The most dangerous snakes in Russia. Common viper. Photo of a poisonous beauty Male Viper what is the name

17.06.2019

Species: Vipera berus = Common viper (lifestyle)

This snake lives in some found hole in the soil, under the roots of a tree or between stones, in a mouse or mole hole, in an abandoned hole of a fox or a rabbit, in a cleft in the soil - in general, in some similar shelter, near which, if possible, there is a small an open place where she could warm her body in the sun about. When the desire to mate does not prompt her to roam the neighborhood, the viper can always be found in the daytime near her refuge, where at the slightest danger she returns as hastily as her drowsiness and laziness allow. When a thunderstorm approaches, according to Lenz's observations, she makes small excursions, but usually during the day she never goes far from her hole. Land claims that the viper is a purely diurnal animal, since there are few animals that like to expose themselves to the sun to such an extent. But to these words he adds that it is difficult to know what she does at night. I have no doubt that on warm or sultry nights, vipers remain on the surface of the earth or crawl only under the moss.

In the moonlight I quietly crept up to my captives and found that often they lie quite calmly, but sometimes they crawl nimbly; twice I came on moonlit nights, completely alone and as quietly as possible, to places where I knew there were vipers, but did not find any, although no conclusion can be drawn from this, since in broad daylight and in the most beautiful weather you can not find a single snake. It is only known that after sunset it is rare to find snakes on open places; they crawl under the moss, into the grass, etc.?. If chance had taught our explorer, as it taught me, if he had set fire to those places where he searched in vain for vipers in the moonlight dark night fire, he would change his mind.

The viper's special love for sunlight proves only one thing: she, like her relatives, loves warmth most of all and tries to give herself this pleasure as often as possible, but this does not yet prove that she is a diurnal animal. The laziness that catches the eye of everyone, which she reveals when she basks in the sun, indifference to everything that does not directly concern her, indicates the fact that during the day she is not in a cheerful state, but rather in some kind of half-asleep. All nocturnal animals, without exception, love the sun, although they fear and avoid the light; the most eloquent proof of this is a cat or an owl, which also bask in the sun; captured owls die if they are deprived of the sun for a long time.

For a viper, a reptile animal, whose body temperature increases or decreases depending on environment, is the most urgent need to lie for hours, stretched out in the sun; for her, it is a true blessing to give the body warmth, which the sluggishly circulating blood cannot deliver to it. But this snake is by no means a diurnal animal, just like all the others from this family. It is not for nothing that she is endowed with pupils capable of unusually expanding and contracting, it is not for nothing that her eyes are protected by prominent brow shields, and in other species similar to her - leathery formations that can only be compared with the tactile hairs of nocturnal predatory mammals because every organ, every ability that an animal possesses, finds its use.

Only with the onset of twilight does the viper begin its activities, its activities, its hunting. To be convinced of this truth, one who has caught snakes should arrange the cage in such a way that he can see what is happening in it without being noticed by animals, or light a fire at night in a place where vipers often come across. unusual light surprises the animals, which are very lively at night, and they hasten to get to know the strange phenomenon better, crawl up to the fire itself, look with surprise at the flame and, apparently, reluctantly decide to crawl away. Thus, he who has to catch vipers will reach his goal much more easily by night with fire than by day; he will catch them even in those places where he searched in vain during the day, of course, if there really are vipers or other nocturnal snakes in this area.

Against the opinion that the viper is more nocturnal than diurnal, Bloom exposes all the messages he received and his own observations. They come down to the fact that after sunset, even much earlier, the viper crawls into its hole and crawls out of there at night only in very warm, stuffy weather. Then she really walks around everywhere and goes for prey. In the mountains where for the most part of all snakes, only the viper is found, and in the northern regions, even in the lowlands, where the nights are always cold in summer, it never leaves its refuge at night, so that there it is forced to seek prey during the day. As diurnal animals, other snakes with a slit-like pupil are also known. From the group of wolf-toothed snakes indian species they feed, according to Günther, on spindles, which they have to catch during the day; Africans eat mice and other small nocturnal mammals. It is possible that slit-like pupils and prominent supraocular shields are useful to the viper when looking for mice in minks. The proof that she does this are the mice that were found many times in her stomach? Homeyer often met vipers going for prey during the day, and once he watched a viper attack a bird.

