about these mysterious and enigmatic creatures like snakes, people from around the world have created many myths and legends.But if for some nations the snake - an object of worship and deification, which symbolizes strength, wisdom, renewal, others are afraid of these hissing and crawling animals.This article will be told unusual and interesting facts about snakes.
Giants snake world
today on our planet, there are more than 3,000 species of snakes, and about 1,000 of them - poisonous.The size of these animals can be very diverse.For example, in Indonesia's West Sumatra was caught the largest python today, length - nearly 15 meters.
Following is the anaconda boa with a length of 5 to 6 meters, although there are instances and more than 9 meters.For centuries, the inhabitants of South America, frightened children and their legends about snakes covered with staggered brown spots and live in quiet lakes and river harbors.Previously, anaconda also called a water snake, which actually does not contradict the truth: this snake really belongs to the subfamily boas, and she really loves the water.
following interesting facts about snakes poisonous species of concern, the longest among them is the king cobra, the length of the body which can reach 6 meters.
But the former Soviet Union's largest reptile is considered representative of the viper family of Vipers.It can grow up to two meters long and up to 3 kg weight.
snake or worm?
smallest snake - microhylidae dvuhlineychataya (Leptotyphlops bilineata) - inhabits these Caribbean islands like Martinique, Santa Lucia, Barbados, and the length rarely exceeds 10 cm. Another miniature representative of reptiles - slepun Brahmin (Typhlops braminus),or potting snake belongs to the family slepozmeek.Interesting facts about snakes in this family lie in the fact that they are actually blind, because their eyes are closed, and virtually undeveloped skin.In addition, slepuny prefer to live in the pots, put up in the warmer the street or in the garden.It inhabits a snake in South Asia, the islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, along with pots and she moved to the Hawaiian Islands, Madagascar and Mexico.
Unusual facts about the snake skeletons
Modern scientists know almost everything about snakes, but never ceases to amaze originality of the structure of their skeleton.Unlike all other animals, reptiles do not have limbs.Only the largest specimens of boas can find vestiges of the pelvis and hind limbs.Directly to the skull is joined body, wherein any difference, except for size, between the vertebrae of the five divisions no.Total vertebrae may be from 200 to 400. The number of edges of the kite can be up to 200, and they are connected to the vertebrae skeletal system ligaments and elastic muscles.
anatomy
No less interesting facts about snakes found out when we begin to study the structure of their internal organs.Thus, the kidneys of these reptiles are not located on the right and the left, as it were, one after the other - in front and behind.But the heart of the snake can move too far from their original position, which contributes to the normal passage of swallowed food through the intestines.
Another, rather unexpected, right about the snakes: they are deaf to our understanding of the word, because the eardrum and middle ear have completely atrophied.Touching belly to the ground, these reptiles catch a variety of body vibrations and vibrations, including sound.
Instead of moving snakes have fused together and transparent as hard lenses, eyelids.They protect the eyes from the snake's various injuries during travel or hunt.
When attacking a snake's mouth can be opened by 1800. The upper jaw of reptiles equipped with two rows, and the bottom - one row of teeth.Over the life of all of them, including fangs change.The longest teeth famous African Gabon viper they she can grow up to 3 cm.
How did they hunt?
course, to tell all about the snakes in one article will not work, but on ways to stop hunting them separately.
hunting methods depend on the species to which belongs to the reptile.Poisonous individuals prefer to wait for their prey in ambush, and causing an accurate and quick punch, kill the victim.If you missed the snake, the alleged dinner she will pursue long - 1-3 meters, and then re-freeze motionless, waiting.But for all its vipers toxicity does not always sit in wait: these snakes are capable of overcoming long distances in search of prey.Sandy EFA and Pallas cottonmouth can sneak into rodent burrows, and right there to eat their prey, but hunt and ambush are also used.
Those who do not have venom, just hold their trapped victims and swallow them or apply the technique of strangulation.Snakes swallow prey alive, but pythons and boas kill the victim, Coiled around her body and gradually increasing the force of compression rings, as long as she did not die of asphyxiation.By the time hunting snakes are classified into:
- day;
- twilight;
- night.
Sea snakes
these reptiles inhabit mainly in the tropical warm waters of the western Pacific.Between Borneo and Singapore resides 27 different species of sea snakes.The Australian coastal waters about 21, and in the Great Barrier Reef - 14 species of marine reptiles.In total there are about 70 species of marine reptiles.
most interesting thing about snakes that live in the sea, that, except cherpahoobraznyh, they are poisonous and can cause serious harm to human health.Cherepahoobraznoy sea snakes are not dangerous for humans because they eat fish caviar.Under the influence of such a diet their teeth were transformed into a single plate, so that they become like a turtle.Poison they can not produce, and his teeth to inject them either.
