The Royal Water Snake is a heat-loving snake. Water snake (Natrix tesselata) - chess snake Preferred habitat
The muzzle of the merman is already pointed. Internasal shields more or less triangular in shape. The suture between the internasal and intermaxillary scutes is shorter than the suture between the first labial and intermaxillary. Preorbital scutes 2-3, very rarely 1 or 4; postorbitals 3-4, very rarely 5. Posterior mandibular shields longer than anterior ones and separated from each other by scales. The ribs on the trunk and caudal scales are sharp.
The upper side of the body of the water snake is olive, olive-gray, olive-green, olive-brown, brownish or, extremely rarely, reddish-orange, usually with dark, more or less checkerboard spots or narrow transverse stripes on the back. In rare cases, spots form 2 dark dotted or solid stripes on the sides of the back, continuing on the tail. There is usually a dark L-shaped spot on the back of the head, apex facing the parietal scutes. Not rare and monochromatic, without any pattern of individuals. In adult males, the belly is often pink-red or orange-yellow in life, while in females it is orange or orange-yellow with dark, more or less rectangular spots, merging with each other in places. There are also complete melanists.
The water snake is distributed from Southwestern France, the Rhine Valley and eastern North Africa in the west through Central and Southern Europe, Asia Minor, Western and Central Asia to the Persian Gulf and, possibly, the shores of the Arabian Sea in the south and to Afghanistan, Western Pakistan, North -Western India and Western China in the east. In the USSR, it occurs in Moldova, in the south of Ukraine and the Volga region, in the Caucasus, in the republics of Central Asia and in Kazakhstan (Map 96).
Subspecies identified by some researchers N. t. hydrus(Pall., 1771) and N. t. heinrothi(Hecht, 1930), which differ in coloration, have no taxonomic significance.
Water is already closely connected with water, living near various kinds of flowing and stagnant reservoirs, on sea coasts and islands located in the open sea, where it swims from the mainland. He likes cliffs and rocky slopes along the banks of rivers and streams, floodplain lakes, oxbow lakes and swamps, tugai and reed beds, flooded rice fields, irrigation canals, ditches and swamps near springs.
As shelters, including winter ones, he uses scours and cracks in rocks, voids in heaps of stones, burrows of water rats, ground squirrels, voles, gerbils, etc. On the Kerch Peninsula (in the Crimea) on the seashore, 1 for 30 m route. On the northern shore of the lake Sevan (in Armenia) in the middle of summer the population density is 5-7 individuals per 100 m of the route; in the Volga delta - in some places 70-80 individuals per 1 km. In some areas of the Donetsk Ridge (in Ukraine), the number reaches 86-96 individuals per 1 ha, which is a biomass of 7.3-8.1 kg/ha.
In the plains of Central Asia, after wintering, it appears in early March - mid-April, in the mountains - in mid-March - late April. The first time after waking up, it stays on the shore near the wintering grounds, sometimes in large numbers of individuals together. In summer, it spends most of its time in the water, sometimes swimming 3-5 km from the nearest land. Leaves for wintering at the end of September - November. It hibernates alone or, more often, in large numbers, often together with other snakes, including common grass snakes. Up to 200 individuals of different sex and age were found simultaneously on wintering grounds.
In the diet of the water snake, 60-66% is fish. In addition to fish, it also feeds on tadpoles and adult frogs and toads, especially often in spring and autumn. Occasionally it also eats gerbils, mice, voles, and sometimes newborn muskrats. Mating - in early - mid-April. Laying 4-18 eggs in late June - July. Eggs 15-16x32-35 mm in size contain well-formed embryos 45-55 mm long. Juveniles 140-185 mm long (without tail) and weighing up to 5 g appear in mid-August - early September.
Literature: Key to amphibians and reptiles of the fauna of the USSR. Proc. allowance for students of biol. specialties ped. in-comrade. M., "Enlightenment", 1977. 415 p. from ill.; 16 l. ill.
Characteristic
Unlike the common snake (lat. Natrix natrix), the merman no longer has the characteristic orange-yellow temporal spots. In their place there is a ^-shaped black spot, apex pointing forward. Its coloration, as a rule, is olive with dark spots arranged in a checkerboard pattern. Occasionally there are monochromatic olive or even black individuals. The size of the water snake is up to 1.6 m, but usually 1-1.3 m. Females are larger than males. The body scales are strongly keeled, with 19 scales around the middle of the body. Undertail shields are integral.