The misconception about the time at which the viper indulges in activities partly justifies the views that are widespread everywhere about its disposition, which I also previously shared. Whoever watched it during the day will tell the true truth, calling it extremely lethargic, immobile, stupid to perceive external impressions and stupid animals, even compared to other snakes, but a person who observed it at night will form a completely different opinion. True, even then she cannot compete in dexterity and agility with a slender snake or copperhead; but still at night there remain only faint signs of the sluggishness, slowness and prudence of her daytime movements. She becomes mobile and agile, crawls in all directions in her cage, and in freedom in the area in which she hunts, and in contrast to her daytime behavior, she pays attention to everything that happens around her. Observations and experiments have shown that the viper moves quite quickly on level ground, but can climb a crooked tree trunk, and also swims well. She avoids water not at all to the extent that is usually thought. She does not like water as much as his relatives, but she is not at all afraid of the proximity of water ...

Life expectancy can reach 15, and according to some data, even 30 years. However, observations in Sweden show that snakes rarely survive two or more three years reproduction, which, taking into account the achievement of puberty, gives an age limit of 5-7 years

An elongated oval body, devoid of limbs and any outgrowths, does not allow her to diversify her behavior (as, indeed, to other snakes); however, there are many noteworthy elements in her everyday activities (apart from dramatic mating tournaments or brutal hunting scenes). Even a viper can lie in its favorite place in different ways. Basking in the sun, it is located in wide free waves, while spreading the ribs to the sides, due to this the body becomes flat, like a belt, and more sunlight falls on it. In the same way, she lies on a stone that has warmed up during the day, trying to absorb all its warmth. But if the viper is alerted by something, its body becomes tight and tense, its curves resemble a compressed spring, although the posture remains the same. The snake is ready at any moment to either quietly slip into a secluded place, or make a throw towards possible prey or an enemy. If she fails to crawl away from danger, she rapidly twists into a tight spiral; the whole body is collected in a dense lump, from the center of which the head rises on an S-shaped curved neck, the muzzle is always directed towards danger. Periodically, the snake abruptly throws forward the upper third of the body, usually not far away - only 10-15 centimeters, but with such energy that this whole ball also moves slightly towards the enemy. At the same time, the viper inflates the body and hisses frighteningly. A snake can lie in a tight ball and, being in a calm state, trying to keep its warmth in cool weather - it seems to wrap itself in its own body. It is important to know that for all its relative (compared to other snakes) slowness common viper- quite swift and agile animal. There is a widespread misconception that a viper taken by the tail is not capable of biting the hand holding it. In fact, in such an unpleasant position for her, this snake can swing and bend the body very strongly, and sometimes she manages to get the offender. A viper planted in a bag can bite through the fabric.

AT summer time sometimes basks in the sun, but mostly hides under old stumps, in crevices, etc. The snake is not aggressive and, when a person approaches, it tries to use its camouflage coloration as much as possible, or crawl away. Only in the event of an unexpected appearance of a person or with a provocation on his part, she can try to bite him. This cautious behavior is explained by the fact that it requires a lot of energy to reproduce the poison in conditions of changing temperatures.

Accumulations of snakes in any place are due not only to the most favorable conditions for them, but also to the natural need for communication. If vipers were evenly distributed throughout the territory suitable for their life, their population density would be so low that they would have to travel considerable distances to meet each other. The snakes living in the same "hearth" gather in the fall, going for the winter, and in the spring, when the mating season begins. In some places, clusters of females bearing offspring are also noted (Orlova, 1999).

Figure 6 - Vipers gathering for the winter

For the winter, vipers fall into a stupor (Orlova, 1999). They winter in the ground below the freezing layer, at a depth of 40 cm to 2 m, more often in the burrows of rodents, moles, in the passages of rotten tree roots, in the voids of peat bogs, under haystacks, in rock crevices, etc. (Figure 5). The temperature in wintering places does not fall below +2 ... + 4 ° C. More often, vipers hibernate singly or in small groups, however, winter accumulations of up to 200--300 snakes are known in suitable places. After wintering, it appears in March - April, sometimes in May. Males are the first to leave the winter quarters in warm weather. sunny days when there is still a lot of snow in the forest. Leave for wintering in the second half of September - October. In spring, vipers keep in well-warmed places, using solar radiation and contact with warm soil, heated stones, fallen trees, stumps, etc. Optimum temperature for males + 25 ° C, for females + 28 ° C. At temperatures above + 37 ° C, rigor mortis and death occur in vipers. (Bannikov, 1977).

