A symbol of wisdom in the legends and tales of various cultures, the snake traditionally represents both a sophisticated mind and excellent insight, as well as speed of reaction with great destructive power. The lifestyle and habits of the most common venomous snake in middle lane Russia - the common viper - confirm the existing image of this reptile.

Common viper: what is it?

Let's start getting acquainted with this very unusual snake with its description. What does a viper look like? This is a reptile, reaching a length of 0.7-1 m. Males, as a rule, are smaller than females. The viper's head is quite elegant, rounded-triangular with clearly defined scutes - two parietal and one frontal. The nasal opening is located in the center of the anterior shield. The pupil is vertical. The teeth are movable tubular, located in front of the upper jaw. The clear delineation of the head and neck adds grace to this graceful and dangerous creature.

Snake coloring

Nature did not skimp on colors when painting the viper. The many shades of color of the snake are amazing: the gray or sandy-brown back of almost every individual is dotted with intricate patterns of various tones - from light blue, greenish, pink and lilac to terracotta, ashy and dark brown. It is impossible to determine the dominant color, since there are as many color options for the viper as there are individuals. But the distinctive feature of this species is a zigzag or even stripe stretching along the entire back. Usually it is darker, but there are exceptions. Sometimes there are snakes with light stripes
on a dark background. One way or another, this element is a kind of calling card of the animal, warning that it belongs to a very dangerous species - the common viper.

There is an interesting pattern: males are purple, gray or bluish-blue cold in color. Females, on the contrary, are much more brightly colored; they have red, yellow, greenish-brown and delicate sand tones in their arsenal. True, black can be worn by both sexes. Moreover, they can be absolutely the same color, without any identifying stripes. However, you can still distinguish them by looking closely: males have small white spots on the upper lip, and the bottom of the tail is also lightened. Females have red, pink and white speckles on the lips and throat, and the lower part of the tail is bright yellow.

Diversity color range The color of snakes is amazing, and the more surprising is the fact that viper cubs are born completely brown-brown in color with a terracotta zigzag along the back, and changes in the skin begin no earlier than after 5-7 molts, i.e. almost a year after appearance to the light.

Snakes and vipers: similarities

Scientific research from past years shows that the main difference between these two species is their habitat. Snakes have always lived next to humans, without fear of such proximity. Vipers never sought to communicate with people. Moreover, if people settled near the habitats of snakes, the outcome for these animals was natural. Currently, due to changes in natural conditions and man-made disasters, much has changed. For example, massive fires drive vipers out of their usual places. Incidents of snakes in gardening communities located near burnt forests have increased significantly. Of course, the appearance of reptiles in crowded places cannot be explained by a change in the snake worldview. Often they simply have nowhere to go, and the differences between snakes and vipers become similarities imposed by circumstances.

Snakes and vipers: differences

There are external differences between these species. The most important thing is that the grass snake has orange-yellow spots on the sides of its head. The coloring also varies - snakes do not have a zigzag pattern on the back. Its body is more elongated from head to tail, by the way, quite long. The viper's tail is short and sharply tapering.

They differ in the shape of their heads and eye pupils. The viper's head is covered with small scutes; the snake's are large. The viper's pupils are vertical, characteristic of a nocturnal reptile. Already is a lover of daytime vigils, and his pupils are round. A person who knows what a viper looks like will have no difficulty distinguishing these animals.

Lifestyle of snakes

Being predominantly nocturnal, snakes can be active during the day. They can calmly bask in the sun, choosing stones, large hummocks, and smooth clearings. Night is hunting time. The gray viper (common) is an excellent hunter. Quick reaction, accuracy and surprise of the attack leave no chance for mice and frogs that come into her field of vision.

These reptiles mate between mid-May and early June. Being ovoviviparous, vipers bear offspring until mid-to-late August. The cubs are born as poisonous little snakes up to 15-18 cm long.

Behavior and habits

Immediately after birth, the babies are freed from the egg shell and crawl away. The growth of young vipers is accompanied by constant molting. Having made the transition to independent life, they feed on various insects, and as they grow older they begin to hunt small birds, field mice, lizards, toads and frogs. In turn, young animals become victims of large birds of prey and animals. But after 2-3 years, the cubs look the same as a viper looks, i.e., a fully grown individual.

Snakes spend the winter in the soil, burrowing to a depth below the freezing layer. They climb into the holes of moles and voles, grooves from tree roots, deep crevices in rocks and other suitable shelters. Clumps of small groups in one place are often observed. This is how they wait out the cold. Sufficiently severe winters cause torpor in snakes, which lasts up to six months. The lifespan of vipers is about 10-15 years.

Steppe viper

Living in Southern Europe The steppe viper, a resident of lowland and mountain steppes, is found in Greece, Italy, France and many other European countries, as well as in Altai, Kazakhstan and the Caucasus. This amazing snake can climb mountains to a height of up to 2.5 thousand meters above sea level. What does a steppe viper look like?

