When something happens too quickly, we say that we didn’t even have time to blink an eye. A person blinks in 202 ms; a rattlesnake's throw lasts no more than 90 ms. Long time Texas rattlesnake Crotalus atrox- the pride and favorite object of study of American biologists - was considered a champion in lightning-fast throw. This opinion was formed back in the 19th century, although no one has bothered to check it since then. In 1954, the throwing speed of rattlesnakes was measured using high-speed photography and found to be somewhat lower than thought, but the primacy of these reptiles was still unchallenged until chance intervened.

Louisiana State University assistant professor Brad Moon tasked his graduate student David Penning with determining whether a snake's throwing speed depends on its size. The graduate student got to work (he was helped by student Baxter Souvel) and discovered an amazing thing: gray climbing snakes Pantherophis obsoletus, with whom young herpetologists worked, the throwing speed was no less than that of a rattlesnake. At first Penning decided he had made a mistake and checked his calculations many times. Having made sure that there was no mistake, the researchers began targeted experiments, in which, in addition to 14 predatory but non-poisonous snakes, representatives of the viper family took part: 6 water snakes Agkistrodon piscivorus and 12 Texas Rattlers ( Biology Letters, 2016, 20160011, doi:10.1098/rsbl.2016.0011 ).

For measurements, the reptile was placed in a terrarium with a scale grid, into which a soft-stuffed glove was inserted on a wooden rod. The snake attacked this glove, and the researchers filmed everything that happened on a video camera that took 250 frames per second. Each snake was forced to make four to eight throws. Based on the video recordings, we calculated the distance between the snake’s muzzle and the target before the attack, the duration of the throw, the maximum speed and acceleration. The calculation results are presented in the table. For comparison, the researchers added literary data about other representatives of the viper family. From the table it follows that the gray snake attacks faster than many poisonous snakes.

Snake Throw Parameters

All three species studied hunt small, nimble mammals and suffer from attacks by predators: raccoons, red-tailed hawks, foxes and coyotes are not averse to preying on snakes. To feed and survive, these snakes must act very quickly. It is not surprising that their throwing parameters are similar, only Texas rattlers attack from a closer range. The maximum attack speeds ranged from 2.1 to 3.53 m/s, and the accelerations ranged from 98 to 279 m/s 2 .

If the snake misses, it does not pursue the prey; it is more profitable for it to bite the victim before it starts to run. It takes 14 to 151 ms for a mammal to activate skeletal muscle, and at least 60 to 395 ms to make a noticeable movement. The 50–90 ms that the snake spends on the throw should be enough for it to attack: the animal has not yet had time to really understand anything, but it has already been bitten. However, in natural conditions everything is more complicated than in an experimental terrarium, and snake hunting is not nearly as effective as it follows from theoretical calculations. A snake or rattlesnake often has to rush at an animal that has already begun to move, and manages to overtake it thanks to the acceleration that the snake develops. It is the magnitude of this acceleration, and not the fact that the gray snake is not inferior in attack speed to rattlesnakes, that is of the greatest interest.

The maximum accelerations that the researchers observed during the experiments - 274 m/s 2 for the snake and 279 m/s 2 for the rattlesnake - are approximately an order of magnitude greater than the acceleration that the black-tailed hare develops in a jump, and 30% more than in the kangaroo rat, in which, perhaps, such a reaction was formed during evolution precisely under the threat of a snake attack.

It is not only the snake’s ability to accelerate so quickly that is amazing, but also its amazing endurance. People cannot withstand such overloads. Pilots of jet fighters taking off from aircraft carriers experience accelerations of 27–49 m/s 2 . Without a special suit, they lose consciousness at accelerations slightly above 50 m/s 2 . Even in a special anti-gravity suit, pilots cannot rise from a sitting position at an acceleration of 30 m/s 2 and are unable to move their limbs at 78 m/s 2 . Snakes do not have a spacesuit, their head is far enough from the heart, which makes blood supply difficult; with such an acceleration, the blood flow to the brain can stop completely, but the snake is obviously saved by the short duration of the throw.