Lifestyle
It is strongly associated with water bodies (both salty and fresh), where it spends much more time than an ordinary snake. It feeds mainly on fish (60%), less often on amphibians. It spends the night on land, in the morning it warms up in the sun and goes into the water to hunt. Having caught the prey, it crawls back to the shore, where it swallows it and either goes for new fish, or settles down to digest the prey. On the Azov and Crimean estuaries, he often hunts gobies, for which he received the nickname "bull-calves". It also winters on land, appears in March-April in spring, mating season in April-May. Oviparous. Young individuals appear in July-August. Leaves for wintering in October-November. The main enemies of snakes are birds of prey and mammals, as well as pikes, a number of snakes (for example, olive and patterned snakes) and some others.
The merman is already non-aggressive, at the sight of a person, he usually tries to hide in the water or in a shelter. Bites are extremely rare. It poses practically no danger to humans. However, this does not prevent the local population and tourists from actively exterminating water snakes, calling them "chess vipers" or "hybrid snakes and vipers" and mistakenly considering them poisonous. Stories of supposedly real cases of poisoning as a result of the bite of a water snake, for the most part, are apparently the result of the inability of most people to distinguish a water snake from an ordinary viper. Cases of wound infection are practically impossible, since saliva has bactericidal properties.
area
Water already distributed throughout Southern Europe, in the southern regions of Russia and Ukraine (Don, Volga, Kuban, the coast of the Black and Azov Seas, estuaries), as well as in Transcaucasia and Central Asia. In general, this is a more southern species than the common snake.
Notes
Literature
- Animal Life, Volume 5: Amphibians and Reptiles. - M .: Education, 1985. - S. 285-286.
- Bannikov A., Darevsky I. et al. Key to amphibians and reptiles of the USSR. - M .: Education, 1977. - S. 250-255.
- Chegodaev A. Snakes and snakes. Content. Breeding. Feeding. Disease prevention. - M .: Aquarium, 2006. - S. 52-54.
Links
- Chess snake, or water snake. Photo. Differences from the viper.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010 .
See what "Water already" is in other dictionaries:
Grandfather, water jester, vodnik, vodovik (Czech vodnik, Serbian puddles. wodny muž, wodnykus, Slovenian povodij. vodni mož, etc.), in Slavic mythology, an evil spirit, the embodiment of the element of water as a negative and dangerous beginning. Most often it appears in the form of ... ... Encyclopedia of mythology
WATER, water, water. 1. adj. to water in 1 digit Water vapor. Water ballast. || Growing, living in water. Water plants. Water beetle. 2. Powered by water, with the help of water. Water Mill. 3. in value noun water, water, female ... Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov
1. WATER, see Water. 2. WATER, wow; m. In folk beliefs: a fantastic creature (usually in the form of an old man); unclean forces that live in reservoirs; in some fairy tales: the sea king. ● Water is shown by an old man covered with moss and swamp ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary
Undead, water-oil, steam-water, master, water ring, demon Dictionary of Russian synonyms. water adj., number of synonyms: 19 scuba diver (7) ... Synonym dictionary
WATER, crowberry, water, etc., see water. Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary. IN AND. Dal. 1863 1866 ... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary
In folk beliefs, a demon in the form of an old man lives in pools, wells and other bodies of water, sometimes in the sea (in Russian folklore, the sea king) ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
WATER, wow, husband. In Slavic mythology: a fabulous old man living in the water, its owner. II. WATER See water. Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 ... Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov
WATER 1, wow, m. In Slavic mythology: a fabulous old man living in the water, its owner. Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 ... Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov
The royal water snake is a relative of the common snake. This species of reptiles is thermophilic and cannot do without water.
External signs of a royal water snake
The royal merman is distinguished by the color of the skin of the back of an olive hue, greenish, olive-gray with a transition to brown. Spotted checkerboard pattern with dark spots or narrow stripes across.
A dark spot in the form of a Latin letter V on the back of the head is directed at an acute angle to the head.
The underside of the body is yellow in color, ranging to orange and red tones, painted with black rectangular spots. In nature, there are individual individuals without patterns and black.