Like most members of the family, the common viper often lies in wait for its prey. A snake resting in the sun is at the same time an alert predator. She is almost always ready to eat, obviously, the feeling of fullness is completely unfamiliar to her. When a potential prey appears in the field of view, the viper closely follows its every movement, remaining completely motionless and usually invisible to the victim. Only if necessary, the snake imperceptibly crawls closer to her. It happens that a careless mouse even climbs a lying viper, to which a cold-blooded predator does not react in any way until the animal is within reach of its poisonous teeth. It happens that a snake misses in a throw (by the way, this happens more often with a viper than with other snakes), but it usually does not pursue frightened prey, but it can patiently wait until the animal calms down and it has a new opportunity to attack.

The viper poisoned by her victim is easily detected by the scent trail and swallows slowly. Your usual prey - small mammals- The viper always swallows from the head. This process is rather slow; alternately "intercepting" the carcass with the left and right halves of the jaws, the snake still periodically takes the lower jaw to the side in order to inhale some air. When the prey is already partially in the esophagus, the trunk muscles begin to work: by sharp bending of the snake's body, it helps to draw and squeeze the prey into the stomach. Before swallowing, and especially after, you can see how the viper opens its mouth wide and twitches the halves of the jaws, as if yawning. Thus, she puts her jaw apparatus in order (the jaw bones take their original position, the tension of the jaw muscles subsides), since when swallowing an animal that is several times larger than her own head, the jaws are monstrously stretched.

After a meal, the viper rubs its muzzle against the ground and surrounding objects, cleaning off adhering motes from its mouth. Then it returns to its original place, where it digests food and waits for a new victim. At one time, a snake can swallow three or four mice or frogs, but in nature it rarely succeeds, because after the first “portion” it becomes less mobile.

The viper may be more actively looking for prey. She goes hunting at dusk or at night, while examining holes, cracks, spaces under objects lying on the ground and dense thickets. A well-developed sense of smell and, to some extent, vision help her to find her food in the dark. In rodent burrows, she often eats helpless cubs or adult animals sleeping there. The smell of the victim plays such an important role for the viper that it can even be "deceived" (which is done when feeding these snakes in captivity) by offering her a piece of raw meat with a mouse smell (worn with the skin of a mouse or with a drop of its urine). The viper will swallow it as if nothing had happened, although it will simply not eat raw meat.

Vipers digest their prey for two - four days. At this time, they may not crawl out to the surface at all, remaining in their shelters - rodent burrows, passages in rotting deadwood, under the trunks of fallen trees.

Animals get the necessary water from food, but sometimes they lick off drops of dew or rain.

Common vipers can go without food for 6-9 months. The ability to starve has great biological meaning. First, snakes for long winter months fall into a forced stupor (although for this they accumulate fat reserves during the summer). Secondly, in natural conditions Vipers often do not have enough food, especially where they consume exclusively the same type of food. For example, on some northern islands, vipers live only at the expense of local populations of voles. However, the number of the latter drops sharply from time to time, and then the snakes simply have to starve (Orlova, 1999).

The viper feeds mainly on warm-blooded animals, namely: mice, moles, shrews and birds; however, it does not neglect lizards and other reptiles, it even devours its own children. A viper can endure without harm prolonged fasting, but on occasion shows amazing voracity and can swallow, for example, 3 large mice one after another (Bram, 1992).

Juveniles usually feed on insects, less often on mollusks and worms (Bannikov, 1977).