It is a large snake up to 0.7 m long. It is distinguished by a slightly elongated head and slightly raised edges of the muzzle. The back of the viper is colored in brown-gray tones, with a light transition to the middle, decorated with a black or brown zigzag stripe along the ridge, sometimes divided into spots. The sides of the body are decorated with a number of vague dark spots, and the upper part of the head is decorated with a black pattern. The abdomen is gray, with light spots. The maximum distribution density of the viper is observed on the steppe plains (up to 6-7 individuals per hectare).

Reproduction

Plains vipers are most active from late March - early April until October. Mating time is April-May. The gestation period is 3-4 months. The female lays from 4 to 24 eggs, from which babies appear in July-August, 10-12 cm long and weighing 3.5 g each. Having reached a body length of 28-30 cm (usually three years after birth), the cubs become sexually mature. Slow on land, the snake is an excellent swimmer and can climb low bushes and trees with amazing speed. Being an excellent hunter, the steppe viper tracks down birds, mice, and does not disdain lizards, grasshoppers and locusts.

In the recent past, the steppe viper was used to obtain snake venom, but barbaric extermination led to a sharp reduction in its number, which stopped this trade. Today, in all European countries, this species is protected as an endangered species under the Berne Convention.

Marsh viper

Russell's viper, chained, or swamp viper is considered the most dangerous of the entire family. This species is found over vast areas of Central and Southeast Asia. The average length of this snake is 1.2 m, but occasionally there are individuals whose size exceeds one and a half meters.

The head has a somewhat flattened triangular shape. Large eyes dotted with golden veins. Large fangs, reaching 1.6 cm, are a serious threat and excellent protection for the reptile. The back is rough, covered with scales, the belly is smooth.

The body color of the marsh viper is dominated by gray-brown or dirty yellow tones. The back and sides are decorated with rich dark brown spots surrounded by a black ring with a bright yellow or white outer rim. There can be up to 25-30 such elements on the back, increasing as the snake grows. The number of spots on the sides may vary, sometimes they merge into a solid line. There are also dark V-shaped streaks on the sides of the head.

Behavior, nutrition and reproduction of marsh vipers

Ovoviviparous Russell's vipers mate early in the year. Duration
gestation period is 6.5 months. The appearance of cubs, as a rule, occurs in June-July. In one litter there are up to 40 or more baby reptiles with a body length from 2 to 2.6 cm. Immediately after birth, the first moult occurs. Cubs reach sexual maturity at two to three years of age.

Being the most poisonous snake Living in the Asian region, the chain viper is a dangerous nocturnal predator. She crawls out to hunt as soon as the sun disappears below the horizon. The diet of the swamp viper does not differ from the menu of other representatives of the class and consists of rodents, frogs, birds, scorpions and lizards. For people, this snake poses a mortal danger.

Encounters with snakes

As already mentioned, the viper is a poisonous snake. You need to remember this when going into the forest. True, meeting a person is never part of this creature’s plans; as a rule, it tries to hide as soon as it hears a threatening noise. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to avoid unexpected contacts while walking in the forest, picking mushrooms and berries, in swamps, or while gardening.

Feeling a threat, the viper actively defends itself: it hisses, rushes forward threateningly and makes dangerous bite-throws. Remember: when meeting a snake, it is strictly forbidden to make sudden movements, so as not to provoke an attack by the reptile!

To avoid such an unpleasant encounter, extreme caution must be taken when walking through forest areas where the viper may live. Every person needs to carefully study the photo of this representative of the animal world.

When visiting places of possible encounters with these reptiles, you must have the appropriate equipment. High rubber boots worn on woolen socks provide reliable protection from snake bites; tight trousers tucked into shoes. It’s good to have a long stick with you, which will help you both look for mushrooms and scare the snake. Most likely she will crawl away. Tapping with a stick while moving along the trail will also not be amiss. Vipers are deaf, but are able to perceive the slightest vibration in the ground. Only soft peat or fresh arable land prevents the snake from recognizing the approach of a person in time. Typically, snakebites are not an expression of aggression, but rather a reaction to unexpected or frightening disturbance.

Probably, folk tales and legends telling about such an amazing creature as the viper (descriptions of some species are presented in the article) are absolutely right: natural wisdom and endurance help these reptiles survive.

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 of vipers overwinter for up to 9 months a year, inhabitants of temperate latitudes crawl to the surface in March-April and immediately begin breeding.

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.