Body dimensions reach a length of about one and a half meters. Large shields on the head have a different arrangement than that of the common grass snake. There are no yellow spots behind the head.
Distribution of the royal water snake
Royal water snakes in Europe live in southern and western France. To the east they spread to Central Asia. They are found in the south of Crimea, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Transcaucasia, Central Asia. Pretty common reptiles in the lower reaches of the Volga. They are also found in rivers flowing into the Black and Caspian Seas. They live in China and India. They are found in large numbers near the Absheron Peninsula in Azerbaijan.
Habitats of the royal water snake
Royal water snakes live only near water bodies. The shores of lakes, ponds, rivers, streams are the main habitats of water snakes. They are even found on the coasts. They live in artificial irrigation systems, canals, reservoirs, fish ponds. Reservoirs are preferred with warm stagnant water and not too fast current. But they are found in the mountains at an altitude of up to 3 thousand meters in the cold water of mountain streams.
Lifestyle of the royal water snake
Royal water snakes are never found in muddy and dirty water. Just with poor transparency, they will not be able to see the prey. After the hunt, well-fed reptiles crawl out onto the coastal flat stones and bask in the sun.
Water snakes are excellent swimmers, they can be found at a distance of 5 km from the coast.
They easily overcome strong currents and stay in the water column for a long time. Often, reptiles crawl onto coastal trees in search of food.
At night, water snakes hide in cracks, voids under stones, snags, dry reeds, crawl into abandoned rodent burrows. They find shelter in haystacks, thick grass, and in reeds accumulate in large groups.
With the advent of the first rays of the sun, they first warm up, and then follow to the reservoir. Can't stand extreme heat. They are saved from high air temperature in water or near-water thickets. They overcome swift mountain streams, dive well.
Water snakes hibernate on the shore, looking for shelters located deep underground (up to 80 cm). Single snakes or small groups of reptiles occupy voids and burrows. There are also larger aggregations of 100-200 individuals of different ages and sexes. A large tangle of snakes constantly hibernates in the same place.
In the spring, when the soil surface warms up, water snakes slowly creep out and warm themselves, curled up in a ball.
At sunset, they return to their secluded place again.
With an increase in air temperature, they come to life every day, become more active, then move to water bodies, where they spend the whole summer until the next wintering.
In case of danger, the water snake, like an ordinary grass snake, releases a sharp-smelling yellow liquid that scares off predators.
Reproduction of the royal water snake
Accumulations of these snakes can also form during the breeding season. During the breeding season, water snakes form clusters of up to 200 individuals. Mating occurs in April or May.
At the end of June, females lay 6-25 eggs under stones, in loose forest litter. If there are convenient places, collective clutches are possible, numbering about 1000 eggs. Development lasts 2 months, young snakes appear in August. Young snakes are able to forage on their own and catch fry in a nearby pond. Sexual maturity is reached in the 3rd year.
Water snakes mate in autumn when they move away from the water. In this case, the female lays eggs for the next year. In nature, snakes are hunted by birds of prey and large fish. Water snakes live from 9 to 15 years.
Feeding the royal water snake
Royal water snakes fish both in fresh water and in the sea. During the day, its catch is about 40 fry 2-3 cm long. Sometimes it swallows larger prey up to 15 cm. During the hunt, the snakes either chase the fish or lie in wait and then pounce. If the prey escapes, it does not try to overtake it.
Tries to grab the victim by the middle of the body. It swallows a small fish whole, and grabbing a large victim, grabbing it in the middle, pulls it ashore.
Sometimes the prey cannot get through the throat, then the water one already throws it on the shore.
Finds a solid support, for example, a stone, wraps around the back of the body and begins to slowly swallow the fish from the head.
This species of reptile also feeds on tadpoles, toads, frogs, birds, and small rodents. In fish ponds, water snakes eat fry and harm fisheries.
Keeping a Royal Water Snake in Captivity
Royal water snakes pick up a horizontal terrarium measuring 60 X 40 X 40. Be sure to equip a large pool for swimming reptiles.
The daytime temperature is maintained at 30-33 degrees, at night it is lowered to 20-22. The soil is peat, coconut substrate, coarse sand. After wintering, which lasts 1-2 months, water snakes can breed.
