly defined brow ridges; snakes have an oval-ovoid skull.

• The anal shield of the viper is solid, while in the grass snake it consists of 2 scales.
• When meeting people, snakes try to retreat and hide; the viper will most likely show complete indifference or aggression if you step on this poisonous snake or simply brush against it.
• Snakes love damp habitats, so they can often be found near bodies of water, where they swim and catch frogs. Vipers feed primarily, so they choose other habitats: forests, steppes, dense grass.

• The viper is a poisonous snake, the copperhead is not poisonous.
• Many vipers have a dark-colored zigzag stripe running along their backs, while copperheads have a “scattered” pattern of specks or dark spots on their backs. But there are also black vipers that do not have stripes.

• The viper's head is triangular in shape with pronounced arches above the eyes. Copperheads have a narrow, elongated head.
• The viper's mouth contains teeth with which the snake bites its prey. Copperheads have no teeth.
• The pupil of the copperhead is round, while that of the viper is vertically slit-shaped.

• The anal shield of the copperhead consists of a pair of scales, but in the viper it is solid.
• Having noticed a person, the copperhead will hasten to hide in a shelter; the viper will either not pay attention to the person, or will begin to attack.

• The mouth of a viper and snake contains teeth, but the bite of a poisonous viper is dangerous and can be fatal, and the bite of a snake, although painful, does not cause mortal danger, since the snake does not have poisonous glands.
• In the viper, the head and body are separated by a shortened bridge that imitates the neck; in the snake, there is no cervical interception.
• The back of most vipers is either plain, black, or has a dark stripe running in a zigzag along the entire back. The color of the runner can be plain, with transverse dark spots on the back or in a mesh.

• The snake has a distinctive pattern on the top of its skull - a dark stripe between the eyes; the viper does not have such decoration.
• The viper is much shorter and looks more plump than the snake. Snakes can grow up to 1.5 meters in length, and standard size vipers - 60-70 cm. Only the largest vipers have a body length reaching 2 meters.

Types of vipers - photos and descriptions

Modern classification distinguishes 4 subfamilies of vipers:

• pit vipers, they are also rattlesnakes or rattlesnakes (Crotalinae): they are distinguished by the presence of 2 infrared pits, which are located in the recess between the eyes and nostrils;
• toad vipers(Causinae): belong to the oviparous type of snakes, which is rare among all members of the family;
• Viperidae(Viperinae) - the most numerous subfamily, whose representatives live even in the Arctic (common viper);
• azemiopinae- subfamily represented unique gender and the species is the Burmese fairy viper.

To date, science knows 292 species of vipers. Below are several varieties of these snakes:

• Common viper ( Vipera berus)

a relatively small representative of the family: the body length is usually in the range of 60-70 cm, however, in the northern part of the range there are individuals more than 90 cm in length. The weight of the viper varies from 50 to 180 grams, with females being slightly larger than males. The head is large, slightly flattened, the muzzle is rounded. The color is quite variable and multifaceted: the color of the main background of the back can be black, light gray, yellow-brown, reddish-brown, bright copper. Most specimens have a pronounced pattern along the back in the form of a zigzag stripe. The viper's abdomen is gray, brown-gray or black, sometimes supplemented with whitish spots. The tip of the tail is often colored bright yellow, reddish or orange. This species of viper has a fairly wide habitat. The common viper lives in the forest belt of Eurasia - it is found from the territories of Great Britain and France to the western regions of Italy and eastern Korea. Feels comfortable in hot Greece, Turkey and Albania, while also penetrating the Arctic Circle - found in Lapland and in countries on the coast Barents Sea. On the territory of Russia, the common viper lives in Siberia, Transbaikalia and the Far East.

• Long-nosed viper(Vipera ammodytes)

differs from other species by a soft, sharp, scaly outgrowth at the tip of the snout, resembling snub nose. The length of the viper is 60-70 cm (sometimes 90 cm). Body coloring is gray, sandy or red-brown (depending on the species), with a zigzag pattern running along the back. dark stripe or a series of diamond-shaped stripes. The long-nosed viper lives on rocky landscapes from Italy, Serbia and Croatia to Turkey, Syria and Georgia.