IN last years snake attacks have attracted the attention of many researchers. They find out which muscle activity allows fairly heavy snakes to rush at a target with such speed, how rapid braking at the end of an attack and the inevitable collision with the victim affects them. It turned out, by the way, that the speed of a throw determines a lot, but not everything. It is also important to attack from a certain angle and close your mouth in time ( Journal of Experimental Zoology A, 2005, 303A, 476–488, doi:10.1002/jez.a.179 ). The aquatic muzzle, which leads a semi-aquatic lifestyle and hunts both fish and small rodents, operates more successfully on land, although the speed of attack in both environments is the same - maximum acceleration reached approximately 75 m/s 2 . The difference is that on the ground, when attacking, a snake raises its head much higher, opens its mouth wider and slams it shut faster.

Snakes are still amazing creatures. It turns out we haven't studied them very well. Some will be more interested in the behavioral features that made snakes such successful hunters, while others will be more interested in their ability to withstand monstrous overloads without visible consequences.

We welcome all readers of our website “I and the World”. How many of you know the fastest animal in the world? Well, of course, you say: cheetah. And you'll be right! He is the fastest living on land. Today you will read about the top 10 fastest running land animals and we will touch a little on those representatives of the fauna that swim and fly quickly.

Leopard opens our top ten - 58 km/h

Yes, he definitely won’t catch up with the cheetah if they compete. When a Leopard pursues prey, it does not waste energy, but carefully lures it into ambush. Hunts antelopes, rodents, warthogs. Leopards live in Africa and Asia for 10-15 years, unless poachers kill them first because of their beautiful fur. In the 20th century these big cats were included in the Red Book.

The size of forest leopards is smaller than those that live in open places, apparently making their way through the thickets is more difficult and big size It just gets in the way. The weight of the largest males reaches 75 kg. The coloration is very similar to the cheetah and jaguar, and the color varies from pale straw or gray to rusty brown. In Southeast Asia, there are completely black leopards called Panthers.

In 9th place – Coyote – 65 km/h

They are not only sprinters, but also excellent swimmers and fish hunters. They move interestingly, jumping up to 2 to 4 meters in length. In weight they are significantly inferior to real wolves and weigh up to 21 kg, while wolves weigh up to 60 kg. The fur is more brown, and the elongated muzzle resembles a fox. Maybe Coyotes are the children of wolves and foxes, and for some reason became related in ancient times?

Coyotes are inhabitants of the plains and try not to appear in forests. But on the outskirts of large cities they are periodically spotted, where they like to rummage through garbage. They hunt mainly at dusk for hares, marmots, gophers and other small animals. In autumn they like to eat berries and nuts.

Hyena Dog reached 8th place - 70 km/h

Its name translates as “painted wolf”. But there are also black dogs. They were once very common in the African steppes and savannas, but are now found mainly in national parks. And although it is a relative of the wolf, it is very similar to the hyena.

They are short, lean, and weigh up to 36 kg. They hunt during the day and always in packs of up to 15 individuals on ungulates: antelopes, old zebras, wildebeest, reed rats. They do not eat carrion. Everyone in the flock lives amicably, feeds and takes care of the old and sick.

7th place – Elk – 75 km/h

It’s hard to believe that this stately and rather heavy (up to 600 kg) forest beauty is capable of developing such high speed. But it is so! On the plains, Elks run fast, which may be why predators are not always too tough for them. They defend themselves with blows from their front legs, and even bears are afraid to attack Moose on open area– only among trees or bushes where Moose are limited in movement.