The water snake is the closest relative of the common snake, but it prefers wetter and warmer habitats.
The sizes of these two species are almost the same. The largest recorded water already reached a length of 1.5 meters.
In water snakes, the shields on the head are located a little differently than in ordinary snakes.
In addition, the water snake has a different color: there are no yellow spots on the back of the head, the pattern on the back is not the same as that of an ordinary snake, and the belly is orange-yellow or pink-red. The general color is brownish or greenish-gray, most often spots or transverse narrow stripes of a dark shade pass along it in a checkerboard pattern. Sometimes longitudinal stripes form from the spots. There are individuals with a single color that do not have a pattern, in addition, there are completely black water snakes - melanists.
Where do water snakes live?
Representatives of the species are found in Europe only in the southern, eastern or central parts. Also, water snakes live in the Caucasus, in Asia Minor and Central Asia, in China and in the west of India. In our country, they are well-known residents of the Ciscaucasia and the Southern Volga region.
Water snakes are rarely found far from water; it is in water bodies that they spend most of the season. These snakes live on the shores of lakes, ponds, rivers and even seas. In addition, they are found in artificial channels, fish ponds and reservoirs. Preference is given to warm open water bodies with stagnant water or with a small current, but they can also live in cool mountain channels. In the mountains, water snakes are found at altitudes up to 3000 meters.
Since snakes feed in water, they are found in reservoirs with clear water, and polluted ones are avoided. Their favorite places of pastime are flat stones along the banks or branches inclined to the water. Snakes are excellent at swimming, and not only on the surface of the water, but also at depth. They can swim from the shore for a distance of up to 5 kilometers, while they can swim against the current. Also, these snakes climb bushes and trees well, they can often be found in the crowns of plants growing near water.
Water snake lifestyle
Water snakes are active during daylight hours, and spend the night under stones lying on the shore, in depressions and burrows of other animals. They also crawl into dense vegetation or hay. A huge number of water snakes accumulate at night in the thickets of reeds. In cool weather, they are slow, crawl out into sunny areas and bask there. When warm, they plunge into the water and go hunting. After eating, snakes also bask in the sun. But they try to avoid intense heat by hiding from it in water or thickets.
Water snakes hibernate on the shore in pits in the soil or in rodent burrows, at a depth of up to 80 centimeters. They can winter both singly and in groups, and sometimes their accumulations can be massive and number up to 200 individuals of various ages and sexes. In such collective shelters, snakes winter annually.
Reproduction of water snakes
During the breeding season, large clusters of water snakes are formed. In the spring, when snakes wake up from hibernation, they crawl away from water bodies and gather in groups of about 200 individuals, in which mating takes place. The mating behavior of water and ordinary snakes is the same.
In June-July, the female lays 6-25 eggs. Masonry is done in loose soil, under stones. Female water snakes, like ordinary ones, can make collective clutches, which contain up to 1000 eggs. Eggs develop for about 2 months, hatched snakes immediately begin to catch small fish. Sexual maturity occurs in the 3rd year of life.
Water snakes also have an autumn mating season, at which time they again move away from water bodies and mate. And the females lay the fertilized eggs next summer.
Water snakes have a large number of natural enemies. They are more likely than ordinary snakes to become victims of near-water birds and large fish.
Feeding water snakes
The diet of water snakes for the most part consists of fish, which snakes catch in both fresh and salt water. For one feeding, the water snake can swallow about 40 small fish, 2-3 centimeters in size, but they can also hunt larger fish, reaching a length of 15 centimeters.
Water snakes have 2 hunting tactics: they lie in wait for prey, rush at it and grab it with lightning speed, or actively follow and catch their prey. If the attack is unsuccessful, it does not catch up with the fish. The snake tries to cling to the middle of the victim's body. Small fish are often swallowed right under water, but it is much more difficult for snakes to cope with large ones. The difficulty lies in the fact that he can no longer kill and swallow a large fish in the water, for this he needs a solid support. Therefore, it firmly clamps the fish in its teeth, lifts it above the water and swims ashore. Then he clings with his tail to some kind of support and with difficulty pulls the wriggling slave to the shore. Snakes always start swallowing the victim from the head.