In nature, the enemies of vipers are predator birds and mammals. The defensive posture is a tightly zigzag-curled body with a raised front. From this position, the hissing and periodically inflating viper makes throws towards the enemy. The caught snake secretes a liquid with a repulsive odor from the cloaca. (Dunaev, 1999)

The unique ability of snakes to recover from hibernation even in ancient times inspired people with mystical horror. Even in our time, snakes are credited with magical properties, using their dried skin to attract wealth and protect against enemies. Be that as it may, but gradually zoologists studied the habits and properties of reptiles. They were divided into classes and squads, and now they know where the snakes hibernate and how they live.

Snakes in Russia

To date, snakes living in Russia are well studied, but due to the fact that their habitat habitat is constantly changing due to human intervention, they migrate and adapt to new places.

Conventionally, Russia can be divided into zones where these reptiles are found:

Not so long ago, information began to appear that they began to appear in the forest-tundra. How they adapted to local conditions and where the snakes winter in the tundra is unknown, but reindeer herders claim that there were cases of bites.
There are only 4 types of snakes, one of which is poisonous.
The third zone covers the territory of the Black Sea, the shores of the Caspian, Azov and Aral Seas and the border with Kazakhstan. 17 species of reptiles live in this territory, 3 of which are poisonous, and 2, although not poisonous, are aggressive, and their bites can be very painful. The places where snakes hibernate (photo below) in this area are animal burrows, or wind-protected crevices in the mountains.

Krasnodar, Stavropol region, countries North Caucasus and Kalmykia are habitats for 14 species of reptiles, 3 of which are dangerous and 3 are poisonous.
The Far East is home to 15 species of snakes, of which only three are poisonous.

The way of life and the choice of a place where snakes hibernate directly depends on their habitat. For example, in warm areas, they may not hibernate at all, while in regions with cold winter they are forced to seek shelter warmer and away from people.

Poisonous snakes in Russia

Among the reptiles that are dangerous to humans, living in different regions Russia are located:

The steppe viper - although a medium-sized snake, but its bite can cause serious damage to human health, although deaths were rare. The length of its gray-brown body with a zigzag or stripe on the back usually reaches 30-40 cm. It lives in meadows and steppes, but so far the grass is green. As it burns out, this snake moves closer to water bodies. He likes to burrow into hay, where snakes of this species usually hibernate. There have been cases when people bitten steppe viper on the for a long time lost sight, so it is better to avoid meeting with her.

is listed in the Red Book and is rare, but its bite is fatal to humans. An adult grows up to half a meter in length, body color varies from yellow color to dark red with a black, sometimes intermittent, stripe on the back. It lives in forests and meadows on the slopes of mountains. Winters in crevices between stones.

These snakes represent mortal danger, but since they avoid human settlements, a meeting with them can only occur on their territory. When hunting or gathering mushrooms in these places, you should familiarize yourself with what inhabitants you can meet here.

The most dangerous snakes in Russia

There are reptiles that it is better to never meet on your way, but even they try to hide when they see a person, although they can harm him:

Gyurza is one of the most dangerous snakes in Russia. In the steppe variety, the body length can reach two meters, although most individuals are 130-140 cm. These snakes live in families and are extremely aggressive at the end of May, when they start mating. In the summer, they creep together to their hunting “land”, and in the fall they return to where snakes of this species winter, although they do not hibernate.
lives in the south of Siberia and the north of Kalmykia. This one has black transverse stripes on the body. Seeing a person, he assumes a protective posture and emits a repulsive smell that can be felt at a distance of up to 5 m, which saved many people from his bite, which, although very painful, is not fatal.

Usually, snakes avoid meeting people, but they can be caught by accident, therefore, while walking through the forest, picking mushrooms and berries, just in case, knock with a stick on the bushes and grass. Hearing the noise, the snakes crawl away.

Dangerous snakes of Russia

If you look for places where snakes winter in Russia, then rodent burrows will be the most common. They can join in large groups, especially for steppe and forest reptiles.

There are a number of snakes that, although not venomous, can harm humans with their bite. In Russia, these include:

yellow-bellied snake. It reaches a length of more than 1.5 m. The color of its back can be either olive or black, but the belly is always yellowish, hence the name. They live far from people in fields and steppes, but they are not afraid to settle in gardens, and even in parks. They feed on birds and small rodents, and when they meet a person, they can make a throw up to a meter and bite the one who disturbed them. Snake bites are quite painful and take a long time to heal. Often they settle in haystacks or in the holes of rodents that they have previously eaten. The yellow-bellied snake is tied to its home, so it always returns to it after hunting.