Nevertheless, viper venom has found its use, because it is a valuable raw material for the manufacture of medicines 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 a painkiller for neuralgia and rheumatism, for hypertension and skin diseases, to relieve asthma attacks, for inflammatory processes 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 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 allergic reaction for 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. The common grass snake has 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, the black water snake does not have yellow markings on its head, making it easily confused with a pit 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 pose a 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 the standard size of vipers is 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. It feels comfortable in hot Greece, Turkey and Albania, while also penetrating the Arctic Circle - found in Lapland and in countries on the coast of the Barents Sea. On Russian territory 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, reminiscent of a snub nose. The length of the viper is 60-70 cm (sometimes 90 cm). The body color is gray, sandy or red-brown (depending on the species); a zigzag dark stripe or a series of diamond-shaped stripes runs along the back. 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 lowland and mountain steppes, alpine meadows, 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. It got its name not thanks to a fairy-tale character, but 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 upperparts are greenish-brown, the underparts are creamy, the head is most often yellow color, there are 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 of 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 marks in the shape of the 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 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.” Slender body covered with gray or brown skin with a diamond-shaped pattern on the back. The caisaca lives throughout Central America, Argentina and the coastal islands of 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, colored 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 of large cities in 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 tropical rainforests of South and Central America.

Striped bothrops (Bothriechis lateralis PETERS, 1862)

In popularity among terrarium keepers, in second place after the prehensile-tailed Bothrops Schlegel, much inferior in terms of variability, striped Bothrops are usually green or blue in color with small transverse yellow stripes on the back, along the border of the ventral and dorsal scales there is a longitudinal stripe of yellow or white color. Newborns are colored brown, after half a year they begin to acquire mature tones, and are completely colored by two years. The size of adult individuals does not exceed one meter, usually about 80 cm.

Newborn striped bothrops:

Habitat: Highland tropical forests of Nicaragua, Panama and Costa Rica.

Striped bothrops lead an arboreal lifestyle, this is worth taking into account when planting in a terrarium, live plants are desirable, I have seen beautiful terrariums with them and with artificial waterfalls and other things, these snakes do not destroy the scenery, they usually sit in a visible place.

In the natural environment they hunt birds, lizards and frogs; in captivity they live well on small rodents. They lead an evening and nocturnal lifestyle and move little.

The poison is dangerous, similar to the well-studied poison of the prehensile-tailed bothrops, and rarely leads to serious results.

p.s. If you want to have a blue-colored Bothrops, look among the old individuals.

Enjoy your content! Take care of your hands))

Subspecies of mangrove boiga

1. The upper side of the body is uniformly black, without transverse stripes………… B.d. gemmicinta
- On the upper side of the body there are transverse stripes of yellow or silver color…………2

2. The scutes and scales on the throat are almost completely yellow…………3
- Shields and scales on the throat with black tips or outline…………4

3. The belly is black, on the front part with yellow, more or less oblong spots in the middle and yellow spots at the base of the dorsal bands; 37-53 transverse stripes on the body, usually not broken in the middle; 13-20 rings on the tail………… B.d. dendrophila
- The belly is black, without yellow spots in the middle or scutes; 21-41 rings or pairs of spots on the body, many torn in the middle; 7-13 rings on the tail………… B.d.melanota

4. Between the yellow rings there is a slightly lighter zone………… B.d.divergens
- Between the yellow rings everything is completely black…………5

5. Each yellow scale on the body is edged with black, the rings appear pockmarked…………6
- The rings are relatively narrow, their scales are uniformly yellow…………7

6. The rings are very wide, 3 or more scales thick………… B.d. latifasciata
- The rings are thin, usually one (rarely two) scales thick………… B.d.levitoni

7. Belly with one or two rows of yellow spots in the center; 76-103 rings………… B.d. gemmicinta(young)
- Belly without rows of yellow spots…………8

8. Upper labial scutes with very wide dark edges, so that the length of each yellow spot is almost equal to the length of the black space between two yellow spots; subcaudal scutes partially fused………… B.d. occidentalis
- Upper labial scutes with thin dark edges, the length of the yellow spot is much longer than the length of the black gap; subcaudal scutes are all completely separated…………9

9. 42-69 rings around the body; 63-90 rings around the body + around the tail; in Borneo………… B.d.annectens
- 58-80 rings around the body; 85-111 rings around the body + around the tail; in Palawan………… B.d.multicincta

Sources:
1. Gaulke, M.; Demegillo, A. & Vogel, G. 2005. Eine neue Unterart der Mangroven-Nachtbaumnatter von den Philippinen. Herpetofauna 25 (143): 5-16
2. Vogel, G. 2000. Zur Bestimmung der Unterarten von Boiga dendrophila (Boie, 1827) nebst einigen Neuigkeiten zu Boiga dendrophila gemmicincta (Duméril, Bibron et Duméril, 1854). Sauria, Berlin, 22(1), 27-43.

