grass snake - a snake is a large non-toxic.Its length can reach one and a half meters, and the average size - from 80 cm to 1 meter.However, when too quickly creeps, it seems much longer.This snake prefers to settle on the banks of swamps, rivers, lakes, ponds.But to meet the snake may be in small towns located in the wooded area.
When it's rainy summer, snakes begin to spread, travel and can retire at a very considerable distance from their native waters.They eat frogs and middle-sized fish, lizards, mice, large insects and even small birds.
grass snake is easily recognized by its typical coloration: the upper part of the body it has black or dark gray, not shown, and on the sides of the head are two oval bright yellow or orange spots.Abdomen all snakes light gray or off-white.
When this snake meets a man, then, first of all, trying to quickly crawl away.But adults may try to scare snakes - hiss, rush towards the enemy.As a rule, they do not bite.Yes, and snake bites are harmless.Only need to wash the wound with clean water and disinfect.
grass snake still has one active protective agent.If you catch it and not let go, he can suddenly release a stream of foul-smelling yellow-white liquid.Typically, after this, people often throw the snake and rush to hurry to wash away the nasty muck.But by its very nature it has a very persistent odor that absorbed into the skin for a long time.Irritation or burns, this protective fluid causes.Characteristically, the unpleasant smell only affects the human sense of smell.And animals that prey on snakes and eat, the smell is not deterred.
this harmless snakes have many natural enemies, foxes, vultures, storks, mink, raccoon dogs.Very harm them rats, shrews and hedgehogs, which destroy the nest of snake eggs.The female snake lays eggs on the 10-30 units, this concern for her offspring ends.Egg shells are glued together to form a shapeless clumps or chains.Their development takes about 2 months, and in late summer the eggs hatch uzhaty - small snake length of 13-15 cm.
Like any other snake, too spends the winter in holes of refuge.In April and May, after hibernation, it begins the period of reproduction and mating.To do this, snakes gather in groups and form a whole balls of intertwined bodies.
summer, too, you can find many of these snakes on the warm stones.But they do not crawl back for breeding, but simply to bask in the sun.
to their permanent dwelling snakes can often detect the so-called Nightcrawlers - thin, almost transparent cuticle that snake sheds once a year.During molting resets all too common skin entirely, including the one that protects the eyes.His body is at this time loses its natural color, it becomes dull and faded.But molting snake looks very impressive - all patterns and colors get stressed, bright eyes - bright and transparent.Healthy skin is peeling off snakes often a "stocking", while any deviations - lags behind tufts and individual parts.
have an ordinary snake has a very close relative - water snake.He still loves the heat and humidity.This snake is well adapted to water - her nostrils directed upwards and shifted to the edge of the muzzle.Therefore, it can not put his head completely out of the water, but only brings it to the surface to breathe and dive again unnoticed.Water alone can not emerges from the water to half an hour.
On a gray body at this snake clearly visible pattern of black spots, arranged in staggered rows.On the head there are the traditional orange, yellow or pink spots.Abdomen them striped, black and white.But often there are also completely black snake.
Water snakes are found on the banks of any waters south-east Europe, in the Minor and Central Asia, west of China and India.They love to accumulate on fallen trees in the water.They feed on frogs and fish.
