A painting with snakes crawling out of the eyes. Types of snakes and their names with photos. From harmless snakes to the deadly black mamba. If poison enters a person’s bloodstream, it is necessary

Snakes, scientifically speaking, are a suborder of the class of reptiles of the order Scaly. Snakes can be found on all continents of the Earth, except cold Antarctica.

There are venomous species of snakes, but most snakes are not venomous. Venomous snakes use their venom primarily for hunting, and for self-defense, they only use it when absolutely necessary.

Many non-venomous snakes first strangle their prey (snake and boa constrictor, for example), and then swallow the prey whole.

Anacondas

The largest snake existing in nature is the anaconda.

Again, scientifically speaking, anacondas are a genus of snakes consisting of several species. And the most close-up view the snake is a giant anaconda, the photo of which you see above.

The largest giant anaconda caught weighed 97.5 kg with a length of 5.2 meters. This snake was caught in Venezuela in wild jungle. Residents of remote villages claim that they have seen larger anacondas, but there is no evidence of the existence of larger specimens.

Like the other three species of anaconda that we will discuss below, the giant anaconda spends most of its time in the water. Anacondas prefer bodies of water without current or with weak current. They are found in lakes, oxbow lakes, and quiet rivers of the Amazon and Orinoco basins.

The anaconda does not move far from water. Mostly anacondas crawl ashore to bask in the sun.

As we wrote earlier, anacondas belong to the subfamily of boas. Now let's talk about boa constrictors.

Boa

Boas are primarily large ovoviviparous snakes. The boa constrictor subfamily is mainly known for the genus of the common boa constrictor. The most typical representative of this genus is the species of the same name, “common boa constrictor.” Individuals of this species reach 5.5 meters in length.

Boas strangle their prey by wrapping rings around them.

Boas of this species can have an unusual color, given the fact that they are very unpretentious in their maintenance; they are often kept in terrariums.

But it is popular to keep another type of boa constrictor in terrariums - dog-headed boa constrictors.

Dog-headed boas have a beautiful red-orange coloration when young and a bright green coloration when mature age. The length of this type of boa constrictor does not exceed three meters.

Another representative of brightly colored boa constrictors is the rainbow boa constrictor.

This type of boa constrictor is also popular among those who like to keep snakes at home.

Cobras

Some of the most famous snakes are cobras. Science identifies 16 species of cobras, many of which are quite large.

Cobra has an amazing skill; it can lift its body into a vertical position. If the cobra is large, then in this position it can be on a par with a person.

Cobras are venomous snakes. Their bite can be very dangerous to humans.

Cobras are heat-loving snakes; they never live in countries where snow falls in winter.

Vipers

Vipers are the inhabitants of our latitudes. Vipers are poisonous snakes, the mention of which causes fear in people.

Vipers can have a very diverse range of colors. Each subspecies can be very different in appearance from other subspecies, while all subspecies of vipers have a characteristic zigzag on their backs.

Vipers are active during the day, they love the sun and spend a lot of time basking in the sun.

If the viper smells a person, it prefers to move away. These are absolutely non-conflict snakes and if you don’t touch them

Already

One of the most peaceful snakes of our nature is the snake. This snake is easily recognized by the yellow spots on its head.

Already.

They are no longer poisonous and there is no reason to be afraid of them. Snakes live on the banks of calm bodies of water, such as lakes and swamps, creeks and oxbow lakes.

Already.

It is worth noting that there is a subspecies of snakes that lives far from bodies of water.

copperheads

Copperheads are small snakes that live on the edges of forests. Copperheads feed mainly on lizards, sometimes insects.

Medyanka.

Although copperheads have poisonous teeth, their size is too small and their mouth is not capable of grabbing a person. Maybe by the finger of your hand. But even in this case, their bite does not pose a serious danger.

Externally, the copperhead looks like a small viper. The diamond and zigzag patterns on the backs of copperheads are very similar to those of the pit viper.

Skids

Snakes are a generalized name for several species of snakes.

The Caspian snake is known in our area - it is a fairly large snake, it is not poisonous, but very aggressive.