Pit snakes of Thailand

Poisonous snakes -Other poisonous snakes

Thailand is a relatively small state located in Southeast Asia, but such a small territory was able to gather a huge variety of the most unusual fauna. There are about 175 species of snakes alone in Thailand, of which approximately 85 are poisonous, but about 12 species of snakes pose a real threat to human life. Almost all of Thailand's deadly snakes belong to the slate family, and these are cobras and kraits. However, not only slates can pose a threat to human health. Thailand is also heavily populated by pit vipers and pit vipers, the bites of which can have serious health effects. In this article we will talk about the family of pit snakes that live in Thailand.

If you are going on vacation to Thailand, be prepared to meet a snake, because they are very common in this country. One important piece of advice: if you or a friend is bitten by a snake, try to remember what it looked like - and go to the hospital immediately. On this moment In hospitals in Thailand there are serums against large quantity poisonous snakes, but since they all differ from each other, it is necessary to provide as much information as possible about the biting snake (size, color, pattern, area where the snake was found). This article will help you get to know the representatives of pit snakes better, learn about the effect of their venom, their way of life and the places where you can stumble upon them.

So why are these snakes called pit snakes? The thing is, between the nostrils and eyes, these snakes have two small thermal pits. This is a kind of thermal imager, thanks to which pit snakes can see objects that are warmer than the environment in complete darkness.

All pit snakes are poisonous. Some are more poisonous, others less. As for the pit snakes of Thailand, you should especially be wary of the Malayan copperhead and Pope's keffiyeh. The venom of other pitheads in most cases does not lead to death, but swelling or even tissue necrosis does occur, so be careful. And remember, you don't know how your body will react to even mild venom, so exercise extreme caution when encountering a snake.

The article presents the names of species in Latin, the relevance of which, according to modern taxonomy, dates back to 2011. Some names have a word in parentheses that is the name of the genus also previously used for this snake. In different sources, the same types of snakes may have different Latin names.

So, let's start getting acquainted with the pit snakes of Thailand.

Malayan Cottonmouth

Calloselasma rhodostoma(Malayan Pit Viper) (Kuhl, 1824)

External description:Calloselasma– a monotypic genus that contains a single species C. rhodostoma. At least two features separate this snake from other vipers. Firstly, the Malayan copperhead has smooth scales (in addition to this, the genus Azemiops, and the remaining representatives of the viper family have keeled scales), and, secondly, this is an oviparous species, which is quite rare among vipers and pit vipers.

Malayan Cottonmouths are reddish, grayish or light brown in color with two rows of large triangular spots running along the spine. Between these rows of spots stretches a thin dark stripe, which can be indistinct and intermittent in different individuals. Top part The head is dark in color, but light stripes run from the nose along the entire head, forming an even angular triangle (it is clearly visible when viewed from above).

Length: Up to 100 cm, females are more massive and longer, males are slimmer and shorter.

Area: all of Thailand, southern Vietnam and northern West Malaysia. Thus, the name “Malayan Cottonmouth” is not entirely appropriate, since this snake inhabits only a very small part of Malaysia.

Habitat: The Malayan copperhead can be found in coastal forests, in bamboo groves, as well as in overgrown and unused plantations, farms, and gardens. They prefer to hide under dry leaves, under stones or in old stumps.

Lifestyle/Character: The Malayan Cottonmouth is predominantly nocturnal, being particularly active during rainy weather, but can also be active during the day. This snake is quite aggressive, the bite occurs at lightning speed.

Danger: The bites of the Malayan copperhead are very painful, a tumor forms at the site of the bite, and the bite can lead to tissue necrosis. The venom of this snake is quite strong and in some cases can be fatal to humans.

White-lipped keffiyeh

(White-lipped Pit Viper) (Gray, 1842)

External description: White-lipped keffiyehs have a uniform bright green color on their backs. The belly may be white, yellow or pale green. Below the eyes, the head also acquires a white, yellow or pale green color, which is how this keffiyeh gets its name. Males of the white-lipped keffiyeh have thin white stripes on the lateral surfaces along the entire body, closer to the belly. Females do not have such stripes.

Length: males – 75 cm, females – 104 cm.

Area: Thailand, India, South China, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam.

Habitat: White-lipped keffiyehs have adapted to a wide range of living conditions, from dense forests to bushy open spaces at altitudes of up to 500 meters above sea level. They can often be found near human settlements. They prefer to stay close to water.

Lifestyle/Character: These snakes are nocturnal and in search of food (rodents, frogs, lizards, birds), they usually descend to the ground. White-lipped keffiyehs attack very quickly, their character is quite aggressive, as a result of which bites of people by these keffiyehs are quite frequent.

The mating season for white-lipped keffiyehs occurs in September and October. A female keffiyeh can give birth to up to 16 babies at a time. Note that keffiyehs are ovoviviparous snakes, i.e. the eggs are incubated inside the female and live baby snakes are immediately born, located only in a thin shell, which they tear immediately after birth. Cubs have the same color as adults.