The Caucasian does not avoid people at all, and can even settle under the roof of a barn and catch mice there. Her bite is not dangerous, but it is better not to tease this small snake, up to 75 cm in length. Unlike others, no poisonous snakes, she has pupils like a cat, so she was given that name. It also winters in hay, barns or empty buildings.

These reptiles, although they are not dangerous to humans, it is better not to touch. It is a pity that often people, not understanding these beautiful creatures, kill snakes that are completely safe for them.

Poisonous snakes in the suburbs

In the Moscow region, there is only one type of poisonous snake - the common viper. They live along the banks of swamps, rivers and lakes, in forests and sometimes in meadows. Vipers avoid people, but a chance encounter can provoke a snake to bite a potential enemy. It is easy to recognize, as this species of snake has a triangular head on a thin neck and narrow pupils of the eyes.

The places where snakes winter in the Moscow region can be completely different. For example, a single viper can lie in someone's hole or crevice at a depth of up to 2 meters, where they won't even get it very coldy. If there is no such place, vipers unite in groups of up to 200 individuals and hibernate in a less deep hole.

Non-poisonous snakes in the Moscow region: snakes

There are 2 species in this area. non-venomous snakes- snakes and copperheads. The first prefer to settle near reservoirs with running water. They are often confused with vipers, and therefore exterminated, although in some countries, such as Ukraine, Belarus, they are tamed in rural areas. They are excellent mousers and easily get used to people. They hibernate in deep cracks in the ground or in burrows.

Copperheads in the Moscow region

In the forests where snakes hibernate in middle lane In Russia, copperheads prefer clearings and clearings, as there is more heat and sun. They clog into burrows or holes under snags and stones, where they sleep until the first spring warmth. These are incredible beautiful snakes are also subject to extermination by people, although they are not yet included in the list of endangered animals.

In the Moscow region, they are found in the Chekhov, Klin and Podolsk regions.

Wintering of snakes in the Leningrad region

The same snakes live in this region as in the Moscow region. Due to the intense heat, especially from May to September, they are very active, so when going to the forest or even digging in the garden, you should be careful. But it is especially necessary to avoid meeting with snakes during the period Indian summer because before hibernation they are always aggressive.

The most common in the Luga, Kingisepp and Volkhov regions, where snakes winter in Leningrad region. They choose deep holes or hollows, sometimes they burrow into the ground to a depth of 2 meters, where the temperature is rarely below +3 degrees even in frost.

35 to 50 cm long, which lives in the south of Russia, in its European part, in the Altai Territory, as well as in European countries and in Northeast China.

This viper is different light gray, yellow, brown. Belly - dark gray, black color. The tip of her tail is lighter, usually lemon. But hallmark snake is a broken zigzag line on the back with a number of longitudinal spots.

The head of the viper has a flat, which is much wider than the neck, and the tail is short, ending with a hard tip. An adult male has a length of half a meter, while the length of a female reaches 70-80 cm. The eyes of male vipers are large and round, bright, fiery red, in females they are slightly darker - reddish-brown. Pupils can increase and narrow, which is not characteristic of reptiles.

Regarding the habitat, it is picky: it can live in deserts and forests, in swamps and mountains, in fields and steppes. For her, only the presence of bright light and food is essential.

But although the common viper loves light and warmth, it does not belong to those reptiles that are active during the day. On the contrary, in good weather she becomes slower, basks for a long time under sunbeams, and when it gets dark, she crawls out to hunt.

Especially the common viper loves swamps and the surrounding area - there can be an incalculable number of them here. Vipers live in some hole or crevice in the soil, between stones, tree roots. However, near this shelter there must be an open space so that the reptile can take its favorite sunbathing.

As food, vipers prefer animals with a stable body temperature (warm-blooded), especially mice. It is the small rodents that are necessary product in their diet. In the process of hunting, the common viper can reach its prey even underground. Certain types birds make nests on the ground, so both bird eggs and small birds often become victims of cold-blooded hunters. Frogs and lizards are food for vipers only in extreme cases.