• Steppe viper (western steppe viper) ( Vipera ursinii )

a poisonous snake that lives in the plains and mountain steppes, on alpine meadows, in ravines and semi-deserts. Steppe vipers are found in the countries of southern and southeastern Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Albania), Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Russia (in the Caucasus, southern Siberia, Rostov region, Altai). The length of the viper with a tail reaches 64 cm, females are larger than males. The color of the snake is brown-gray, with a dark brown or black zigzag stripe running along the ridge. Dark spots are scattered on the sides of the body.

• Horned keffiyeh(Trimeresurus cornutus, Protobothrops cornutus)

stands out among its relatives with small horns located above the eyes. The body of the viper, up to 60-80 cm long, is colored creamy-light green and dotted with dark brown spots. The snake spends almost its entire life in trees and bushes, descending to the ground only to mate. The horned keffiyeh is a typical inhabitant of the south and southeast of Asia, living in China, India and Indonesia.

• Burmese fairy viper, or Chinese viper(Azemiops feae)

oviparous species, very rare among vipers. I didn't get my name thanks to fairy tale character, and in honor of the zoologist Leonardo Fea. The length of the viper is about 80 cm. Large, snake-like scutes grow on the snake’s head. The top of the body is greenish-brown, the bottom is cream, the head is most often yellow, with yellow stripes on the sides. Found in Central Asia in southeast Tibet, Burma, China and Vietnam.

• Noisy Viper(Bitis arietans)

one of the most beautiful and most dangerous species African vipers. The bite of a noisy viper is fatal in 4 out of 5 cases. The snake got its name from the indignant hissing it makes in case of danger. The body of the viper is disproportionately thick with a girth of up to 40 cm and a length of about 2 m. The color of the viper can be golden yellow, dark beige or red-brown. Along the body there is a pattern consisting of 2 dozen brown markings in the shape Latin letter U. The noisy viper lives throughout Africa (except for the equator), as well as in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula.

• (Bitis nasicornis)

It is distinguished by a special decoration on the face, consisting of 2-3 vertically protruding scales. The body is thick, can reach a length of 1.2 m, and is covered with a beautiful pattern. Along the back there are blue trapezoidal patterns with a yellow border, connected by black diamonds. The sides are covered with black triangles alternating with olive-colored diamonds with a red border. The viper's head with bright blue “cheeks” is covered with black arrows with a yellow edging. Prefers to settle in the damp, swampy forests of Equatorial Africa.

• Kaisaka, or labaria (Bothrops atrox)

the largest viper of the spearhead genus, growing up to 2.5 m in length. A distinctive feature of the kaisaki is the lemon-yellow color of its chin, which is why the snake is nicknamed “yellow beard.” The slender body is covered with gray or brown skin with a diamond-shaped pattern on the back. Kaisaka lives throughout the territory Central America, in Argentina and offshore islands South America.

• Diamondback rattlesnake(Crotalus adamanteus)

record holder among rattlesnakes for the amount of “milk yield” of venom (660 mg from one snake). A large viper can grow over 2 m in length and weigh more than 15 kg. Along the back, painted in brown tones, there is a series of 24-35 black diamonds with a brilliant shine and a light yellow border. This viper lives only in the USA: from Florida to New Orleans.

• Gyurza, or Levant viper(Macrovipera lebetina)

the most dangerous and poisonous viper, the venom of which is second in toxicity only to that of . It belongs to the oviparous type of snakes. The body length of an adult viper can reach 2 meters, the weight of the viper is 3 kg. The body color is gray-brown, with dark spotting, subject to variability within the range. Some individuals have a black body with a purple tint. The viper is widespread in dry foothill areas, as well as on the outskirts major cities North-West Africa, Asia, Transcaucasia, Dagestan and Kazakhstan.

• African pygmy viper ( Bitis peringueyi)

the smallest viper in the world, the body length of an adult does not exceed 20-25 cm. Due to its modest body size, it is a relatively safe species of viper that lives in the deserts of Namibia and Angola.