They live in the forests of the Northern Hemisphere, less often in the forest-tundra and forest-steppe. In total, about one and a half million individuals live on earth, 730,000 in Russia alone. Moose are quite tall, and their highly elongated legs do not allow them to drink water easily. They have to go deeper into the pond or kneel down to drink. Males grow large horns, spanning up to 180 cm and weighing up to 30 kg. In summer, due to the heat, they are nocturnal. They feed on plant foods, lichens and mushrooms, and in winter they nibble on tree branches.

In 6th place – Thomson’s Gazelle – up to 80 km/h

Gazelle is the most delicious prey fast cheetahs, but they can rarely catch up with her due to high jumps while running. Although after 4-6 km of constant running, the Gazelle gets very tired and at this time the cheetahs still easily attack. Gazelles live in the steppes of Kenya and Tanzania.

They live in herds of several hundred or thousand individuals, consisting either only of females or only of males. But there are also single males. They feed mainly on herbs, but can also eat tree shoots. The weight of large males reaches only 35 kg.

5th place goes to Leo - 80 km/h

These strong kings of nature are very mobile animals and at a distance of already 20 meters they develop the highest speed. The weight of some males reaches 250 kg. In captivity, lions reach large sizes, because There is no need to run after prey in a cage. In nature they live up to 14 years, and next to humans up to 20.

White lions are found in national parks. These are not albinos, just a subspecies of Lions. Differing from other cats, they do not live alone, but in families - prides. They feed, of course, on animal food. They hunt at night, sneaking up to prey at a distance of up to 30 meters, surrounding and attacking. Sometimes they attack a person and then become cannibals, trying to kill a person more often.

4th place – Gazelle Granta – 85 km/h

At a constant speed they can run quite for a long time without getting tired, weighing up to 65 kg. They live on the open plains of East Africa, avoiding high vegetation, where they cannot see predators in time.

They easily survive where there is almost no water, only on one, even sparse, vegetation. They move in herds, but some males prefer a permanent territory. In some areas the Gazelle has been completely eradicated, but in others it is quite common.

Third place goes to Pronghorn - 89 km/h

Although the normal speed of this Pronghorn Antelope ranges from 60 to 70 km/h, but the maximum speed has been recorded at 89. Therefore, it can easily escape from any predator because it does not need rest. A beautiful, slender animal reaches a weight of 60 kg. They live in the steppes North America from Canada to Mexico.

In autumn and winter they gather in herds with a leader, and in the summer they are divided into pairs until the next winter. Old males usually live alone. They feed on grassy foods: regular and poisonous plants, cacti. They drink little, so if water becomes scarce, they survive on herbs.

2nd place belongs to Jaguar - 93 km/h

The beautiful, spotted cat cannot boast of endurance, and can only develop such high speed over short distances. If the prey notices a Jaguar at a great distance and runs away, the predator does not even try to catch it, because in a few minutes it will run out of steam.

It attacks only when it manages to get very close. Lives in Northern and South America. The Jaguar's weight reaches 113 kg. They live alone on their own territory of up to 50 square meters. km. They hunt small animals at dusk; they can eat snakes, turtles, and fish. They prefer not to attack ungulates.

And we rightfully give first place to Cheetah - 120 km/h

The fastest land animal is the Cheetah, which usually reaches speeds of up to 98 km/h and can run up to 400 m on flat terrain. But when catching up with prey, it can develop in 3 seconds. maximum speed of up to 120 km/h, which is almost 2 times the speed of its victims. But he is not able to run long distances.

The weight of an adult male reaches 65 kg. During the day they hunt medium-sized ungulates: gazelles, wildebeest calves, as well as hares or ostriches. They catch up with prey by jumping 6-8 meters. They do not attack from an ambush, because where they live there is simply no place to hide. Lives in Africa and the Middle East.

I would like to dwell on the fastest animals in water and in the air. What place do they occupy among their own? Of course the first!

The fastest sea animal - reaches speeds of up to 130 km/h

Research has shown that the fish's jaw contains oil, which it releases into the water. By spreading around the head, the oil reduces friction with the water.

There is another fast sea animal with the same speed - Black Marlin.

