The snow has long melted, the cold has finally receded, which means that connoisseurs active rest outdoors, summer residents and lovers of country life begin to think about their own safety. The forest is not only a source of fresh air, beautiful views, mushrooms and berries. Its shady massif serves as a home for a variety of creeping reptiles.

Snakes are cold-blooded reptiles. Their habitat is scattered across all continents, with the exception of Antarctica. The catalog containing the name of snakes contains about three thousand species. In the territory Russian Federation their numbers are limited. According to official data, only ninety species live on our territory. Among them there are individuals that pose a threat human life, as well as those who are completely harmless. Types of snakes and their names are of interest to many people who want to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Viper

This is perhaps the most well-known animal to Russians, falling into the category of “poisonous snakes”. This species has different names. They are often influenced by the reptile’s habitat. Common viper can be found in forests and forest-steppe zones. Favorite places to live are swamps, clearings, and areas near water bodies. It is most widespread in the European territory of the state, in Siberia, in Far East.

It has small size compared to others As a rule, it reaches a length of no more than seventy-five centimeters. But closer to the north there are individuals that grow up to one meter. The viper does not attack a person without reason. When meeting him, he usually tries to run away. Only in case of a threat does it take a defensive position: it hisses menacingly and makes warning throws. For this reason, you need to avoid sudden movements if you encounter a viper.

Already

By nature they are completely harmless creatures. Very often they die at the hands of a person who has not studied the names of snakes, their descriptions and differences from each other. very similar to poisonous viper. People who confuse them with each other purposefully kill reptiles, wanting to protect themselves from being bitten. Snakes are widespread throughout the European part of the state, with the exception of the polar regions. Very common in the Far East, near Lake Baikal and Siberia. The name of snakes often influences the naming of the area in which they live. So, in Ukraine there is the city of Uzhgorod and the river Uzh, named after this animal.

They reach a length of ninety centimeters. They prefer to live near bodies of water with flowing water. Unlike Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians are in no hurry to kill snakes. Residents tame them. These harmless creatures are actually very easy to make contact with. And it won’t be difficult for a person to make friends with them. Cold-blooded snakes are naturally excellent mousecatchers. They can even be used on the farm.

Copperhead, or yellow snake

This reptile received its name due to its color. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a poisonous snake. She lives throughout the state. IN Lately people began to increasingly destroy its natural habitats. This has led to the fact that the number of individuals of this species is rapidly declining. In addition, copperheads, along with snakes, are destroyed by people with their own hands, mistakenly taking them for poisonous snakes.

The length of the reptiles is relatively small, only seventy centimeters. Common habitats: forests in the Federation. Copperheads especially liked the edges of deciduous, coniferous or even mixed forests. Well-warmed ones are considered the most favorite habitat sun rays. It is extremely rare for copperheads to be found in open areas.

Gyurza

A direct relative of the viper. It belongs to its family, which means it is similarly poisonous. Compared to the viper, the viper is a very large snake, with well-developed muscles. The length of the individual reaches one and a half meters. Lives in the southern territory of Siberia. The venom of the viper has many properties that allow doctors to appreciate and widely use it to create medicines. This snake itself is very brave. But despite this, she never attacks a person unless he himself provokes her. If the collision occurs unexpectedly, for example, a viper is stepped on, it immediately attacks the offender, like other snakes. Photos and names of other members of the family, for example the Armenian or big-nosed viper, can be found in any encyclopedia.

Cottonmouth

The name of the snakes in this category will be presented below. There are three types: Ussuri and stony. They are characterized by their habitat. The common copperhead lives over a fairly wide area from the mouth of the Volga River all the way to the very shores of the Pacific Ocean. It reaches seventy centimeters in length, the color is dirty gray or brown with large dark spots located along the ridge. The head is covered with scutes, which is how the snakes got their name.

The animal's venom contains hemotoxins, which provoke heavy bleeding and widespread necrosis. In addition, it contains a certain percentage of neurotoxins that have strong impact on nervous system human body, as well as causing paralysis. There have been no official reports of deaths following a copperhead bite. However, this does not mean that you can safely provoke a snake when you meet. The bite is extremely painful, as are its consequences.

Tiger snake

The name of this species of snake comes from its characteristic color. Lives in the Far East. It has a bright green color with dark stripes across the body. In the front part of the body, the spaces between them are painted red. They reach a little more than a meter in length. They prefer to live in fairly damp places. They hunt frogs and fish.

The poisonous teeth of a tiger snake are located deep in the jaw, that is, they are created for prey that has already entered the mouth. If for any reason a snake manages to bite a person, he will suffer painful poisoning, very similar to the effects of viper venom. The bleeding is difficult to stop. After a bite, the victim should immediately consult a hematologist so that he can prescribe a course of special therapy.