• Bushmaster or surukuku ( Lachesis muta)

the biggest viper in the world, rare view, reaching a length of 3-4 meters with a body weight of 3 to 5 kg. Inhabits wet rainforests South and Central America.

How long do they live snakes? I will give a few facts from the practice of keeping snakes in domestic zoos. At the Moscow Zoo dark python lived for about 50 years, after his death he was immediately measured. The length was five meters 10 centimeters. Then they counted the teeth and vertebrae of the skeleton: there were 98 teeth (with an unequal number on the upper and lower jaws), 312 vertebrae!

Central Asian cobras lived for 12 - 15 years, the American snake snake - 18. Many species of snakes grow very quickly. For example, in the Leningrad Zoo, a dark python, which was brought from Southern China, gained more than 30 kilograms in 4 years and turned from a fifty-centimeter baby into a three-meter snake.

Now let's talk about real and imaginary dangers. First of all, you need to clearly understand that snakes never show intentional aggressiveness towards humans. Even giant snakes do not pursue people, and their attacks on humans are random and extremely rare. The active defense of a snake is a different matter; when the animal defends itself, this is a legitimate natural “right”. Often people are dismayed by the loud hissing, dry crackling sound that rattlesnakes make using a special rattle at the end of their tail, the ominous rustling of the f-hole, the friction of body scales against each other, and the fractional sounds from the vibration of the tip of the tail in some species of snakes. Their sudden appearance, silent and fast movements, ability to penetrate narrow openings and climb almost vertical cliffs on river banks, rocks and tree trunks are striking. The fear of snakes is aggravated by their “mysterious”, from the point of view of people, habitats: ruins, abandoned buildings, cemeteries, swamps, and sometimes unexpected appearances in the center of a large populated area. I remember a commotion at one of the capital’s factories: in broad daylight, real ordinary vipers appeared in a workshop located on the ground floor. Zoo employees had to go to the site on alarm, catch the aliens and investigate the reasons for their appearance at the enterprise. The solution came quickly: the snakes were brought in with peat briquettes.

Many people believe that all snakes are poisonous without exception. Unkind rumors only got around. And even then, some say with conviction: “But it’s not a snake!” And, moreover, they “prove” that snakes “sting with their sharp sting, forked at the end.” Not only do they say, they often write: “The snake bit...”

The tongue is the most important organ of touch in snakes, and with its help animals navigate their surroundings. The tongue is not sharp, it is very gentle and sensitive, especially at the tip; it is a receptor, amazing in its perfection, associated with a special organ on the roof of the snake - the Jacobson's organ, where the data collected by the tongue is constantly processed. This is how the snake receives the necessary information about what is happening around it. Observe: if everything around is calm, the snake is fed and resting, then its tongue is not visible. But as soon as the animal notices something, feels the slightest vibration in the soil, it immediately turns on its analyzer. Its role is great, since the vision and hearing of snakes are poorly developed. And during periods of molting, several times during the year, snakes generally see very poorly, because the top, stratum corneum layer of skin peels off and peels off from the entire body, including... from the eyes. Snakes do not have movable eyelids that close their eyes; they are always open; this most often serves as the basis for fables about the ability of snakes to hypnotize their prey and even large opponents. The eyes of snakes are protected by fused eyelids, which have turned into a kind of transparent “glasses,” but during the molting period they lag behind the surface of the eyes, and they seem to become cloudy. During this period, snakes prefer to be in reliable shelters.

Poisonous snakes bite with poisonous fangs located in the front part of the upper jaw. Poisonous teeth are hollow inside and have an external groove. They are connected to the gland that produces poison by a canal, and the glands themselves (there are two of them at the edges of the head) are hidden under the bones of the skull. Poison is a clear liquid. When dried, it turns into crystals and remains toxic for years.

In the Red Book of the International Union for Nature and natural resources 30 species of snakes are registered, 15 are in the Red Book of the USSR, and among them are the Central Asian cobra, Asia Minor, Caucasian, and long-nosed vipers.