Already - this is a snake that belongs to the class of reptiles, the scaly order, the suborder of snakes, the already-shaped family (lat. Colubridae).
The Russian name "already" may have come from the Old Slavonic "uzh" - "rope". At the same time, the Proto-Slavic word presumably comes from the Lithuanian angìs, which means "snake, snake." According to information from etymological dictionaries, these words may be related to the Latin word angustus, which translates as "narrow, cramped."
Types of snakes, photos and names
Below is a brief description of several varieties of snakes.
- ordinary snake (Natrix natrix )
It has a length of up to 1.5 meters, but on average the size of the snake does not exceed 1 meter. The snake's habitat passes through Russia, North Africa, Asia and Europe, except for the northern regions. In southern Asia, the range border includes Palestine and Iran. A characteristic distinguishing feature of the common snake is the presence of two bright, symmetrical spots on the back of the head, on the border with the neck. Spots with a black border are yellow, orange or off-white. Occasionally there are individuals with mild spots or no spots, that is, completely black common snakes. There are also albinos. The back of the snake is light gray, dark gray, sometimes almost black. Dark spots may be present on a gray background. The abdomen is light and has a long dark stripe that extends all the way to the snake's throat. Most often, the common snake is found along the banks of lakes, ponds, quiet rivers, in coastal shrubs and oak forests, in floodplain meadows, in old overgrown clearings, in beaver settlements, on old dams, under bridges and in other similar places. In addition, ordinary snakes settle next to human habitation. They make a home in the roots and hollows of trees, in haystacks, in burrows, in other secluded places, in gardens and orchards. They can settle down in basements, cellars, barns, woodpiles, in heaps of stones or garbage. In poultry farms, snakes like moist and warm bedding, and they get along well with poultry. They can even lay their eggs in abandoned nests. But next to large domestic animals that can trample them, snakes almost do not settle.
- Water already (Natrix tessellata )
In many ways it is similar to its close relative, the common snake, but there are differences. It is more thermophilic and is distributed in the southern regions of the habitat of the snake genus - from the south-west of France to Central Asia. Also, water snakes live in the south of the European part of Russia and Ukraine (especially in the mouths of rivers flowing into the Caspian and Black Seas), in Transcaucasia (very numerous on the islands of the Absheron Peninsula in Azerbaijan), in Kazakhstan, in the Central Asian Republics, up to India, Palestine and North Africa in the south and to China in the east. Outside water bodies, snakes are extremely rare. Water snakes live on the coast of not only fresh water bodies, but also the seas. They swim well, can cope with the strong flow of mountain rivers, and stay under water for a long time. The water already has a color of olive, olive green, olive gray or olive brown in color with dark, almost staggered spots and stripes. By the way, Natrix tessellata literally translates from Latin as "chess snake". The belly of the snake is yellowish-orange or reddish, covered with dark spots. There are also individuals that do not have a pattern or completely black water snakes. Unlike an ordinary snake, there are no “signal” yellow-orange spots on the head of the water snake, but often there is a dark spot in the shape of the Latin letter V on the back of the head. The length of the water snake is on average 1 meter, but the largest individuals reach 1.6 meters. With the onset of morning, water snakes crawl out of their shelters and settle under the bushes or, literally, “hang out” on their crowns, and when the sun begins to bake, they go into the water. They hunt in the morning and evening. During the day they bask in the sun on stones, reeds, in the nests of water birds. Water is already non-aggressive and safe for humans. He is not able to bite at all, since instead of teeth he has plates to hold slippery prey. But because of its color, it is confused with a viper and is ruthlessly destroyed.
- Colchis, or big-headed (Natrix megalocephala )
It lives in Russia in the south of the Krasnodar Territory, in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Abkhazia. Already lives in chestnut, hornbeam, beech forests, in thickets of laurel cherry, azaleas, alder, where there are glades and ponds, on tea plantations, near streams. Colchis snakes can be found high in the mountains. They are adapted to life in swift mountain streams. This snake differs from the ordinary grass snake in its broad, concave upper surface head and the absence of light spots on the back of the head in adults. The body of the big-headed snake is massive, from 1 to 1.3 m in length. The top of the body is black, the head is white below, the abdomen with a black and white pattern. In spring and autumn, Colchis is already active in the daytime, and in summer - in the morning and at dusk. The snakes living in the mountains are active in the mornings and evenings. Colchis is no longer dangerous to humans. He escapes from enemies by diving into the water, even despite the rapid flow of the river. The number of large-headed snakes is small and has recently been declining. This is due to uncontrolled capture, with a decrease in the population of amphibians due to the development of river valleys, and with the destruction of snakes by raccoons. Conservation measures are required to preserve this species.
