Efa sand snake: description and behavioral features. The most dangerous snakes on our planet Who hunts the efu snake

Not all snakes come from eggs. There is a viviparous efa snake, the photo and video of which we offer you to watch today. Efa is not only viviparous, but also very poisonous.

The sand efa is one of the ten most poisonous snakes on our planet. Its bite is extremely painful and dangerous. Let's get to know this amazing snake closer.

This snake is a reptile, which scientists refer to the order Scaly. The name of this animal comes from the Latin - "Echis carinatus". The sand efa belongs to the Viper snake family and is considered one of the ten most venomous snakes in the world.

What does the Sand Efa look like?

Representatives of this species of reptiles in adulthood acquire not very large sizes. Very rarely their length exceeds 100 centimeters. Usually, the length of an adult sand efa is approximately 70 centimeters. These animals are quite noticeable because they have a rather bright yellow or golden color. The body of the efa is “decorated” with a long zigzag pattern from the head to the end of the body, and the whole snake is covered with light spots (on the body) and dark spots (on the head). If you look at all the dark spots on the head, you can see something like a cross.

It is not in vain that Efa belongs to the Scaly order, because there are small ribbed scales all over her body. The scales, which are located on the sides of the body of the snake, have jagged ribs.

The snake moves very interestingly: first it throws its head to the side, then it throws the rear part of the body forward and sideways, and only then pulls up the front part of itself. This type of movement is called "lateral movement". After the snake has crawled across the sand, its trace remains in the form of oblique stripes.

Efa lifestyle features

Snakes of this species are in constant motion all their lives. Whatever efa does, she remains mobile. Even after she has "dined" and the food is digested inside her, she continues to move. Such an active life for many snakes stops when the reptiles hibernate, but this does not apply to the sand ephe. Then, when the rest of the representatives of the "serpent kingdom" are already motionless and hibernated, the efa continues its active life. If the winter is not cold, then its onset will not affect the activity of the snake in any way.

It is noteworthy that the sand efa belongs to the species of viviparous snakes, that is, its cubs are born in the form of small snakes. Mating of individuals of this species often occurs in January, and young snakes are born as early as March. Usually one female gives birth to 3 to 16 cubs.

Snakes belonging to this species feed, as a rule, on insects, as well as small mammals. They love grasshoppers, various beetles, centipedes, small lizards, scorpions and even chicks. And from mammals prefer to eat mice.

Where does the Sand Efa live?

These snakes are called Sandy because they live, most often in deserts. Therefore, snakes of this species are common in Africa, and, in addition, in the deserts located on the territory of the Eurasian continent (in its Asian part). On the territory of the Hindustan Peninsula, scientists have discovered a record accumulation of sandy ef.

Most of all, ephs prefer thickets of bushes or tall grass, but they can also live on rocky surfaces, as well as clay areas.

How dangerous is the sand efa?

It has been proven that with its bite, the efa is capable of killing a person. Just 1 milligram of sand epha poison is enough to kill dozens of people. Scientists conducted research and made a sensational statement that every seventh person on our planet who died from the bite of a poisonous snake fell victim to the Sand Epha.

Efa is rightfully considered one of the most dangerous inhabitants of our planet. Her bite is fatal in every fifth case. In addition, she is not at all afraid to use her teeth even against the largest opponents. Therefore, people better know what this deadly predator looks like. What regions does he live in? And what should you do when you meet him?

Efa snake: description

Efa (lat. Echis carinatus) is a sand snake of the Viper family. This species prefers to live in. In particular, a large number of these snakes live in the expanses of African wastelands and deserts. Also, some of its subspecies can be found in the southern regions of Asia and in Indonesia.

As for the neighboring territories, the efa snake can be found in Uzbekistan. And although their population here is not as large as in Indonesia, they still pose a significant threat to people who dare to enter the desert lands of these lands.

Appearance

Over the long efa, she has adapted well to life in the desert. This can be seen not only in her habits, but also in appearance. So, on the body of a reptile, light colors predominate, most often a golden hue. A dark zigzag pattern runs from tail to head, which stands out strongly against the background of multi-colored spots located randomly on the back of the snake.

In addition, efa is a snake with many ribbed scales. They help the reptile regulate its body temperature, which is essential for life in arid climates. The scales themselves are ribbed and are best seen on the back and sides of the predator.