Who is the fastest bird? The handsome Sapsan, accelerating after prey and diving, is capable of accelerating to 390 km/h

When struck with claws at such a speed, it can tear off the head of the prey.

We showed photos and descriptions of the fastest animals on the planet. There are others, but we won’t dwell on them today. Did you like the article? Share information with your friends. In the meantime, we say goodbye until the next entertaining articles.

Reading time: 3 minutes. Views 4.1k. Published October 14, 2014

The world's largest snake
Reticulated python. 12.2 m.
Probably the longest snake in the world. The largest individuals of the nominate subspecies can reach a length of 10 m or more. However, individuals with a length of 4-8 m are more common. A record specimen of a reticulated python that lived in one of the zoos, according to unconfirmed data, reached a length of 12.2 m

The smallest snake in the world.
Barbados narrowmouth snake.
To date, the largest specimen of this species barely reaches 10.4 cm. These snakes feed exclusively on termites and ant larvae. They live only one season - from spring to autumn. One female snake usually lays one large egg, from which offspring emerge the following spring. Interestingly, the newborn snake reaches almost half the length of the mother, in contrast to big snakes, in which the size of the children is approximately one tenth of the body length of the parents. The size of the baby Barbados narrowmouth snake is determined by the boundary conditions of survival.

The most poisonous snake.
Tasmanian tiger snake.
There may be a lot of controversy here, but in terms of the level of aggressiveness, toxicity of the poison and the speed of death, the tiger snake is the leader among poisonous snakes. Lives on the island of Tasmania.

The most aggressive snake.
Yellow-bellied snake.
The yellow-bellied snake is a fairly large snake, it reaches two meters in length, and is considered the most aggressive not only in Europe, but throughout the world. When meeting a person, she does not even try to hide, but on the contrary, she rushes to attack. Enough large specimens They can jump up to 1 meter, while taking a threatening pose, and throw a loud hiss right into the enemy’s face. One good thing is that it is not poisonous!

The most common snake.
Common viper.
And here is a snake that probably everyone has had the chance to meet. And it is also in our top as the most common on the planet!

The largest poisonous snake.
King Cobra.
It lives in India and Indochina. The length of these reptiles can reach up to 5.5 meters. They very often live near humans, the reason for which was deforestation tropical forests. Cobra, oddly enough, feeds on other types of snakes. There are times when she can attack them when they are already hunting prey.

The smallest poisonous snake.
Puff adder.
It lives on the coast of Namibia in sand dunes. Its average length is 20-23 cm. It has a very unusual way of hunting: the snake buries itself in the sand, with only its eyes and the tip of its tail sticking out, which serves as bait. These reptiles obtain the necessary moisture from their victims. They also lick condensation off themselves, which allows them to survive in such harsh conditions without water.

The thinnest snake.
Ordinary belt-shaped.
Its length is 2 meters, while its thickness is 1-2 cm. The snake looks quite unusual - the head is much larger than the body. They live exclusively in trees and feed on snails and slugs. Their hunting weapons - sharpened fangs - are safe for humans.

The most fast snake.
Black mamba. It is almost impossible to escape from this snake; its speed is on average 11 kilometers per hour, and on flat terrain, with short throws, the speed can reach 16-19 km/h.

The most poisonous sea snake.
Belcher's sea snake. With one bite, the poison released can cause death in 250 thousand mice.

For the first time, biologists have accurately measured the speed at which an adder or rattlesnake throws out its head and bites its prey, finding that the snake accelerates to 60 mph in just 79 milliseconds, according to a paper published in the journal Scientific Reports.

"In nature, all encounters between predators and prey are unique - they are much more diverse than that, which we can see when they interact in the laboratory. Modern technologies"allowed us to understand what determines a successful hunt or escape from a predator, and move closer to uncovering the evolutionary factors that drive predators and their prey," said Timothy Higham from the University of California, Riverside (USA).

