What really interests people, because it is the question of whether the snakes are poisonous, how to distinguish them from vipers.But these scaly reptile detachment of snakes some interesting habits, way of life, diet.Family natricinae very numerous.There are more than 1500 species.Adders inhabit all continents except Antarctica, they live in different habitats, including deserts.Fans of home terrariums happy breed these reptiles.Adders are unpretentious, and care of the most minimal.This terrarium is most concerned about the issue of when and where the snakes lay eggs, how to get healthy offspring.Let us examine this problem.
Types snakes
As already mentioned, this is a very large family.It is divided into three groups: true, false, and snakes to snakes copperhead.Consider for the beginning of the genus Natrix.These are real snakes.They are also several hundred species.The most common of them - Natrix natrix, or too ordinary.It is found throughout Europe (except the Far North).That is why we make the mind an idea that is so.Picture this little snake with yellow "ears" serves as a "identikit" to the entire family.The misconception!There are kinds of snakes and no yellow spots - for example, Natris tesselata, inhabiting the waters of Western Europe, Moldova and Ukraine.Not to mention the runners rather large snakes and smooth snakes.But they also belong to the Adders.There are among this diverse family and poisonous species.Just their secret is not dangerous for humans and in the worst case can only lead to swelling around the bite.
How to distinguish from viper snake
Two bright orange or yellow spots on the sides of the head are not the only hallmark.In snakes, at least, of these, snakes and some false, pupils are round.Whereas Vipers - slit vertically arranged.Again, and this difference is the rule only in our country.In the tropics, there are snakes with slotted pupils.Color viper - black or dark gray - can be found on the back and sides of its non-toxic counterpart.So what kinds of snakes are found in our country?The most common in the European part of Russia Natrix.The northern boundary of its range - the latitude of Vologda.Water certainly more heat-loving.We it is found only in the southern Volga region, the Kuban and the Don.Finally, Rhabdophis tigrina, tiger too, is found in the Primorsky Territory.This was a particularly worth mentioning.This conditional poisonous snake length of 110 centimeters.If it happens to bite man short front teeth, the small wound and symptoms of poisoning have been observed.But the finger in his mouth mackerel uzhu place is not recommended - in the literal sense.In the depths of his throat (on the back side of the upper jaw) and has fangs.The secret is poisoning, not inferior to the gravity of the consequences from the bite of a viper.
inhabited
Oh, species which inhabit different landscapes, until the desert, still "loves" water.It prefers moist, marshy forests or grasslands.Keeps snake near water, and water snake and lives in them.But eat the prey, and the more these reptiles lay their eggs on land.In the tropics there are tree snakes.Interestingly that they are only able to creep upwards.Climbing on the trunk, so much stops taking the likeness branches podkaraulivaya birds.To go down the snake curls and spring jumps.In flight, it straightens the body, pulls the stomach and ribs rastopyrivat.It turns out that something like a gutter-glider, slowing the fall.These arboreal snakes slit-shaped pupil, too, but placed horizontally, which allows you to see three-dimensional image.Grass snake, the disclosure of which we have already given, can reach a length and a half meters.It is interesting because it is not alien to human habitation.Females lay eggs even in the henhouse.
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The main food of the reptiles are frogs, toads, amphibians.However, what one eats too, it depends entirely on the biotype of its habitat.In the semi-he eats small rodents, eggs and insects.The mountainous terrain in his diet consists of lizards and even snakes.Wood snakes feed on geckos, skinks, unwary birds.The ration of water species by 60 per cent consists of small fish.Young Uzhikov eat tadpoles, insect larvae of newts.There are kinds of "specialization."For example, fathead snakes that live in Southeast Asia, are able to get out of snail shells.They stuck two front teeth in the soft body of the mollusk and start spinning like a corkscrew.Adders-oviphages live across Africa.These small snake (75 cm high).But even they are able to swallow the eggs.Snake simply pulled over the prey, like a stocking.Inside her esophagus has a "tooth" - process of the spine, which punctures the egg.The liquid drains into the stomach, and a flattened shell snake spits.