Notes:
Thailand is home to quite a few green keffiyeh species and to an ordinary person it is often difficult to distinguish them from each other. This is their list:
Trimeresurus (Cryptelytrops) albolabris(White-lipped keffiyeh)
Trimeresurus (Viridovipera) gumprechti(Green keffiyeh by Gumprecht)
Trimeresurus (Parias) hageni(Indonesian keffiyeh)
(Big-Eyed Keffiyeh)
Trimeresurus (Popeia) popeiorum(Pope's Keffiyeh)
Trimeresurus (Popeia) fucatus(Siamese keffiyeh)
Trimeresurus (Parias) sumatranus(Sumatran keffiyeh)
Trimeresurus (Viridovipera) vogeli(Vogel's Keffiyeh)
(Cardamom keffiyeh)

A serum against the poison of all green keffiyehs is currently available in Thailand.

Danger:

Cardamom keffiyeh

Trimeresurus (Cryptelytrops) cardamomensis
(Cardamom Mountains Green Pitviper) (Malhotra, Thorpe, Mrinalini & Stuart, 2011)

Length: males – 50 cm, females – 75 cm.

Area: Thailand (Chanthaburi Province), Cambodia (Koh Kong Province).

Habitat: Cardamom keffiyeh was first described in 2011. Outwardly, it is very similar to the big-eyed keffiyeh ( Cryptelytrops macrops). Like Cryptelytrops macrops And Cryptelytrops venustus these snakes live on small islands in large numbers. Outside their habitat (usually near a stream or in a valley between two mountains), they are practically never found.

Lifestyle/Character: This snake is nocturnal and hunts rodents, lizards and frogs. Cardamom keffiyeh, like the others, leads an arboreal lifestyle, but it rarely rises to a height of more than a meter above ground level.

This snake cannot be called aggressive. This is one of the few snakes that will not try to bite you at any opportunity.

Danger: The bites are very painful, but usually not fatal. In the worst case, the bite can lead to necrosis.

Kanburi keffiyeh

Trimeresurus (Cryptelytrops) kanburiensis(Kanburi Pit Viper) (Smith, 1943)

External description: Most often, the pattern consists of two colors: green and brown, but these colors can vary greatly from marsh and tan to bright green and burgundy. Outwardly, it is very similar to a magnificent keffiyeh.

Length: 70 cm.

Area: Thailand (Kanchanaburi Province).

Habitat: This species was described in 1934 by British herpetologist Malcolm Smith, who caught a female of this species in the limestone mountains near Kanchanaburi. This is where its name Kanburi and the Latin name came from kanburiensis.

Almost nothing is known about the life of these snakes in their natural habitat. It is not even known whether this snake is arboreal or terrestrial, like Trimeresurus venustus, which lives around the limestone mountains and is very similar in appearance.

Lifestyle: These snakes are believed to be active at dusk and at night. Mating season is in September and October. During this period, snakes are active even during the day, especially males. Therefore, the likelihood of meeting them increases. During the dry season, these snakes hide and reappear at the beginning of the rainy season in April. At the same time, females give birth to offspring.

Danger: Only one bite of this snake has been recorded and described in the literature. The bite did not lead to death, but required long-term treatment in the hospital.

Big-eyed keffiyeh

Trimeresurus (Cryptelytrops) macrops(Large-eyed Green Pit Viper) (Kramer, 1977)

External description: The big-eyed keffiyeh is predominantly green in color. Like the white-lipped keffiyeh, there may be white stripes along the body. But the main distinguishing feature of these snakes is their large yellow eyes.

Length: Up to 72 cm, however, these snakes usually reach only 50 cm.

Area: Northern and Central Thailand (especially common in the vicinity of Bangkok), Northern Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam.

Habitat: The big-eyed keffiyeh lives in forests and plains covered with bushes, and is also found on agricultural lands and gardens.

Lifestyle/Character: Like other keffiyeh species, these snakes are nocturnal. At dusk, big-eyed keffiyehs descend to the ground in search of frogs, lizards and rodents. Note that these keffiyehs control the population of frogs and rodents.

During the day, these snakes rest on trees and bushes, often ignoring passers-by. However, this does not mean that the big-eyed keffiyeh cannot bite - these keffiyehs attack with lightning speed when necessary.

Danger: The venom may be slightly stronger than that of the white-lipped keffiyeh. Usually the bite does not lead to serious complications. Deaths are very rare, but the bite can cause tissue necrosis.

Note that 40% of snake bites in Thailand are from the big-eyed and white-lipped keffiyeh.

Coastal keffiyeh

Trimeresurus (Cryptelytrops) purpureomaculatus(Mangrove Pit Viper) (Gray, 1832)

External description: The color can vary from blackish to dark purplish brown and can be either uniform or heterogeneous. Sometimes a white line may be present on each side of the body below. The belly is brown or greenish, maybe with black speckles.