Since the Middle Ages and even earlier eras of human existence, vipers, rattlesnakes and other representatives of the viper family (Viperidae) have been considered a symbol of lightning-fast reactions, ultra-high speed and almost guaranteed accuracy of hitting the victim.

All these snakes hunt small mammals and reptiles from ambush, jumping out at them with great speed, opening their mouths 180 degrees and literally “driving” their fangs into the flesh of the victim. Higham and his colleagues decided to study this process in detail by traveling to the Mojave Desert in the southwestern United States, where the famous rattlesnakes live.

Having placed camera traps throughout the desert, scientists connected them to a computer and centrally monitored the movements and hunting of snakes, the favorite prey of which are American kangaroo jumpers (Dipodomys merriami) - large rodents similar to jerboas, moving along the desert sands in a similar “jumping” manner.

To photograph the snakes, scientists used high-speed infrared cameras capable of receiving 500 frames per second in three-dimensional format, as well as special thermal “illumination” systems. When the snake began to hunt, the computer alerted Higham and his team, and the scientists began to “manually” monitor how the vipers tried to catch the jumpers. Scientists have made it easier for snakes by scattering plant seeds around them that their victims eat.

These observations dispelled one of the myths associated with vipers - it turned out that they quite often miss, flying over or missing the rodent, especially if he managed to notice the predator at the last moment before the rattlesnake jumped. On the other hand, it turned out that vipers really move very quickly and bite with tremendous force.

On average, a snake strikes a rodent within 60-70 milliseconds after the jumper enters the strike radius. During this time, the snake's head flies about 12-16 centimeters, moving at a speed of 3.5 meters per second and accelerating its movement by 170-506 meters per second squared. This corresponds to a force of 50g - the maximum a person can experience - and is about the same speed as the airbags in a car are deployed.

Despite such impressive speeds and acceleration, the snake’s hunt for rodents was successful only in half of the cases - in 50% of cases, the jumpers managed to react to the snake’s jump and escape using peculiar “springs” in their legs. In some cases, this was not even necessary, since the snake made a mistake in calculating the “ballistics” of the jump and did not reach the jumper.

As Higham explains, an evolutionary "arms race" forced jumpers to learn to store potential energy in their tendons and release it in critical situations. When a snake jumps on a rodent, the jumper suddenly jumps up greater height, and the viper flies through the place where he stood 30 milliseconds ago.

In the near future, the authors of the article plan to conduct similar experiments with the participation of other vipers and rodents, which will show whether the rattlesnake is the record holder for speed of movement and acceleration, or whether it has worthy competitors among its relatives.

Here is a black mamba - the fastest snake in the world. Its movement speed reaches 23 kilometers per hour or 6.4 m per second, but only over short distances. True, the reptile uses its speed more often to escape from enemies, since it hunts while sitting in ambush, waiting for its prey.

Mamba is found from Senegal to South West Africa. Lives on the ground among bushes and grass. It crawls onto trees extremely rarely, as it is poorly adapted to life on them. At the same time, it often settles in fields among deep thickets. Since the lands are often cultivated by workers, and even manually, they are attacked by a snake. Almost no one survives.

The average length is 2.5-3 m, although sometimes specimens up to 4.5 m long are found in nature. Young animals are greenish in color, while adults are black or brown, with a white or light brown belly . It is famous for its aggressive character - it usually attacks first. Leaning on its tail, it raises the front part of its body and makes an instant throw towards its victim, immediately inflicting a bite.

Snake venom is incredibly toxic. Contains dendrotoxins, cardiotoxins, neurotoxins, blockers of voltage-dependent potassium channels of nerve fibers and blockers of muscarinic cholinergic receptors. One bite injects about 100-150 mg of poison, in rare cases - up to 400 mg. Wherein lethal dose for a person it is only 10-15 mg, and for an animal it is even less. If the antidote is not administered within the first minute, the probability of death can reach 100 percent.