But nature cheated the snake in size. So, even the largest individuals rarely exceed the threshold of 80 cm, and the average representative of this species grows only up to 50 cm. But such proportions are quite justified, given the fact that the efe has to exist in conditions with limited resources.

Habitat

Let's start with the fact that the efa is a very active snake. It rarely lingers in one place, and therefore it can be found both on the open planes of the desert and among the dense thickets of the steppe. In addition, some representatives of this species feel quite comfortable on rocky terrain. Fortunately, their small size allows them to easily slip into even the narrowest holes and crevices.

However, the snakes themselves prefer to live among dense thickets and shrubs. First, it allows the efe to hide its presence from prying eyes. And secondly, in such areas there is much more food, which is very tempting. Otherwise, the predator quickly adapts to any living conditions.

Potential Victims

Like most of its relatives, the efa snake is a born hunter. The basis of its diet is insects, as they are easy to catch. In addition, larger prey can become a real problem for the reptile, because it simply does not fit into its mouth. But this does not mean that the snake will not be able to kill her - the poison of the efa is enough to knock down an adult horse.

In addition, the predator loves to hunt small rodents. For them, they are an important source of energy, since, unlike insects, they are warm-blooded. If it becomes very tight with food, the efa begins to pounce on everything that he can subsequently swallow.

Behavioral Features

The efa snake is active both during the day and at night. This is extremely unusual for reptiles, who prefer to divide the day into periods of hunting and rest. However, our predator does not stop its travel cycle even after it has eaten heavily. The maximum that she will do is slow down her “step”, and even then not by much.

Also, this type of reptile does not hibernate. True, in the regions where they live, the coolness rarely drops to the point that it can affect the snake's metabolism. Nevertheless, with a strong drop in temperature, the efa still calms down a bit: it stops traveling and settles in a found hole or crevice.

reproduction

The efa snake is notable for the fact that it gives birth to living offspring. Recall that most reptiles are used to laying eggs, and such metamorphoses are very rare for them. But this type of predators decided to stand out from the rest of its brethren.

The mating games of the snake begin in late January - early March. The gestation period is a little over a month, and therefore, in early spring, the female gives birth to young offspring. At the same time, at one time, she is able to give life to 16 serpents, who are immediately ready to feed on their own.

Human danger

As mentioned earlier, the sand efa is a very poisonous snake. If medical assistance is not provided in time, then her bite will become fatal for a person. In this case, the victim herself will experience terrible pain, because the toxins released into the body instantly begin to corrode the blood cells in it.

The worst thing is that efa is not afraid of people. She can safely approach their dwellings and even crawl into them. For example, there is plenty of evidence that a snake built its lair under the floor or in a closet. Therefore, if a person is in the territory where these snakes live, he must always be on the alert.

Class: Reptilia = Reptiles

Subclass: Lepidosauria = Lepidosaurs, scaled lizards

Order: Squamata Oppel = Scaled

Suborder: Serpentes (Ophidia) Linnaeus = Snakes

Genus: Echis Merrem = (Sandy) ephs

Species: Echis carinatus Schneid = Sand efa

Sand Efa - Echis carinatus* Schneid* Recently, an independent species living in the USSR, Echis multisquamatus, has been isolated.

Class Reptiles, or Reptiles - Reptilia Suborder Snakes - Ophidia, or Serpentes Viper family - Viperidae

Ecology and biology. A small snake up to 80 cm long. Color varies, but the typical color of the body is grayish-sandy with light zigzag stripes on the sides. From above, along the body, light transverse stripes are clearly distinguished. On the head is a characteristic light cruciform pattern. With the help of small ribbed scales on the sides of the body, the efa emits a characteristic dry rustling. Another feature of the efa is the so-called "side passage", the traces of which are clearly visible on the sand.

It occurs from the eastern coast of the Caspian to the Aral Sea, in southern Uzbekistan and southwestern Tajikistan. Habitats are very diverse: sands overgrown with saxaul, light forests, mountain slopes, river terraces, etc. In favorable conditions, the number of efas can be very high. From February to June they are diurnal, and in summer they are nocturnal. They feed on mouse-like rodents, small birds, frogs, and sometimes other snakes. In July - August, females give birth to 3-15 cubs up to 16 cm long. Young efas feed on invertebrates, including centipedes, scorpions, locusts.