Length: Males – 60 cm, females – 90 cm.

Area: Bangladesh, Myanmar, Southern Thailand, Western Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra Island).

Habitat: Coastal keffiyehs are found on overgrown river banks, in ditches, on hilly areas, on the shores of islands, in mangrove and swamp forests.

Character: Coastal keffiyehs are excitable and aggressive snakes that can move quickly over long distances. Their attacks are fast, but fortunately the bursts are too short. But these snakes calm down for quite a long time.

Danger: Coastal keffiyeh can be confused with Trimeresurus kanburiensis, Trimeresurus venustus. The venom is similar to that of other keffiyehs; bites rarely lead to death, but tissue necrosis is possible.

Beautiful (Magnificent) keffiyeh

Trimeresurus (Cryptelytrops)venustus(Brown-spotted Green Pit Viper) (Vogel, 1991)

External description: The magnificent keffiyeh is very similar in appearance to the Kanburian one. The main background of the body is green or marsh, the spots can be either brown or red-brown. The spots may have absolutely different shapes– they can form fairly even transverse stripes along with green, and may also have stripes of irregular shape or have a completely chaotic pattern. Each scale has its own color - either green or brown.

Length: The maximum length is 70 cm, but usually less.

Area: Thailand (between the provinces of Chumphun and Krabi).

Habitat: Magnificent keffiyehs prefer to settle in hilly areas, bamboo thickets, tropical rainforests and limestone mountain areas, and can also be found on rubber plantations.

Lifestyle/Character: Magnificent keffiyehs are usually active at night. They can be active throughout the day only after a heavy rainfall. Unlike other keffiyehs, this species can often be found on the ground rather than on trees. I guess you could say that these keffiyehs are semi-arboreal snakes. Like other keffiyeh species, they hunt frogs, lizards and rodents. These snakes are not very aggressive and only attack when absolutely necessary.

Danger: Little is known about the poison of the magnificent keffiyeh, but there are opinions that its poison is not too strong, a little weaker than that of the white-lipped keffiyeh.

Indonesian keffiyeh

Trimeresurus (Parias) hageni(Hagen's pitviper) (Lidth de Jeude, 1886)

External description: The color may be yellowish green, grass green or pale green. On the sides, closer to the belly, the color usually becomes lighter. The belly is often separated from the lateral surface by a white stripe. The belly is usually yellow or light green, and it can be much brighter than the color of the back. Some individuals have small, barely noticeable yellowish or bluish round markings with blurred edges on their backs.

Length: up to 116 cm.

Area: Thailand (Songkhla, Surat Thani and Trang Provinces), West Malaysia, Indonesia.

Habitat: Indonesian keffiyehs live on the plains of tropical forests.

Lifestyle/Character: Indonesian keffiyehs are predominantly nocturnal. They can be found especially often at night after a rainstorm. Like many other keffiyeh species, Indonesian keffiyehs lead both an arboreal and terrestrial lifestyle, descending to the ground primarily at night in search of food.

These snakes are usually quite calm and will not bite at the first opportunity.

A distinctive feature of the Indonesian keffiyeh is that it is an oviparous species, which is uncommon among keffiyehs. One clutch can contain up to 13-17 eggs. The incubation period is 35 days. Newborn snakes are approximately 24 cm long.

Danger: Although these keffiyehs are considered quite calm, you should be careful when dealing with them. There are no recorded cases of death after being bitten by this keffiyeh, but the bite can result in extremely painful swelling.

Keffiyeh Pope

Trimeresurus (Popeia) popeorum(Pope's Pitviper) (Smith, 1937)

Description: The back is green, the belly is pale green. The first row of bodily scales is white, creates white stripe, stretching from head to tail. Sometimes there may be a red stripe in front of the white one. The tip of the tail is brownish. Eye color may be red.

Length: up to 90 cm.

Area: Central, Western and Northern Thailand, Northeast India, Myanmar, Northern Laos, Malaysia.

Habitat: Pope's keffiyehs prefer hilly, forested terrain.

Lifestyle/Character: These snakes are nocturnal. During the day they prefer to rest on tree branches, and at night they come down to the ground in search of prey.

Pope's keffiyehs are considered to be quite aggressive snakes, attacking the enemy without hesitation.

Danger: Pope's keffiyehs have very strong poison! A large and painful swelling appears around the bite. Possible death.

Siamese keffiyeh

Trimeresurus (Popeia fucata) fucatus(Siamese Peninsula Pitviper) (Vogel, David & Pauwels, 2004)

Length: up to 85 cm, but usually less.

Area: Southern Thailand (from Chumphun province to the border with Malaysia), Myanmar, Malaysia.

General information: There is not much information about the life of this species yet, because it was first described in 2004 near Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Due to the fact that this species belongs to the group Parias popeiorum and was also written as Trimeresurus popeiorum(Pope's keffiyeh) before 2004, it can be assumed to have the same behavior and habitat as Parias popeiorum.