Caspian snake.

It is precisely because of their aggressiveness that snakes are not liked. Although they do not pose a threat to life, and if you meet them, you can simply continue on your way.

On the islands of Japan you can find island snakes, which are distinguished by their unusual colors. This species is a resident of the sea coast.

We will end our story with a description of one of the largest snakes on the planet - the python.

The python can reach a length of four meters, which is about a meter less than the anaconda, but still impressive.

Despite their large size, pythons are very dexterous and smart predators. Outwardly, they could be classified as boa constrictors, but pythons are a separate genus of snakes.

Pythons live in Asia and Australia, and can also be found in some regions of Africa. Pythons always settle not far from bodies of water, although their life may not be connected with water. There are types of pythons that spend most of their time in the crowns of trees.

Cat snakes

Cat snakes are a genus of small snakes that are distant relatives of grass snakes. The genus consists of 12 species, which are distributed in Africa, southern Europe and southwestern Asia.

One species lives in Russia - the Caucasian cat snake. These snakes in Russia can only be found in Dagestan.

In this article we will talk about what types of snakes exist, as well as what are the characteristics and lifestyle of their various species. Snakes are a suborder of the class of reptiles. They differ from other reptiles in their elongated body, as well as the absence of movable eyelids, external auditory canal and paired limbs. Each of these characteristics is also found in lizards. Snakes (presumably) originated from them in the Cretaceous period (that is, approximately 135-65 million years ago). However, all together these signs are characteristic only of snakes. Today, about 3,000 of their species are known. The photos that you will find in this article will help you better imagine some types of snakes.

Lifestyle

These animals are predators. Many of them capture prey that is significantly larger than the snake itself. Young and small individuals usually feed on insects, molluscs, worms, some also reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, rodents, and more large mammals. Several months may pass between two meals.

In most cases, snakes lie motionless, lying in wait for their prey, after which they rush at it with amazing speed and begin to swallow it. Venomous species of snakes bite and then wait for the venom to take effect. Boa constrictors strangle the victim by wrapping themselves around it.

Various species of snakes are found everywhere except small oceanic islands and New Zealand. They live in forests, deserts, steppes, underground and in the sea. The largest number of species live in the warm countries of Africa and East Asia. More than 50% of Australia's snakes are venomous.

Snakes usually live 5-10 years, and some individuals live up to 30-40 years. They feed on many mammals and birds (crows, eagles, storks, hedgehogs, pigs and representatives of the order Carnivora), as well as other snakes.

Methods of transportation

There are several ways to move them. The snake usually bends in a zigzag manner and is pushed away by areas of its body adjacent to the ground. Species of snakes living in the desert use a “lateral move”: the body touches the surface at only two points, the front part of it is moved to the side (in the direction of movement), after which the back part is “pulled up”, etc. “Accordion” is another method of movement, characterized in that the body of the snake is assembled into tight loops, and its front part moves forward. Also, large snakes move in a “caterpillar motion” in a straight line, clinging to the soil with their scutes and straining the muscles located in the abdominal part of the body.

snake poison

About 500 species of snakes are dangerous to humans. Every year, up to 1.5 million people are bitten by them, and up to 50 thousand die. Of course, this is not the most common cause of death today. However, it is important to be able to determine what species a snake belongs to and whether it is poisonous. Snakes do not attack without reason and try to save their poison. Scientists have developed special serums, which significantly reduced the number of deaths from their bites. In Thailand, for example, up to 10 thousand people died annually at the beginning of the 20th century, and today only about 20 people die. Snake venom is used in small quantities in medicinal purposes, it has an anti-inflammatory effect and analgesic effect, stimulates tissue regeneration.

The suborder Snakes are divided into 8-16 families. Let's introduce the main types of snakes and their names with photos.

Slepuny

Is not big snakes having a worm-like body. They are adapted to life underground: the head of these creatures is covered with large scutes, the bones of the skull are tightly fused, and a short tail serves as support for the body while moving through the soil. Their eyes are almost completely reduced. Rudiments of the pelvic bones have been found in blind blinders. There are about 170 species in this family, most of which live in subtropical and tropical areas.