Efa is a very mobile snake, her throws are swift and therefore dangerous.

picture of poisoning. Poisoning is accompanied by hemorrhagic edema, bleeding from the wound, nose, gums, extensive subcutaneous hemorrhages, foci of hemorrhage in the internal organs, hematuria, shortness of breath, palpitations, muscle pain.

Chemical composition and mechanism of action of the poison. The venom contains enzymes with proteolytic activity, as well as L-amino acid oxidase, phosphodiesterase, hyaluronidase, NGF, and phospholipase A2. Among proteinases and esterases, enzymes that hydrolyze casein, arginine esters, kininogenases, and arylamidase have been characterized.

Toxicity (DL50) of whole venom in mice 0.72 mg/kg iv and 5.4 mg/kg ip. In poisoned animals, there is a violation of coordination of movements, convulsions, bleeding of mucous membranes. The poison causes necrosis of the cortical layer of the kidneys. The fall in blood pressure is explained by a decrease in peripheral resistance and the physiological effects of kinins released in the body. Violations in the blood coagulation system are dramatic. The most toxic (DL50 0.6 mg/kg) is the venom fraction, which has a proteolytic effect and leads to coagulopathy. Poison enzymes cause direct activation of prothrombin, transforming it into thrombin. In addition, the poison inactivates antithrombin III. As a result, the resulting thrombin is not activated, but is only sorbed on fibrin. For these reasons, heparin therapy for DIC caused by efa poison is not appropriate. Practical value. Efa poison can be used as a diagnostic drug for diseases of the blood coagulation system, instead of expensive foreign ones. It is used in the production of polyvalent anti-snake serum.....

Poisonous animals and plants of the USSR / B.N. Orlov, D.B. Gelashvili, A.K. Ibragimov. - M.: Higher. school, 1990. - 272 p.

This snake has a short name, like an exhalation: efa. She is known everywhere in Central Asia, in the valleys and foothills she met so often that it seemed to people that the efa was pursuing them.

In fact, this snake is most afraid of people, and when they approach, it makes sounds similar to those that we hear when sharpening knives on a grindstone. It is not for nothing that in Uzbekistan the efu is called "charh iyylon" - which means in literal translation - a noisy snake. With these actions, the efa resembles a cobra, which raises its head and stands up in a threatening stance to stop the ill-wisher.

The most incredible tales are told about efe, especially about its potent poison. Like, from her bite a person immediately dies, and if he doesn’t die, then he remains crippled forever. However, there is some truth in these stories. Indeed, the bite of an efa for a person can be fatal, and there were many cases that if a person did not die, then he was sick for a long time. That is why in the past, when sending travelers on a long journey, they were advised to stay away from the formidable ef. However, those terrible times have long since sunk into oblivion, and the efu is now as difficult to meet as many other snakes, most of which are on the verge of extinction. Today, travelers travel more often by car, even getting to places where it is impossible to drive.

Efa is a medium-sized snake, its length can reach 70-76 centimeters. For comparison: a gyurza can be 150 cm, a slightly smaller cobra - up to 130. But unlike the gyurza and cobra, the efa is beautiful and spectacular. The side of the snake is decorated with a light zigzag stripe, its whole body is covered with white spots, and on the head there is a kind of cross-mark, which distinguishes the efu from its other brethren. I have heard more than once that evil people used efu to eliminate their enemies. But the ephs have long shunned people, and they never come close to buildings, they crawl away as soon as they hear a person. And then - the efa never attacks, it will certainly warn the uninvited traveler with its rustling, and it can bite only when a person steps on it.

Efa with her behavior, lifestyle is not like any other snake. I myself have had to deal with it more than once in a variety of circumstances.

In the Sumbar valley near the village of Gerkez, we were on an expedition, the purpose of which was to study reptiles during hibernation. So, on one of the warm January days - and here, in the Turkmen subtropics, they are not uncommon - a local boy came running and said that he had seen a snake wedding. We did not believe him: despite the warm weather, snakes, as a rule, do not wake up from hibernation. But I knew that efs were an exception. For the winter, they do not hide deep, and in warm weather they can crawl out. But for snakes to mate in January... Unlikely. Nevertheless, we hurried after the boy. And, indeed, we saw: a snake ball, like a kind of creature, moved among the dry stalks of grass. I was not mistaken: they were ephs, they did not pay any attention to us, at such moments almost all creatures lose their caution.