You need to take care of snakes, and if you suddenly meet, you need to give way to them. Such an action will be the most correct in relation to these useful animals. It is illegal to catch them, let alone destroy them.

A snake is an animal of the chordate type, class Reptiles, order Squamate, suborder snakes (Serpentes). Like all reptiles, they are cold-blooded animals, so their existence depends on the ambient temperature.

Snake - description, characteristics, structure. What does a snake look like?

The body of the snake has an elongated shape and can reach a length of 10 centimeters to 9 meters, and the weight of the snake ranges from 10 grams to more than 100 kilograms. Males are smaller than females, but have more long tail. The body shape of these reptiles is varied: it can be short and thick, long and thin, and sea ​​snakes have a flattened body resembling a ribbon. That's why internal organs these scaly ones also have an elongated structure.

The internal organs are supported by more than 300 pairs of ribs, movably connected to the skeleton.

The snake's triangular head has jaws with elastic ligaments, which makes it possible to swallow large food.

Many snakes are venomous and use venom as a means of hunting and self-defense. Since snakes are deaf, to navigate in space, in addition to vision, they use the ability to capture vibration waves and thermal radiation.

The main information sensor is the forked tongue of the snake, which allows, with the help of special receptors inside the palate, to “collect information” about environment. Snake eyelids are fused transparent films, scales covering the eyes, therefore snakes don't blink and even sleep with their eyes open.

The skin of snakes is covered with scales, the number and shape of which depends on the type of reptile. Once every six months, the snake sheds its old skin - this process is called molting.

By the way, the color of the snake can be monochromatic in species living in temperate zone, and variegated among representatives of the tropics. The pattern can be longitudinal, transversely circular or spotted.

Types of snakes, names and photographs

Today, scientists know more than 3,460 species of snakes living on the planet, among which the most famous are adders, sea snakes (not dangerous to humans), pit snakes, pseudopods with both lungs, as well as rudimentary remains pelvic bones and hind limbs.

Let's look at several representatives of the snake suborder:

• King Cobra(hamadryad) ( Ophiophagus hannah)
  

The most gigantic poisonous snake on earth. Some representatives grow up to 5.5 m, although the average size of adults usually does not exceed 3-4 m. King cobra venom is a lethal neurotoxin, causing death in 15 minutes. The scientific name of the king cobra literally means “snake eater”, because it is the only species whose representatives feed on snakes of their own kind. Females have exceptional maternal instinct, constantly guarding the clutch of eggs and completely going without food for up to 3 months. The king cobra lives in the tropical forests of India, the Philippines and the islands of Indonesia. Life expectancy is more than 30 years.

• Black Mamba ( Dendroaspis polylepis)

The African venomous snake, growing up to 3 m, is one of the fastest snakes, capable of moving at a speed of 11 km/h. The highly toxic snake venom causes death in a matter of minutes, although the black mamba is not aggressive and attacks humans only in self-defense. Representatives of the black mamba species received their name due to the black coloration of the oral cavity. The snake's skin is usually olive, green or brown in color with a metallic sheen. It eats small rodents, birds and bats.

• Fierce snake (desert taipan) ( Oxyuranus microlepidotus)

The most poisonous of land snakes, the poison of which is 180 times stronger than poison cobras This species of snake is common in the deserts and dry plains of Australia. Representatives of the species reach a length of 2.5 m. The color of the skin changes depending on the season: in extreme heat it is straw-colored, when it gets colder it becomes dark brown.

• Gaboon viper (cassava) ( Bitis gabonica)

Poisonous snake that lives in African savannas, is one of the largest and thickest vipers, up to 2 m long and with a body girth of almost 0.5 m. All individuals belonging to this species, have a characteristic, triangular-shaped head with small horns located between the nostrils. The Gaboon viper has a calm character, rarely attacking people. It belongs to the type of viviparous snakes, breeds once every 2-3 years, bringing from 24 to 60 offspring.

