Amur runner or otherwise Schrenk - snake family colubridae, it is widespread in the Far East.This reptile is perfectly adapted to the environmental conditions in a number of natural sites: from the steppes to the coniferous forests.On the territory of the Russian Federation, Amur runner is most common in Primorye and Khabarovsk Krai.And his place of residence can vary considerably: dry forest area, wetlands near the ponds, meadows, loft house or garden farmer.This species is found even in the mountains at an altitude of 1 km above sea level.
adult Amur snake can grow a little more than 2 meters.The male is usually much larger than the female.The back of a snake can have all the colors - from dark brown to black.Drawing from the transverse bands may be absent from such a snake, as the Amur runner.Photo shows that belly reptile consistently light - different shades.Schrenk has two subspecies.Russian and Chinese runner runner.Subspecies differ mainly in size - the second, as the occupant of the warmer climate zones - the largest.Amur snake is diurnal.At night, sleeping, getting to the shelter, which can serve as a hollow tree, a haystack, animal burrows, crevices in the rocks.In the cold season Schrenk becomes dormant in October, and wakes up in April.At this time, individuals gather in groups, sometimes up to 35 pieces.
Amur runner perfectly climbs trees.It can climb to a height of 10 meters.Puberty reptiles of this species reach in the third year of life.In the spring, after winter, the adults gather in a certain place, which remains unchanged from year to year.Males pick a mate and achieve its location using stroking the head of the body of the female.When the mating season ends, snakes crawl on their territories, and females hatching eggs.Pregnancy takes a little more than a month.In mid-July, females lay small eggs can be up to 30 pieces.Nest can serve as sheltered place with loose and wet litter.There are also collective nest.In one of these nests were found scientists more hundreds of eggs.
Schrenk Cubs are born quite large.Many of them die during the first winter, as appropriate shelters are not many.It feeds on small mammals Amur runner animals and their young, birds and chicks, frogs and eggs.Smaller victims of snake swallows immediately Bole large - initially choking, squeezing the rings around the trunk or pressing down to the ground.If the runner gets into a dangerous situation, it first tries to retreat.But if it is impossible to escape - hisses and attacks.Large individuals can cope with a small rabbit or a rat.The Chinese keep snakes of this species as pets instead of cats, because they do an excellent job with the destruction of rats and mice.
idle talk that the Amur runner poisonous - far rather offensive because people did not hesitate to destroy these reptiles.The number of runner steadily declining.
