Zoologists classify the common grass snake as a type of chordates, a class of reptiles, a squamous order, a family of already-shaped ones. This snake is found in all temperate regions - both in our country and in Eurasia as a whole.
Below we will talk about its habitats, dietary habits and lifestyle, as well as explain the ways in which you can distinguish between a viper and an ordinary snake.
Looks like
The most typical coloration of this snake from the back is a simple brown, dark gray or blackish, with an implicit pattern.
Quite rare, but there are also completely black snakes, as well as albinos. Their belly is always lighter, it is a dirty gray color, has a dark stripe stretching to the very throat.
On the sides of the head of most representatives of this species there are two bright yellow or orange oval spots, which is a kind of hallmark of this reptile (see photo of the common snake in the article). Shouldkeep in mind that occasionally there are individuals in which these spots either do not exist, or they are weakly expressed.
Usually the body length of this snake is about a meter. But some specimens of female grass snakes can be larger - up to 150 cm.
Habitats
Already an ordinary reptile - a typical and perhaps one of the most common types of reptiles.
Quite often, these reptiles choose hollows and pits under the roots of trees, as well as burrows. For life, it prefers wet and swampy places already ordinary. The snake is found in abundance near ponds, lakes, rivers, marshes, near beaver huts, in coastal bushes, in old clearings, in damp forests, especially multi-tiered forests, in haystacks, under bridges, etc.
Often settles near human habitation - houses, outbuildings, in household plots. Snakes can be found in sheds, in barns, woodpiles, on garbage heaps. Sometimes they crawl into attics and basements. Apparently, this is due to the fact that permanent human neighbors also live here - small rodents and insects, which make up the main diet of snakes.
Lifestyle
Already ordinary - a rather frisky reptile. Everyone who has ever tried to catch her knows how difficult it is. This snake moves perfectly both on the ground and in the trees. Crawling, it develops speed up to 5 km per hour, and for a snake this is not bad at all. Snakes are also excellent swimmers, keeping their heads above the surface and leaving a trail in the form of characteristic ripples with their bodies wriggling in the water. And if necessary, hunting, it candive and stay at a depth for half an hour! He is able to lie at the bottom for a long time, lying in wait for prey. However, despite such remarkable qualities as a skilled swimmer, snakes prefer not to swim far, hunting in coastal areas.
Day is the usual active time for the snake, he goes hunting most often in the morning or in the evening. At noon, this snake loves to bask in the sun, curled up in a ring on a tree branch or on a brownie. However, all of the above applies to the common snake, but another species of snakes - burrowing from North Africa - is exclusively nocturnal.
With the onset of the autumn months (usually in October-November), snakes hide in holes or under stones and hibernate. They can sleep for 8 months a year - the duration of hibernation depends on the time of the onset of cold weather and their end. Usually, hibernation ends by the days of April, when the sun warms the earth noticeably.
For wintering, snakes choose frost-free secluded places where no one will disturb them. Up to several dozen individuals can gather in such shelters, sometimes other types of snakes join them.
In captivity, it is already able to live for about 20 years. Zoologists suggest that this could be life expectancy in nature, if not for a large number of natural enemies.
Mating season and reproduction
Shortly after waking up, the male snakes weave into a hissing ball, arranging fights for the female: the mating season begins for the common snake. And after three months, the snakes are looking for places for future clutches in secluded and damp places: either thisa pile of old foliage, or an old hole, or a hole under a rotten, maturing log covered with moss.
The nest contains 20 to 40 eggs. The length of the egg on average is up to 25-30 mm, and the width is no more than 18-20. Freshly laid eggs are oval in shape, covered with a leathery, sticky whitish shell. They often stick together, forming chains or clumps.
Sometimes the masonry is not the only one. It may happen that, having found a nest, another female will lay her eggs to these. If the hiding place is not destroyed by rats, the cubs will hatch from eggs in a couple of months (and if the weather is cold, then in three)
Newborn snakes are still small, no more than 15-20 cm, but they are already quite ready to lead an independent life and can hunt - insects, their larvae, caterpillars, worms and even juvenile fish.
Moulting
Having survived the winter, snakes also go through the process of molting. Their skin at this time fades and loses its former colors. Moulting snakes rub against any protruding places - stones, snags, tree bark, trying to quickly crawl out of their old skin, which peels off them like a stocking.
Those who enter the habitats sometimes catch the eye of the so-called creeps (or "shirts") - translucent skins or parts of them that have lagged behind the body of snakes. As a rule, the skin comes off the reptiles entirely, but sometimes the molt passes in an abnormal mode - then it loses its old skin in shreds.
Interestingly, at the last moment of molting, the snake becomes almost completely blind:as well as from the whole body, a thin skin gradually descends from her eyes, which makes it difficult to see. Then he tries by touch to find some safe secluded gap, crawl into it and wait there for the end of the molt.
The molted snake looks quite impressive - all the strokes on its skin are clearer and brighter, even the pupils in the eyes become clearly distinguishable.
What eats already
The diet of this reptile consists mainly of small vertebrates and various insects. Frogs, newts, other snakes, rodents, birds, their eggs, chicks, fish, etc. - that's what the common one eats.
Having overtaken its victim (and this snake, like all reptiles in general, attacks only moving, moving animals), it attacks it. It swallows prey alive and whole. At the same time, the sharp teeth of the snake, bent inward, do not serve at all to plunge them into the body of the victim. He cannot tear her to pieces and start chewing, he cannot even strangle her with his body. Therefore, he swallows it. And he needs teeth to help himself push the body of the caught animal inside, acting alternately with the upper and lower parts of the jaw.