• Anaconda ( Eunectes murinus)

The giant (ordinary, green) belongs to the subfamily of boas; in former times the snake was called a water boa. The massive body, 5 to 11 m long, can weigh over 100 kg. The non-venomous reptile is found in low-flow rivers, lakes and creeks of the tropical part of South America, from Venezuela to the island of Trinidad. It feeds on iguanas, caimans, waterfowl and fish.

• Python ( Pythonidae)

Family representative non-venomous snakes It is distinguished by its gigantic size from 1 to 7.5 m in length, with females much larger and more powerful than males. The range extends throughout eastern hemisphere: tropical forests, swamps and savannas of the African continent, Australia and Asia. The diet of pythons consists of small and medium-sized mammals. Adults swallow leopards, jackals and porcupines whole, and then digest them for a long time. Female pythons lay eggs and incubate the clutch, by contracting muscles, increasing the temperature in the nest by 15 -17 degrees.

• African egg snakes (egg eaters) ( Dasypeltis scabra)

Representatives of the snake family that feed exclusively on bird eggs. They live in savannas and woodlands of the equatorial part of the African continent. Individuals of both sexes grow no more than 1 meter in length. The movable bones of the snake's skull make it possible to open its mouth wide and swallow very large eggs. In this case, the elongated cervical vertebrae pass through the esophagus and, like a can opener, rip open the eggshell, after which the contents flow into the stomach, and the shell is coughed up.

• Radiant snake ( Xenopeltis unicolor)

Non-venomous snakes, the length of which in rare cases reaches 1 m. The reptile received its name for the rainbow tint of its scales, which are dark brown in color. Burrowing snakes live in the loose soils of forests, cultivated fields and gardens in Indonesia, Borneo, the Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and China. Small rodents and lizards are used as food items.

• Worm-like blind snake ( Typhlops vermicularis)

Small snakes, up to 38 cm long, resemble earthworms in appearance. Absolutely harmless representatives can be found under stones, melons and watermelons, as well as in thickets of bushes and on dry rocky slopes. They feed on beetles, caterpillars, and their larvae. The distribution area extends from Balkan Peninsula to the Caucasus, Central Asia and Afghanistan. Russian representatives This type of snake lives in Dagestan.

Where do snakes live?

The distribution range of snakes does not include only Antarctica, New Zealand and the islands of Ireland. Many of them live in tropical latitudes. In nature, snakes live in forests, steppes, swamps, hot deserts and even in the ocean. Active image Reptiles lead their lives both during the day and at night. Species living in temperate latitudes, hibernate in winter.

Many readers know that snake viper belongs to the class of reptiles. But not everyone knows that this family of creeping reptiles has more than 58 species.

The habitats of these creatures are very diverse; for example, they can be found in most of the African continent, in Asia, as well as in most of European territory.

Vipers feel great both in arid steppes and in humid climate forests of the equator. They can settle on rocky mountain slopes and inhabit northern forests.

Basically, vipers prefer a terrestrial lifestyle, but among their relatives there are often individuals that lead an underground lifestyle hidden from prying eyes. A striking representative of this species can be called earthen viper from the genus Atractaspis.

Ground viper

The main factors for the life of snakes of this family are the availability of food and a sufficient amount of light. They are not so demanding about everything else. Class of vipers, as previously noted, very diverse, but we will talk about four representatives in more detail. So, get acquainted.

The common viper lives throughout the European part of the globe, in parts of Asia, even in the north, right up to the Arctic Circle. She leads a sedentary lifestyle - she does not like frequent changes of habitat.

The snake overwinters in crevices of the ground, in rodent burrows and other secluded places. It usually leaves its winter habitat in mid-spring, but this depends on the geographic location.

The photo shows a common viper

Geography of habitat steppe viper very extensive. It can be found in the steppes of the European zone, especially in the western part. She settled in Eastern Kazakhstan, the steppe regions of the Caucasus and the coast. About vipers Many interesting facts are known, for example, they are capable of performing forced marches to altitudes of up to 3000 m above sea level.