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 a longer tail. The body shape of these reptiles varies: it can be short and thick, long and thin, and sea snakes have a flattened body that resembles 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 it to “collect information” about the environment using special receptors inside the palate. Snake eyelids are fused transparent films, scales covering the eyes, therefore snakes don't blink and even sleep with with open eyes.

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, vipers, sea snakes, snakes (not dangerous to humans), pit snakes, pseudopods with both lungs, as well as rudimentary remains of the pelvic bones and hind limbs.

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

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 most... fast 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. Skin color 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)

The poisonous snake that lives in the 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 head with small horns located between the nostrils . The Gaboon viper has a calm character, rarely attacking people. Belongs to the type viviparous snakes, reproduces once every 2-3 years, bringing from 24 to 60 offspring.

  • Anaconda ( Eunectes murinus)

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

  • Python ( Pythonidae)

A representative of the family of non-venomous snakes is different gigantic size from 1 to 7.5 m in length, and female pythons are much larger and more powerful than males. The range extends throughout the eastern hemisphere: rainforests, 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, ants and their larvae. The distribution area extends from the Balkan Peninsula to the Caucasus, Central Asia and Afghanistan. Russian representatives of this species of snake live 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. Reptiles lead an active lifestyle both during the day and at night. Species living in temperate latitudes winter time hibernate.

What do snakes eat in nature?

Almost all snakes are predators, with the exception of the Mexican herbivorous snake. Reptiles may only eat a few times a year. Some snakes feed on large and small rodents or amphibians, while others prefer bird eggs. Into the diet sea ​​snakes fish enters. There is even a snake that eats snakes: the king cobra can eat members of its own family. All snakes easily move on any surface, bending their body in waves; they can swim and “fly” from tree to tree, contracting their muscles.

Breeding snakes. How do snakes reproduce?

Despite the fact that snakes are solitary individuals by way of life, during the mating period they become quite sociable and “loving.” The mating dance of two snakes of different sexes is sometimes so surprising and interesting that it definitely captivates attention. The male snake is ready to hover around his “chosen one” for hours, seeking her consent to fertilization. Reptiles of the snake order are oviparous, and some snakes are capable of giving birth to live young. The size of a snake's clutch varies from 10 to 120,000 eggs, depending on the type of snake and its habitat.

Having reached sexual maturity at two years of age, snakes begin to mate. The male searches for his “lady” by smell, wraps his body around the female’s neck, rising high above the surface of the earth. By the way, at this time even non-poisonous individuals can be very aggressive due to excitement and excitement.

Mating of snakes occurs in a ball, but immediately after this the pair disperses and never meet again. The snake's parents do not show any interest in newborn babies.

The snake tries to make its clutch in the most secluded place possible: plant roots, crevices in stones, rotten stumps - every quiet corner is important for the future “mother”. The laid eggs develop quite quickly - in just one and a half to two months. Newly born snakes and baby snakes are absolutely independent, poisonous individuals have poison, but these babies can only hunt small insects. Reptiles reach sexual maturity in the second year of life. Average duration The life of a snake reaches 30 years.

What is snake venom? This is saliva produced by the salivary glands of poisonous individuals. Her healing properties known for hundreds of years: with the addition of snake venom, pharmacists make homeopathic preparations, creams, ointments and balms. These remedies help with rheumatic joint diseases and osteochondrosis. However, face poisonous bite This reptile in nature can be not only unpleasant and very painful, but also deadly.

What to do if bitten by a snake? First aid

  • If you have been bitten by a snake, and you do not know whether it was poisonous or non-poisonous, in any case you should remove the snake's saliva from the micro-wound! You can suck out and quickly spit out the poison, you can squeeze it out, but all these manipulations will be effective only for the first one to one and a half minutes after the bite.
  • The person who has been bitten definitely needs to be urgently taken to a medical facility (hospital).
  • At the same time, it is advisable to visually remember what the snake looked like, because its belonging to a certain species is most important for doctors who will prescribe anti-snake serum to the victim.
  • If a limb (arm, leg) is bitten, then there is no need to tighten it: this manipulation does not localize the spread of the snake’s venom, but may well lead to toxic asphyxia of the affected tissues.
  • Never panic! An increased heart rate due to excitement accelerates blood circulation throughout the body, thereby facilitating the spread of snake venom throughout the body.
  • Provide the bitten person with absolute rest, warm fluids, and take him to professional medical professionals as soon as possible.


Many people are scared of snakes. At the same time, it is simply impossible not to note their features and uniqueness. Cold-blooded animals amaze with their behavior, in an original way movement, the strength of the toxic substance and unusual appearance. Snakes are classified as chordates. Reptiles are included in the order Scaly, suborder snakes. The existence and well-being of cold-blooded animals is greatly influenced by the ambient temperature. The study of snakes reveals the unpredictable traits of reptiles and is gaining a growing audience that cannot help but fall in love with this population.