In winter, the viper sleeps, intertwining its body in one large ball with the bodies of its relatives. If this ball is disturbed, then poisonous reptiles randomly, slowly begin to crawl, sticking out a forked tongue. Summer for these snakes comes in the month of April, but sometimes in March they are already active.

The mating process of vipers usually occurs when a favorable warm weather. The number of cubs that are born is determined by the age of the female.

After birth, small vipers crawl away. The mother is very concerned about the safety of future offspring, in the truest sense of the word she "loses her mind" from the instinct to preserve the oviposition. Therefore, while guarding the nest, she rushes at everything that catches her eye: from a living creature to a stick and even her own shadow. And, although her attacks are often in vain, the viper will by no means retreat, because overcoming the enemy is her main task. When attacking, she focuses on speed of movement rather than accuracy.

During the attack, the snake coils up, forming a flat lace. At the same time, its neck is retracted in order to subsequently stretch it by more than 20 cm. The retracted neck of the viper is a signal of attack. Angry, she becomes pouty, although ideally she is thin enough.

Before attacking the victim, the snake produces a piercing hiss. This sound is made with a closed mouth - so she exhales and inhales air with more strong sound. During the exit, the hiss is strong and low, while inhaling it is weaker and higher.

Very often you can hear about the fact that death comes from. This is not a legend or fiction. Usually a person dies a few hours after the attack (or maybe a week). Even if they save the victim from death, then prolonged soreness can be traced, even in the affected part.

Therefore, after a bite, you should immediately pull the limb above the bitten place with a tourniquet and try to suck or squeeze out some of the blood with poison from the wound. But the most important thing is to transport the victim to the hospital as soon as possible or call a doctor to the site in order to introduce an antidote into the body. It should also be remembered that if you have to face a viper in nature, then it is better to leave quickly and quietly, leaving it alone. It will surely save your life.

However, upon closer examination of the snake, it was identified in separate view and named after the zoologist Nikolsky (Vipera nikolskii).

The black viper has a more slender build than the common one. The body reaches a length of 765 mm, the tail - 80 mm. Males are slightly smaller than females. The head is broad, large, clearly demarcated from the neck and slightly flattened. Color iris. Adult snakes are always black, as can be seen in the photo. The viper on the upper labials may sometimes have white spots. The underside of the tip of the snake's tail is yellow-orange or yellow. Juveniles are gray-brown in color with a zigzag on the back. Brown color. By the age of three, the pattern disappears, the color becomes dark.

The black viper lives in the forest-steppe and steppe regions of the European part of Russia and the Snake is noted in Voronezh, Tambov, Penza, It occurs in the valley and its basin. In the northeast, the habitat extends to the foothills of the Middle and Southern Urals.

The black viper usually sticks to broad-leaved forest areas and oak. In the summer, it can be found in glades, clearings and forest edges. Prefers floodplain landscapes of the rivers Vorona, Medveditsa, Khoper, Don, and Samara. Summer and wintering habitats are apparently the same. In wet areas there are more than 500 representatives of the species per 1 km². The black viper begins to show activity closer to the middle of spring. Mating occurs in May, and in August the female has juveniles (8-24 live individuals). The color of young snakes begins to darken after the first molt.

Nikolsky's viper is most active during the daytime. The main food of the snake is small rodents and (to a lesser extent) birds, frogs and lizards. In rare cases (apparently, with an extreme shortage of food), the black viper can eat fish or carrion. The biology of this species is not yet well understood.

The black viper moves more slowly than snakes, but swims very well. In dangerous situations, it takes an s-shaped stance, hisses and lunges towards the offender. Nikolsky's viper is poisonous. For a person, her bites are very painful, but the victims recover after a few days. Poison is a mixture of protein substances, enzymes and inorganic components. It has a destructive effect on tissues, paralyzes nervous system and promotes blood clotting. Caught individuals secrete a liquid with a repulsive unpleasant odor from the cloaca.

For a long time, this snake was considered a dark form of the common viper, based on the fact that in all its populations there is a certain percentage of melanists. However, after a thorough study of the ecology and morphology of this snake, it was given species status. This greatly increased the interest of specialists in its study. But opinions still differ. Some scientists continue to consider this snake as just a subspecies of the main form.