Snakes often choose a certain territory for their habitat, where there are no other representatives of this class besides them. In winter, creeping creatures take refuge underground, and they bury themselves to a decent depth (1.0 meter or more).

Pictured is a steppe viper

But the fact is that even with a slight minus, the snake can die, so these cautious creatures play it safe and go to spend the winter at a depth that can retain heat. Vipers often hibernate in large groups, but can also hibernate alone.

Having awakened from a long winter sleep, with the onset of spring, vipers crawl out of their shelters and find rocky surfaces, where they enjoy sunbathing.

In our country common and steppe viper can be found everywhere and meeting it does not bode well for a person. After all, the venom of large individuals is fatal to humans, not to mention small animals and birds, for which a small amount of the deadly substance is enough to die when bitten. Full-fledged viper bite causes the death of the victim within a few minutes.

The character and lifestyle of the viper

Vipers cannot be called record holders in running, because they are too slow. They are able to spend the entire day lying down without unnecessary movements. But with the onset of dusk, snakes become more active and begin their favorite pastime - hunting.

It should be noted that large individuals can lie motionless for a long time, expecting that the prey itself will fall into the affected area, and then the viper will not miss the chance to feast on what itself came to it as lunch.

The main distinguishing feature of vipers is that they are fluent in the art of swimming; swimming across a wide river or a fairly large body of water is a breeze for them.

This is probably why vipers can most often be found on the banks of reservoirs, but they also do not disdain swamps, and here they are simply teeming. People often use the phrase “a swamp infested with vipers,” and this is not without its common sense.

Vipers love to settle in wetlands

Everyone knows that snakes lack limbs, but this does not bother them. After all, they can move freely with the help of their natural plasticity and soft spine. Gracefully wriggling among the stones, the creeping creatures are capable of developing quite a decent speed.

But God did not endow these creatures with good hearing and visual acuity. Snakes completely lack an auditory opening, and their eye sockets are covered with a dense transparent veil. The eyelids of reptiles are fused, and therefore they cannot blink.

It is reliably known that black viper poisonous The only representative of this class does not pose a danger to humans. Signs of a viper: Snakes have two large teeth in which venom accumulates.

Pictured is a black viper

The toxic substance is produced by paired glands located on both sides of the eyes, and they connect to the teeth through ducts. Interestingly, all species have an interesting dental structure. The poisonous fang is located on a bone, which is very mobile.

Therefore, when the snake’s mouth is closed, the tooth takes a horizontal position, but as soon as the creature opens its mouth slightly, the poisonous fang stands up and takes a vertical position.

Common viper. This particular type of snake is considered the most common. This reptile reaches half a meter, but there are also larger specimens, whose length from head to tip of tail is 80 centimeters.

Distinctive feature the viper is its pattern, reminiscent of a zigzag

The structure of her head is triangular, and this part stands out noticeably against her thick body. Nature has endowed vipers with a wide variety of shades - from inconspicuous gray to bright red-brown. There are also black, olive, silver, and bluish vipers.

A characteristic feature of the color is a dark zigzag running along the entire ridge. It is not so often that you can find a viper with dark stripes located across it. There is an identifying mark on the reptile's head characteristic mark in the form of the letter V or X.

A clear black stripe runs through the center of the eyes along the entire area of ​​the head. Interesting fact: snake catchers counted the number of scales on the body and found that there were 21 scales around the body in the middle part (rarely 19 or 23).

In principle, the snake will not bite innocent people. Only if an unwary traveler steps on her, then she will give a worthy rebuff. Such snakes are called peace-loving. She will prefer to quickly move away from the place where she can be noticed and hide.

Steppe viper. This species of reptile is much smaller in size than the previous species and an adult, as usual, can rarely reach half a meter. Unlike its relative the common viper, the steppe viper has a pointed, slightly raised snout.

In vipers poor eyesight, which is compensated by its quick response

The nostrils cut through the lower part of the nasal septum. There is a black curving stripe along the entire length of the body and along the ridge. Dark spots appear clearly on the sides. If you turn the reptile onto its back, you can see that its belly is gray with numerous specks of a light shade.