Characteristics and structure of snakes

Until recently, science knew of 3,200 species of snakes, and only 410 species were poisonous. The most interesting and unusual feature of cold-blooded animals is their unique body structure. An adult can grow up to nine meters in length. The smallest snakes grow up to 10 cm. The same fluctuations apply to the weight of representatives of the squamate order, starting from 10 g and reaching 100 kg. Home distinctive feature males are characterized by their long tail; they also grow smaller in size.

The variety of body shapes is simply amazing. There are individuals that have long and thin body, or, conversely, short and thick. Those snakes that live near the sea have a flattened appearance and often resemble a ribbon. The skin of cold-blooded animals is predominantly dry, completely covered with scales or peculiar scutes. In different parts of the body, the surface is different, for example, on the sides and on the back the scales are small and resemble tiles (as they overlap each other). The belly of most snakes is “studded” with wide semi-circular plates.

The snakes' eyelids are motionless and seem to be able to hypnotize their prey. Reptiles never blink and even sleep with their eyes open. The unique structure of the skull allows even the smallest individuals to open their mouths enough for a small rabbit to fit into it. This is because the upper jaw is connected to neighboring bones and is movable, while the elements of the lower jaw are connected by a ligament that stretches.

Due to the unusual body, the structure of the organs is also unique: they are all elongated and elongated closer to the head. The skeleton has a total of about 200-400 vertebrae, each of which is movable and connected by ligaments. The snake glides along the ground due to the movement of the scutes located on the belly. Thanks to the keratinized layers of the epidermis, cold-blooded animals move quickly without difficulty.

Despite all the features of snakes, reptiles have poor eyesight and hearing. In return, nature rewarded them with an excellent sense of smell and touch. An important role in orientation in space is played by the tongue, which is forked at the end. Many researchers call it a “sting.” Opening its mouth, the snake catches the air with its tongue and various particles and elements of the atmosphere stick to it, then the reptile brings the organ to a certain place located in the mouth and smells and tastes.

In most cases, snakes use their venom for self-defense, and this is also one of the ways to kill the victim.

Nutrition and hibernation of snakes

What snakes eat depends directly on the size of the cold-blooded animal. The main diet of reptiles consists of rodents and some types of insects. But the fact remains that all snakes are carnivorous. For individuals, it is considered a real delicacy to have breakfast with small chicks or eggs. Thanks to the ability to climb trees, they easily destroy bird nests and enjoy their meals.

Meals are not eaten every day. Snakes cope well with hunger and, provided there is water nearby, individuals can go without eating for months. The peculiarity of reptiles is their endurance and patience. Snakes hide among the foliage, wait for prey along the road or on the ground, but the hunt is patient and, as a rule, effective. Animal-eaters swallow food from the head, but with caution, so as not to be injured by the sharp teeth of the victim. Before this process, individuals try to immobilize the animal by squeezing its body with their rings.

Food is digested within 2-9 days. The speed of the process depends on the health of the individual, temperature environment, the size of the victim. To speed up digestion, many snakes expose their abdomen to the sun.

Snakes do not like cold weather, so at the end of October - beginning of November they leave for the winter. Individuals can choose a rodent burrow, a haystack, tree roots, cracks, crevices and other places as a home. If reptiles are near people, they hide in basements, sewer systems, and abandoned wells. Animal hibernation may be interrupted or not occur at all (if cold-blooded animals live in tropical or tropical areas).

Towards the beginning of April, representatives of the scaly order begin to crawl out of their shelter. The exact time to “come out of torpor” depends on humidity levels, temperature and other factors. Snakes bask in the sun almost all spring. in summer daytime animals prefer to be in the shade.

Numerous families of snakes

Experts have differing opinions regarding the number of families in the suborder of snakes. Here is the most popular classification of reptiles:

  • Colubridae - this family has more than 1,500 species. Among them are a wide variety of snakes, differing in color, shape, pattern and habitat. Representatives of this group grow from 10 centimeters to 3.5 meters. These include aquatic and terrestrial, burrowing and arboreal cold-blooded animals. More than half of the snakes are non-venomous and are often kept in terrariums. At the same time, false snakes are considered poisonous representatives of this group, as they have large teeth with grooves along which a dangerous substance flows.
  • Vipers - the family includes more than 280 species. Most often, viper snakes are found on continents such as Asia, North America, Europe and Africa. The body length of cold-blooded animals varies from 25 cm to 3.5 m. Representatives of this family have light zigzag or rhombic patterns on their sides and back. All individuals have long fangs that secrete poison.
  • Aspids - there are about 330 species of snakes. This group of reptiles is poisonous. Individuals grow from 40 cm to 5 m in length. Cold-blooded animals can be found on continents such as Asia, Africa, America and Australia.
  • Blind snakes - the family includes about 200 species. Snakes of this group live almost throughout the planet.