In addition, this view is different from Trimeresurus albolabris And Trimeresurus popeiorum a slightly more elongated head and stripes across the front of the body. However, it will be difficult for a person who does not study these species to distinguish between them.
Danger: Tests on the effect of the poison of this species have not yet been carried out, but there are suggestions that it is similar to the poison Trimeresurus popeiorum.

Keffiyeh Wairota

Trimeresurus (Craspedocephalus) wiroti(Wirot's Pit Viper) (Trutnau, 1981)

External description: In addition to the red-brown color variations, there are also gray-brown individuals with black spots on the back, or gray to gray-brown individuals with green or greenish spots.

Length: up to 89 cm, usually less.

Area: Southern Thailand (Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat and Trang provinces), Western Malaysia.

Habitat: Keffiyeh Wairota live in humid tropical forests up to 750 meters above sea level. According to information received from local trappers in southern Thailand, this species is found mainly near streams, rivers or other bodies of water.

This snake was first discovered near the city of Amphoe Chawang in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, but it will most likely not be seen there again, since the entire surrounding area has been converted to rubber plantations. None of the villagers interviewed in 2004 could recall seeing this snake in the past 10 years.

Lifestyle/Character: Most often these snakes are found on the ground, close to the ground or on low bushes, however, recent literature has reported the discovery of these keffiyehs on the tops of trees at a height of more than 20 meters from the ground.

Keffii Wairota are nocturnal. The basis of their diet is frogs, less often - rodents and birds
This species of keffiyeh lays eggs. There are usually 13-17 eggs in a clutch. The length of the hatched snakes is about 24 cm.

Temple keffiyeh

Tropidolaemus wagleri(Wagler's Pitviper, Temple Pitviper) (Boie, 1827)

External description: Temple keffiyehs are very diverse in their appearance. Sometimes the different colors of these keffiyehs are called "phazams" and in the past researchers have classified the different phases as subspecies. Some color variants may have black or brown as a base color, with orange and yellow stripes, while other variants have a light green base color and yellowish, bluish or reddish stripes (usually the latter has much thinner stripes).

Length: Maximum up to 100 cm. Males grow smaller than females.

Area: Southern Thailand (from Khao Sok and Takua Pa national reserves to the border with Malaysia), Southern Vietnam, Western Malaysia.

Habitat: Temple keffiyehs inhabit mangrove forests, as well as the first and second tiers of tropical forests. In these forests they are mainly found on bushes and branches, at a height of about 2 meters.

Lifestyle/Character: Like many other keffiyehs, temple keffiyehs are nocturnal, descending to the ground at night for prey or hunting directly from tree branches for rodents or frogs running past. During the day they rest in the trees. These snakes do not move very much and sometimes spend weeks in the same place without moving. Moreover, during the day these snakes can be so apathetic that you can easily pick them up directly from a branch (which I do not recommend you do, of course).

Danger: The bite of the temple keffiyeh is very painful, however, not fatal.

Interesting fact: In local cults, the temple keffiyeh is considered the guardian of family happiness; superstitious aborigines even plant snakes on tree branches near the house. Temple keffiyehs are numerous in the Serpent Temple (Penang Island, off the west coast of Malacca), where they are brought by clergy (hence the name).

Based on information from the website http://www.siam-info.com/, as well as information from other open sources
Author (presumably): J. Bulian
Author-translator: Andrey Minakov
The article uses photographs taken from the Internet.

ARIZONAN ASPID (lat. Micruroides euryxanthus) is the smallest snake from the family Elipidae (slates), its length is only 40 cm. Despite the small size of the Arizona asp, it is difficult not to notice it - the spectacular color of this snake immediately catches the eye. It consists of alternating black, red and yellow rings. Perhaps the most important feature of the Arizona adder is not its bright color, but the structure of its dental apparatus. On the maxillary bone behind each poisonous fang (there are two in total) they have another small tooth. However, asps need poisonous teeth not for protection from enemies, but rather for obtaining food. When in danger, this adder draws air into its lungs and exhales it rhythmically, while emitting a series of rapidly alternating clapping sounds. The little snake makes similar unusual sounds to scare away enemies.

Harlequin asp

HARLEQUIN ASPID (Micrurus fulvius) is one of the largest snakes of its genus, reaching almost 1 m in length, and is distributed to the north further than all the aspids of America. This snake poses a known danger, since with its considerable size it can easily bite a person. When biting, the asp grabs tightly with its teeth and tightly squeezes its jaws. The percentage of deaths from harlequin adder bites is quite high. If the necessary measures are not taken, the person usually dies 20-24 hours after the bite. Asp venom affects mainly nervous system(paralysis, collapse), there is no tumor, but there is a sharp pain in the area of ​​the bite.