Funny habits
In humans a better chance to meet the snake than a viper.But fewer opportunities to catch it, as these reptiles are very nimble.In addition, they realize that in a fight with a man they have nothing to defend.To meet these snakes with yellow "ears" can be far away from the property, as well as in the hayloft, where snakes lay eggs.In springtime these snakes crawl out to bask in the thawed patches on the stumps, and even on the road.When meeting with the enemy so close employs an interesting tactic, called "akinesia" - a false death.It turns out she has a very convincing: the lifeless body as the rope, his eyes rolled back, his mouth opened convulsively, tongue fell out.Some individuals may even start up from the jaws of a few drops of blood.For more convincing already shoots from the anus smelly secret.Few people will desire to pick up a half-decayed corpse.But once you move far enough, as the creepy "Lazarus" is resurrected and skedaddle.
runners
This large snakes, reaching the size of two meters or more in length.They also have a few dozen species.There they are in our country, especially in the south of the Far East.In the realm of snakes snakes - excellent sprinters.Smaller birds prefer to run away, but the large and can show aggression to humans.Although not poisonous snakes, their large as the dog teeth may cause injury.Particularly aggressive yellow-bellied snake, which is found in the Ukraine, the Caucasus and on our Lower Volga to the Ural River.Being cornered, he throws himself in the face.Not far behind him in the desire to stand up for themselves and spotted snake.The area of its habitat - Central Asia.And the biggest non-toxic snake (unless, of course, except boas and pythons) - eyed snake.It reaches a length of three and a half meters.
copperhead
It is too small.Photo shows a red or brown snake length of only 50 cm, which are seen along the back of the small dark spots.Lives copperhead clearings and glades, meadows and steppes.The area of its habitat - from Scandinavia and throughout Europe.We have it in the southern part of the country.Gadyukofoby mercilessly killed medyanok, confusing them with poisonous snakes.And for good reason.Coronella gadyuchat eat themselves, and sometimes attack and adults.However, the venom they have.But he acts only at the cold-blooded - lizards bite Coronella kills in seconds.But for a man it is absolutely harmless.False snakes Latin America - mussurany - feed exclusively poisonous snakes.This quality is used by farmers in Brazil and Argentina.They breed mussuran to protect their homes and herds of poisonous snakes that this false and eats alone.
Reproduction
pairing these reptiles in the spring, usually in April.It is necessary to take into account the terrarium."Wintering" - the artificial maintenance of pets at a temperature below 10 degrees during the month - will increase the chances of success.Courtship among snakes are without any frills.Male, approaching its larger lady doing rhythmic nods his head.If she behaves calmly, he approaches her and pressed against the lower part of the body.Occasionally a female applicants significantly greater than one.Then the snake form the so-called "marriage tangle."Males do not fight and bite each other.They're just trying to push the opponent and himself to continue the race.Under favorable conditions (e.g., cage) can achieve two litters per year.If the early spring frost gave way, too, the reproduction of which is not always subordinated to strict deadlines, it may delay the laying of eggs.In this case there is an interesting process incomplete incubation.The embryos develop into mature eggs inside the mother's body.
Pregnancy and birth brood
Pregnancy lasts an average of three months.Snakes lay eggs under the underlying objects, the roots of trees, empty holes, manure or rotting plant debris.Number pressed down depends on the size of the female.Snake length to 70 cm lays about 10 eggs, more than a meter - 15-30.Inside the shell is a large yolk surrounded by a thin layer of protein.Eggs ordinary snake resemble doves.But they are bonded "to the beads' gelatinous substance.Between those periods when snakes lay eggs and when there are young, held for three weeks.Newborns are 15 centimeters in length, but it is completely viable.They feed on worms, snails, and various insects.Youngsters easily tamed, take food from hands.