Pseudophods

They got their name due to the presence of rudiments of their hind limbs, which turned into claws located on the sides of the anus. The reticulated python and anaconda are pseudopods - the largest modern snakes (they can reach a length of 10 meters). About 80 species include 3 subfamilies ( Sand boas, Pythons and Boas). These snakes live in the subtropics and tropics, and some species live in arid zones Central Asia.

Aspid snakes

These include more than 170 species, including mambas and cobras. Characteristic sign These snakes are distinguished by their lack of a zygomatic shield. They have a short tail, an elongated body, and their head is covered correct form large shields. Representatives of aspids lead a terrestrial lifestyle. They are distributed mainly in Australia and Africa.

Most dangerous look black snakes are the black mamba. She lives in various parts African continent. This snake is known to be very aggressive. Her throw is extremely accurate. The black mamba is the world's fastest land snake. It can reach speeds of up to 20 km/h. The black mamba can make 12 bites in a row.

Its venom is a fast-acting neurotoxin. The snake releases about 100-120 mg of poison in one injection. If you do not provide it as soon as possible medical care to a person, death occurs, depending on the nature of the bite, in the interval from 15 minutes to 3 hours. Other types of black snakes are not as dangerous. The fatality rate for a black mamba bite without antivenom is 100% - the highest of any venomous snake.

Sea snakes

Most of them never go onto land. They live in water, to which these snakes are adapted: they have light, voluminous valves that close their nostrils, a paddle-shaped tail and a streamlined body. These snakes are very poisonous. About 50 species include this family. They live in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

The most poisonous snake species in the world is the Belchera (sea snake). It got its name thanks to Edward Belcher, a researcher. Sometimes this snake is called differently - the striped sea snake. She rarely attacks humans.

It takes a lot of effort to provoke this snake to bite, so cases of its attack are extremely rare. It can be found in the waters of Northern Australia and Southeast Asia.

Viperaceae

They have a thick body, a flat triangular head, a vertical pupil, a tracheal lung and developed venom glands. Rattlesnakes and copperheads belong to the pit viper family, and real vipers include the sand viper, viper, and viper. The family includes approximately 120 species of snakes.

Colubridae

About 70% of all modern snakes are representatives of this family. There are numerous types of snakes and their names. There are about 1,500 species. They are ubiquitous and adapted to life in burrows, in the forest floor, on trees, in reservoirs and in semi-deserts. These snakes have a variety of locomotion methods and food preferences. In general, this family is characterized by the absence of movable tubular teeth, a left lung, and rudiments of the hind limbs. Their upper jaw is horizontal.

Snakes of Russia

What types of snakes live in Russia? According to various sources, there are approximately 90 of them in our country, including 10-16 poisonous ones. Let us briefly describe the main types of snakes in Russia.

Already ordinary

This is a large snake, the length of which can reach 140 cm. It is distributed over a vast territory from Scandinavia to North America, as well as to Central Mongolia in the east. In Russia it lives mainly in the European part. Its color ranges from dark gray to black. Light spots forming a crescent are located on the sides of the head. They are bordered by black stripes. Representatives of this type of snake prefer damp places. They hunt mainly during the day on toads and frogs, occasionally on birds and small lizards. This is an active snake. He crawls quickly, swims well and climbs trees. It tries to hide when detected, and if it fails, it relaxes its muscles and opens its mouth, thus pretending to be dead. Large snakes curl up into a ball and hiss threateningly, but they extremely rarely bite a person. In case of danger, they also regurgitate recently caught prey (in some cases, quite viable) and release a foul-smelling liquid from the cloaca.

copperhead

This snake is widespread in the European part of our country. Its length reaches 65 cm. The body color of this snake ranges from gray to red-brown. Dark spots in several rows are located along the body. The copperhead can be distinguished by its round pupil from the viper, which is a little similar to it. When in danger, a snake gathers its body into a tight ball and hides its head. A copperhead caught by a human fiercely defends itself. It can bite through your skin until it bleeds.