Cobra adder

The cobra snake (Micrurus frontalis) is one of the most spectacular snakes of the Aspid family. Despite its small size (up to 60-70 cm in length), its color immediately attracts attention: red rings alternate with black, and each black ring is crossed by two more, pale yellow ones. Unfortunately, the cobra adder is poisonous and its venom is fatal to humans. This is the most dangerous neurotoxin, therefore keeping snakes of this species in a home terrarium is extremely undesirable - the death of household members or neighbors from a snake bite falls under Article 109 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Causing death by negligence”, which is punishable by restriction of freedom for up to two years or imprisonment for the same term.

Coral adder

Representatives of this species of snakes lead a predominantly nocturnal, secretive lifestyle. It can rarely be found in the open, although there are situations when the coral adder is found near human habitation. He prefers either a cool, damp watering can or a sandy one. Adders appear on the surface extremely rarely; this occurs during rains and during the breeding season.
The body length of this snake reaches 60-70 cm. The head is blunt, small sizes. The tail is also not very long - about 10 cm. The mouth is slightly stretchable. The color of the coral adder is very impressive. The main color is red, which is interrupted by regularly spaced black rings surrounding the body.

Coral ribbon asp

ASP CORAL Ribbon (Micrurus lemniscatus) Lives in Brazil, northern South America and the islands of Trinidad. It is colored similar to the cobra adder, but the yellow stripes that break up the black ribbon are much narrower. This species is one of the most common adders in southern Brazil. It has its own name among local residents - ibiboboka, which also penetrates into scientific literature.

Collared slender asp

The slender collared adder (Leptomicrurus collaris) is a relatively young and quite rare species from the aspid family (Elapidae). Together with the Arizona and coral adder, it is part of the American adder group. Moreover, all three genera - slender, Arizona and coral adders - are sometimes combined under the name American coral adders. However, the slender collared asp, unlike other representatives of the group, can be called endemic to the Amazon River basin, since it is the original inhabitant of these places and is only rarely found in other parts of the mainland. This snake got its name due to its slender, graceful body, from which it is not so easy to determine where the head is and where the tail is - both are decorated with thin yellow rings. Like all adders, the slender collared adder is poisonous. But all its weapons are two relatively short poisonous fangs on the upper jaw, so the snake bites extremely reluctantly and only in rare, most dangerous cases.

Denisonia splendid

Denisonia superba is a rare snake whose venom is fatal to humans and animals, like the venom of most adders, which has a neurotoxic effect. This is not the most major representative family - only one and a half meters in length - living on the Australian mainland along with other 19 species of Denisonia. So this genus can be called endemic to Australia. Denisonia splendid is distinguished by an amazing quality that is not typical for reptiles - viviparity. And although people and pets prefer to avoid this snake, it cannot be called overly aggressive, such as, for example, cobras.

Black echidna

BLACK ECHIDNA (Pseudechis porphyriacus) or black snake, distributed throughout Eastern and Southern Australia, reaches a length of 1.5-2 m. The shiny black color of the upper side of the body is effectively combined with the reddish color of the belly. The black snake lives in moderately damp low-lying areas and along river valleys, willingly goes into the water, swims and dives well. It feeds on frogs, lizards, and snakes. Juveniles prefer insects and other invertebrates. In captivity, the black snake eats mice well.

Ferruginous snake

[b]The common ferruginous snake (Maticora intestinalis) is a representative of the Aspid family. Its range extends across the Philippine and Sunda Islands. It inhabits Thailand, Burma, and the Malay Peninsula. Prefers to settle in moderately humid areas, abundantly overgrown with trees and shrubs. This species is quite small in size - about half a meter in length. It is brightly colored - a red stripe runs along its back and is bordered by black stripes. On the sides there are yellow stripes bordered in black. The main diet of the ferruginous snake consists of pygmy snakes. Its venom is neurotoxic and very strong, but it bites quite rarely, preferring instead to attack to evade pursuit or to scare with a deceptive maneuver. In the skeleton of this snake there are no rudiments of the pelvis and hind limbs. The left lung is also missing. The ferruginous snake, like most representatives of its family, is oviparous. In captivity, keeping it is practically impossible; the snake refuses to take water and food, and dies quite quickly.

Two-striped ferruginous snake

The ferruginous two-striped snake belongs to the largest family of snakes in the order of snakes and has all the corresponding features. She has a thin and slender body and is overall very beautiful. The color of this snake is a combination of orange, black and blue colors. It is also incredibly poisonous, which is emphasized in the very name of the reptile - glandular. This snake has overly developed venom glands, and they are located not only in the head area, as in other slates, but also continue into the body cavity, occupying almost a third of its length. Because of this, the heart and other organs of the snake seem to be pushed back. Its poison is very dangerous for humans and animals; first of all, it acts on the central nervous system of the victim.