If at this crucial moment some enemy encroaches on the snake himself, he, of course, will have to retreat. And in order to escape as quickly as possible, it will burp a half-swallowed victim. It is interesting that, at the same time, the liberated food, often not affected in the least by the adventure, runs away about its own business.
Snakes can stay hungry for a long time, butalways need to drink and bathe.
Who attacks snakes in nature
This snake itself also often becomes the prey of various predators. There are enough enemies in the wild. These are badgers, foxes, martens, minks, raccoon dogs. Birds also love to hunt him. An eagle or a kite that has fallen from the sky will grab a snake, and sometimes even a stork will pick it up.
Most often, this reptile will prefer to crawl away from danger as quickly as possible, but if the enemy is too close, the snake can curl up into a knot and make several false attacks towards the offender, hissing loudly. Even snakes can skillfully pretend to be dead - they relax the body, open their mouths with their tongue hanging out and lie motionless, showing a complete lack of reactions to external stimuli. In this case, the snake may even regurgitate partially digested food. Most of the predators avoid eating carrion - this is what helps the cunning snake. As soon as the enemy turns away in disappointment, the "imaginary dead" resurrects and quickly crawls away.
Sometimes it can spray the attacker with a special yellowish-white liquid that has an unpleasant odor. It does not irritate the skin, only stinks. But most four-legged predators with a sensitive scent stop this, but such protection does not work against birds.
Can it be dangerous for humans?
Most representatives of the already-shaped family cannot bring any harm to people. They can only slightly scratch the skin with their teeth if you show a desire to take the snake in your hands. Already ordinary in most cases when trying to catch himprefer to hide.
However, some species, such as, for example, tiger snake, common in the Far East and adjacent areas, have teeth in the back of the upper jaw with furrows containing poison. The bite of such a reptile can lead to swelling, occasionally even death.
But in general, an ordinary one is a harmless animal that brings undoubted benefits to a person. In the house, he exterminates rodents.
In addition, there are amateurs who keep snakes in home terrariums. Needless to say, this is a pretty tricky job. Oddly enough, for all the prevalence of this reptile in the wild, for its comfortable existence in captivity, it is necessary to fulfill a number of requirements for temperature, humidity, nutrition, the presence of heated shelters, etc. A snake living in a terrarium, as well as crawling among forests, needs to fall into hibernation, which should also be provided by artificially created climatic conditions.
Why are snakes and common vipers confused?
These snakes are often confused, especially by people not privy to zoological subtleties. Indeed, there is a similarity between the snake and the common viper - the habitats of these reptiles are very similar, they resemble each other in their lifestyle, diet composition and behavior in general. Both of them are most active during the daytime, from May to September, and also love damp places and bask in the sun in summer.
But that's where the similarity ends, because the viper, unlike the common snake, is poisonous. The consequences of her bite can be called swelling, headache, dizziness, chills andnausea.
The photo of the snake and viper (see below) shows a distinct difference. As you can see, it's not hard to tell them apart.
Let's take a closer look at the similarities and differences between snake and common viper.
What is the similarity?
Neither nor the viper ever attack a person first, but, having met, they prefer to flee. But both snakes will bite if you step on them. But if you may not even notice the bite of the snake, the bite of the viper is not at all harmless. Therefore, to begin with, being in nature, in the places of the natural possible habitat of these snakes, look under your feet and around!
Try, although it is not always possible in field conditions, to watch the snake you meet. The differences between snake and common viper are quite noticeable - it can take some time just to notice this.
What's the difference?
The main and easily noticeable distinguishing feature of the snake is orange or yellow spots on the sides of the head. You will not find such spots on a viper.
In addition, this reptile can be distinguished by the dorsal zigzag pattern on the skin. However, you shouldn't hope too much for this distinctive feature to catch your eye: if the pattern and background of the snake are dark enough, the pattern may be barely distinguishable.
The viper is often confused with the completely harmless water snake. Its spotted pattern somewhat resembles the markings of a chessboard, for which tourists call this type of snake a chess or hybrid viper and ruthlessly destroy it. And yellow spots on the head, like a snakeordinary, the merman does not have it.
In general, snakes are larger than vipers due to the length of the tail. Some representatives of the former can reach one and a half meters, while most individuals of the latter do not exceed a meter in length.
Usually, in the description of the common grass snake, it is said that it has an ovoid head, while in a viper it is more like a triangular end of a spear. And the shields on her head are smaller.
Pay attention to the eyes of the snake you meet. The viper has vertical pupils, while snakes have round ones.
Precautions
Speech here, of course, will be about the necessary measures to protect yourself from the bites of a dangerous viper. Do not forget that where you can meet snake, you will probably see her too.
First of all, heading to the places of possible habitat of snakes, you should pay attention to your clothes: boots and clothes made of thick fabric with long sleeves should be mandatory for these trips.
When you meet a viper, do not wave your arms, try to crush it or even grab it. In general, you should not make sudden movements. Stop and wait - the snake will most likely crawl away.
In the spring, in April-May, when both vipers and snakes have mating games, by the way, you should be especially careful.
What to do when bitten by a viper
If you still could not avoid the bite of a viper, limit the movement of the bitten limb so that the poison does not penetrate into the surrounding tissues. And of course, seek medical attention as soon as possible. When bitten by a viper, it is very important to introduce a neutralizing poison in timedrug, a special serum. It is equally important to drink as much liquid as possible during this time.
You should not cauterize the bite site or open it so that the poisoned blood supposedly can come off. Do not apply tourniquets to the limb.
It is still not clear whether it is possible to suck the poison out of the wound. Doctors have not come to a consensus, and some of them consider this procedure not harmless for both the amateur "doctor" and his "patient".