Thanks to their ability to adapt, snakes can be found in any part of the world. Despite belonging to the same family, animals have a variety of shapes, colors, differ in color, habitat and other characteristics.

The most striking representatives of snakes

Among the wide variety of snakes, the most striking subspecies are considered to be snakes, vipers, adders, sea snakes, pitheads and cold-blooded pseudopods. The following reptiles are considered the most interesting and unusual.

Hamadryand (king cobra)

If you collect all the snakes together, the hamadryand will be superior to the rest. This type of animal-eating animal is considered the largest, even gigantic and poisonous. The king cobra grows up to 5.5 meters; today there is no antidote for its bite. The terrible poison kills the victim within 15 minutes. In addition, it is hamadryands that can eat their own kind. Females can fast for three months, carefully guarding their eggs. On average, cobras live about 30 years and most often they can be found in the territory of the state of India and the islands of Indonesia.

Desert taipan (fierce snake)

It is quite possible to meet a land killer in the desert or on the plains of Australia. Quite often, individuals of this species grow up to 2.5 meters. I cruel snake 180 times more powerful than cobras. The color of a cold-blooded animal depends on weather conditions. So, in hot weather, taipans have straw-like skin, and in cold weather, they have dark brown skin.

Black Mamba

The maximum height of a black mamba is 3 meters. The representative of reptiles is considered the fastest (individuals can move at a speed of 11 km/h). A poisonous snake kills its victim in just a few seconds. However, the animal is not aggressive and can attack a person only if it feels threatened. The black mamba got its name because of the color of its mouth stripe. The skin of a predator can be olive, green, brown shades, sometimes with an admixture of metal.

Cassava (Gabon viper)

Big, thick, poisonous - that’s how you can describe it Gaboon viper. Individuals grow up to 2 meters in length, and have a body girth of almost 0.5 meters. The main feature of the animals is the unique structure of the head - it has a triangular shape and small horns. This type of snake can be classified as calm. Females are viviparous.

Anaconda

Anacondas are included in the boa constrictor family. These are the most big snakes, the length of which can be 11 meters and weight – 100 kg. The “water boa” lives in rivers, lakes, and creeks and is a non-poisonous reptile. The main food of cold-blooded animals is fish, waterfowl, iguanas and caimans.

Python

A giant non-venomous snake reaching 7.5 meters in length. Females differ from males in their powerful body And large sizes. Pythons prefer to feed on small and medium-sized mammals. They can easily swallow a leopard or jackal and digest the prey for many days. Snakes of this type hatch eggs, maintaining the desired temperature.

Eggeaters (African egg snakes)

The animals feed exclusively on eggs and grow no more than 1 meter in length. Due to the unique structure of the skull, small snakes easily swallow large prey. Cervical vertebrae The shell is broken, and the contents of the eggs are swallowed, and the shell is coughed up.

Radiant snake

Non-venomous snakes with excellent body color. Individuals grow up to 1 meter and feed on lizards and small rodents.

Worm-like blind snake

Small representatives of reptiles (length does not exceed 38 cm) look like earthworms. They can be found under stones, in bushes, and rocky slopes.

Non-venomous snakes

Non-venomous snakes include the following representatives of cold-blooded animals:

Common snake

Ordinary already - distinctive features are yellow or orange spots located on the sides of the head;

Amur snake

Amur snake - the length of the animal can reach 2.4 m, belongs to the colubrid family;

Common copperhead

Also among the non-venomous snakes are tiger and reticulated python, milk snake, corn snake, yellow-bellied snake and aesculapian snake.

Tiger python

Reticulated python

Milk snake

Yellow-bellied Snake

Poisonous snakes

Gyurza

The viper is one of the most dangerous poisonous snakes. The length of individuals rarely exceeds two meters.

This one lives in Asia dangerous predator, like efa. Snakes of this type are afraid of people and warn them of their presence by hissing. Cold-blooded snakes grow up to 80 cm and are viviparous snakes.

A special place in the list of poisonous snakes is given to rattlesnake (pit-headed) representatives of reptiles. They are one of the most dangerous animals on the planet and are known for their tail, which acts as a “rattle.”

Snake Reproduction

Cold-blooded animals like to be alone. But in mating season they become very friendly and loving. The “dance” of males can last many hours before the female gives consent to fertilization. Most snakes are oviparous animals, but there are some species that give birth to live young. A snake clutch can reach 120,000 eggs (this process is influenced by the habitat and type of reptile).

Sexual maturity in snakes occurs in the second year of life. The female is searched for by smell, after which the males wrap themselves around the body of the chosen one. Surprisingly, parents of newborns do not pay the slightest attention to them.

Conclusion

Snakes are extraordinary creatures, differing from each other in size, shape, skin color and habitat. Unique body structure interesting image The life and character of individuals makes them a bright object for research.