- viper already (Natrix maura )
Distributed in the countries of the Western and Southern Mediterranean, not found in Russia. Snakes live near ponds, lakes, calm rivers, swamps. The snakes of this species got their name because of a color similar to that of a viper: a black-brown pattern in the form of a zigzag strip with large eye spots on the sides of it stands out on a dark gray back. True, in some individuals the color is similar to water snakes, and there are also individuals with a plain gray or olive color. The abdomen is already yellowish, closer to the tail in reddish and black spots. The average length of the reptile is 55-60 cm, large individuals reach 1 meter. Females are larger and heavier than males.
- Brindle already (Rhabdophis tigrinus )
Lives in Russia in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories, distributed in Japan, Korea, Northeast and East China. Settles near water bodies, among moisture-loving vegetation. But it is also found in mixed forests, far from water bodies, in treeless spaces and on the seashore. Tiger snake is one of the most beautiful snakes in the world, the length of which can reach 1.1 meters. The back of the snake can be dark olive, dark green, blue, light brown, black. Juveniles are usually dark grey. The dorsal and lateral dark spots give the snake its striping. Adult snakes have characteristic red-orange, red and brick red spots between dark stripes in the front of the body. The upper lip is already yellow. The snake defends itself from predators by releasing the poisonous secretion of their special neck glands. The brindle is already capable, like, to lift and inflate its neck. When people are bitten by enlarged back teeth and poisonous saliva enters the wound, symptoms are observed, as with a viper bite.
Taken from: www.snakesoftaiwan.com
- Shiny tree snake (Dendrelaphis pictus)
Distributed in Southeast Asia. Found near human settlements, in fields and forests. It lives on trees and bushes. It has a brown or bronze color, a light stripe bordered by black stripes is located on the sides. There is a black "mask" on the muzzle. It is a non-venomous snake with a long, thin tail that makes up a third of its body.
- Angler Schneider(Xenotrophis piscator )
It lives in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, some islands of Indonesia, western Malaysia, China, Vietnam, Taiwan. Lives in small rivers and lakes, in ditches, in rice fields. The color of the snake is olive green or olive brown with light or dark spots that form a checkerboard pattern. The abdomen is light. The length is 1.2 m. The head of the snake is slightly expanded, has a conical shape. Non-poisonous fishermen are aggressive and fast. They hunt mainly during the day, but often at night.
- Eastern earthen already(Virginia valeriae )
Distributed in the eastern United States: from Iowa and Texas to New Jersey and Florida. It differs from other species in its smooth scales. A small snake, the length of which does not exceed 25 cm. The color of the snake is brown, tiny black spots can be observed on the back and sides, the abdomen is light. Ground snakes lead a burrowing lifestyle, live in loose soil, under rotten logs and in leaf litter.
- Shrub green(Philothamnus semivariegatus )
A non-venomous snake that is found throughout most of Africa, excluding arid regions and the Sahara desert. Green snakes live in dense vegetation: on trees, in shrubs growing along rocks and riverbeds. The body of reptiles is long, with a thin tail and a slightly flattened head. The body of the snake is bright green with dark spots, the head is bluish. Scales with pronounced keels. Active during the day. It is not dangerous for a person. It feeds on lizards and tree frogs.
- Japanese already ( Hebius vibakari)
One of the species of snakes found on the territory of Russia, namely in the Far East: in the Khabarovsk and Primorsky Territories, as well as the Amur Region. Distributed in Japan, East China and Korea. Inhabits forests in these regions, thickets of bushes, meadows in the forest zone, abandoned gardens. The length of the snake is up to 50 cm. The color is monochromatic: dark brown, brown, chocolate, brown-red with a greenish tinge. The abdomen is light, yellowish or greenish. Small snakes are light brown or more often black. The non-poisonous Japanese already leads a secretive life, hiding under the ground, stones and trees. It feeds mainly on earthworms.