This poisonous snake the family of vipers has never gone unnoticed. In India, she was given the beautiful name "wound", in Pakistan and Afghanistan - "Pashto", in Uzbekistan, the locals call her "boiling snake". One bite of sand epha causes death or severe kidney damage in humans. The lethal dose of efa poison is only 5 mg.

And it's not easy legend. The snake ranks seventh among the most dangerous venomous snakes for humans. More people die from its poison every year on the African continent than from all the snakes in Africa combined.

Description of the snake

This type of viper is small in size. The body length is from 70 to 76 centimeters. Some individuals can reach a length of one meter. Males are usually larger than females.

The appearance of this snake attracts the eye. She is very beautiful and effective.

• The body is painted in bright yellow or golden color. On the surface of the sides there is a pattern in the form of a zigzag, and the body of the efa is covered with white spots.
• The head of the snake is decorated with a light pattern in the form of a cross, which outwardly resembles the silhouette of a bird. This distinguishes the efu snake from its counterparts.

This pattern allows the ephe to go unnoticed in the sand, and the special structure of the scales helps to regulate body temperature, which is very important in the conditions of her residence.

Where does the sand efa live

Sand efa, or sand viper, is common in the deserts of South and Central Asia, North Africa. The main habitat is the Indian subcontinent, the territory of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

Snakes prefer sandy areas with tall bushes or grass. They can also be found on clay or rocky surfaces.

Lifestyle of the sand epha

The behavior of the sand viper is very different from the way of life and behavior of other snakes. It is distinguished by great mobility and activity, which does not stop even when it digests food. efa freezes only in spring on well-heated stony places for a long time.

In winter, when other snakes hibernate, the efa remains active. Even mating in this species occurs in winter. Cubs appear in early spring.

For a sand snake, live birth is characteristic. She does not lay eggs, gives birth to 3 to 12 live cubs up to 15 centimeters in length. Young individuals grow very quickly, their length by adulthood reaches 60 centimeters.

Efa goes hunting mainly in the dark, but is active during the day. During the day, in extreme heat, she hides in secluded places and crawls out only after sunset. The rest of the time the snake hunts during the day.

The basis of the diet of the snake are insects: centipedes, beetles and grasshoppers. Also, efa does not mind eating small rodents, chicks, lizards, lake frogs and small snakes.

The sand viper prefers not to approach human housing. She attacks only when disturbed. Protecting herself and her cubs, she moves at lightning speed. In a fit of rage, the efa can jump up to half the average height of a person, so when meeting you should not approach her closer than three meters.

Efu is distinguished by an interesting way to travel. She moves sideways. First, it throws its head forward, then it moves it sideways and forward the back, and then it pulls up the whole body, leaving a bizarre pattern of oblique stripes on the sand. This method of locomotion increases the body area of ​​the snake. In case of danger, the snake quickly hides in the sand with such speed that it seems as if it is drowning in it.

The sand efa is not the most venomous snake on the planet. However, every fifth person bitten by a snake suffered from this particular type of viper.

Efa is not at all afraid of a person, so she very often crawls into residential buildings and outbuildings. Vipers are a great danger during the mating season.

Beware of poison!

• The viper will never attack first. She warns about her intentions with a loud rustling, which resembles the sound of pouring water on hot iron. The snake makes such a sound with the help of scales, which have a jagged surface, which, when rubbed, make hissing sounds, and a defensive posture, curled up in two rings and raising its head above the arc.

It was for the hissing sounds that the reptile was called noisy or boiling.

• Despite its eye-catching spectacular appearance, the sand efa is a viper that is among the ten most poisonous representatives of this class.

sand viper does not provoke human contact. Most cases of bites are caused by inattention or curiosity of tourists or hunters.

• Viper venom is highly toxic. When bitten, the composition of the blood changes, there is profuse bleeding at the site of the bite and the mucous membrane of the eyes, nose and mouth.

Every sixth person who is bitten by efa dies. Effective suction of poison from the bite site for 10 minutes. This is Helps remove most of the toxins from the body. Sucking out the poison will not cause harm to the health of the person who does it, as the poison does not linger. The application of a tourniquet in this situation is impractical, since toxins are quickly absorbed into the deeper layers of tissues.