If we compare steppe bite And common viper venom, then the first option will be less dangerous for humans. Gaboon viper. A striking representative of African venomous snakes. This is a truly respectable individual.

The Gaboon viper is found in Africa

Its body is thick - 2.0 meters or more, and the weight of fattened individuals reaches 8-10 kg. The snake is quite remarkable for its bright variegated coloring, which resembles a hand-painted carpet.

The drawings are filled with various geometric shapes various bright saturated colors - pink, cherry, lemon, milky, blue-black. This snake is recognized as one of the deadliest, but due to the fact that it is very phlegmatic, many believe that it is not as dangerous as everyone thinks about it.

You can pick her up by the tip of her tail without any danger to her health, put her back, and she won’t even want to make a menacing appearance. But teasing a snake is extremely undesirable, because it remains angry for a long time and it is unlikely that you will be able to “conspire” with it.

Among other things, the Gaboon viper has the longest teeth full of poison. Looking at photo of vipers can see features reptiles.

Snakes are not poisonous representatives of vipers. Distinguish snake from vipers can be seen by the bright orange spots located on the side of the head. In addition, they have round eye pupils, and in the previously described species, and in all others, the pupil is narrowed and located vertically.

Also, this type of snake does not have the characteristic zigzag on its back. Although the coloring of the water snake is very similar to the coloring of the viper, because many people confuse the checkerboard arrangement of spots with the characteristic meander along the ridge.

The photo shows a water snake, which, due to its similar color, is often confused with poisonous vipers

But up close you can see that the spots are interrupted and do not form a continuous zigzag. From the head to the tip of the tail it narrows evenly and a triangular head is unusual for him.

Viper food

By nature, all types of snakes are predators. They are capable of swallowing prey whole, and not only small rodents and birds, but also fairly large animals, such as others. Sometimes the prey is much thicker than the reptile’s body, which does not prevent the snake from swallowing it whole.

The viper is able to perform such actions thanks to the special joints of its jaws. Structure lower jaw allows you to stretch forward and then return to your original position.

In addition, the halves of the jaws are connected at the chin and, if necessary, can easily move apart.

The composition of the viper's diet depends on its habitat. Usually for lunch they prefer mice and. But chicks are their favorite food. Small animals, amphibians and lizards are added to this list. It is very interesting to watch the viper when it hunts.

The main prey of steppe vipers are rodents and insects. Being excellent at climbing trees, it is not difficult for them to check the nests of birds, as well as birdhouses, in order to find their favorite delicacy there - chicks. Bird eggs also bring them pleasure. However, this snake loves to pamper itself with a delicacy in the form of small ungulates.

The Gaboon viper is a hunter by nature. It will take a place in an ambush, wait until dusk, and when the warm-blooded animal approaches the required distance, it will pounce and swallow it whole. She loves to eat hares and other inhabitants of her range. She will not disdain to taste the dwarf, which has strayed from the herd.

Reproduction and lifespan

The mating season for snakes occurs in the spring - usually in May. The pregnancy of a viper, like many other reptiles of the reptile class, depends on the weather and ranges from three months to six months. What is most surprising is that sometimes a pregnant snake can even overwinter.

They usually give birth to 10-20 young of their own kind. When born, they immediately inherit poisonousness from their parents. A few hours after birth, the young individuals molt. You can observe an interesting moment during childbirth.

The photo shows the birth viviparous snake

The female wraps herself around the tree, and the born cubs fall straight to the ground. The cubs live on the forest floor or in burrows and feed on insects. A snake can begin to reproduce at a fairly advanced age for reptiles - about 5 years. Males become sexually mature at 4 years of age.

The average lifespan of vipers in nature is 10 years. Steppe vipers begin to reproduce at the age of 3. Life expectancy is shorter than common vipers, only 7-8 years old. The Gaboon viper, like all described species, is viviparous.

Males like true gentlemen During courtship they never bite each other. The gestation period lasts about 12 months. She is capable of producing from 10 to 40 cubs.