Common viper

This snake is quite large. Its body length reaches 75 cm. It has a triangular head and a thick body. The color of the viper ranges from gray to red-brown. A dark zigzag stripe runs along its body, an X-shaped pattern is noticeable on the head, as well as 3 large scutes - 2 parietal and frontal. The viper has a vertical pupil. The border between the neck and head is clearly visible.

This snake is widespread in the forest-steppe and forests of the European part of Russia, as well as in Far East and in Siberia. She prefers forests with swamps, clearings, as well as the banks of lakes and rivers. The viper settles in holes, pits, rotten stumps, among bushes. Most often, this type of snake winters in groups in burrows, hiding under haystacks and tree roots. In March-April, vipers leave the wintering area. During the day they love to bask in the sun. These snakes usually hunt at night. Their prey is small rodents, chicks, and frogs. They breed in mid-May; pregnancy lasts 3 months. The viper brings 8-12 cubs, each up to 17 cm long. The first molt occurs a few days after the individuals are born. Subsequently, vipers molt at intervals of approximately one to two times a month. They live 11-12 years.

Meetings between a person and a viper occur quite often. One thing to remember is that they love to spend time basking in the sun on warm days. Vipers can crawl to the fire at night and also climb into the tent. The population density of these snakes is very uneven. It's quite possible large area not a single individual can be found, but in some areas they form entire “snake centers”. These snakes are non-aggressive and will not be the first to attack a person. They always prefer to hide.

Steppe viper

This type of snake is distinguished by the pointed edges of its muzzle, as well as its smaller size from the common viper. The coloring of its body is duller. There are dark spots on the sides of the body. Steppe viper lives in forest-steppe and steppe zone the European part of our country, the Caucasus and Crimea. She lives 7-8 years.

Common cottonmouth

This species of snake inhabits vast areas from the mouth of the Volga to the banks Pacific Ocean. Its body length is up to 70 cm, its color is brown or gray with wide dark spots located along the ridge.

Tiger snake

This is a brightly colored snake that lives in the Far East. Usually the upper part of its body is bright green with transverse black stripes. The scales located in the spaces between the stripes in the front of the body are red. Body length reaches up to 110 cm tiger snake. The nuchodorsal glands are located on the upper side of its neck. The caustic secretion they secrete repels predators. This type of snake prefers damp places. The tiger snake feeds on frogs, fish and toads.

Central Asian cobra

This is a large snake, the length of which reaches 160 meters. Its body color is olive or Brown. When the cobra is irritated, it raises the front part of its body and inflates the “hood” on its neck. This snake, when attacking, makes several lightning-fast throws, one of which ends with a bite. The Central Asian cobra lives in Central Asia, in the southern regions.

Sandy efa

This type of snake reaches up to 80 cm in length. Transverse light stripes run along the ridge, light zigzag lines - along the sides of the body. The sand epha feeds on birds and small rodents, other snakes and frogs. The speed of the throws distinguishes the efu. It makes a dry rustling sound when moving. This snake lives on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea and is distributed to the Aral Sea.

Titanoboa

This extinct species of snake is this moment the largest among other species that have ever inhabited our planet. Titanoboa existed more than 50 million years ago, back in the time of dinosaurs. Today, their obvious descendants are snakes from the subfamily Boas. The South American anaconda is their most famous representative. Although it is significantly inferior in size to Titanoboa, it has a number of similar features with this species. In the New York Museum you can see a mechanical copy of Titanoboa. About 15 meters is the size of this snake.

Pet snakes

The species of domestic snakes are numerous. Snakes are one of the most interesting creatures that are used as pets. Although they are ferocious predators, snakes can become docile if cared for.

The corn snake is a very popular pet. She is docile and easy to care for, but it is genetic diversity that makes this species so popular today.

The fact is that most individuals of this species suffered due to genetic mutations, for example, albinism, and today have some of the most beautiful colors among snakes around the world. Royal python also quite popular. This is a very obedient animal. The lifespan of this species reaches 40 years. The king snake is muscular with a strong body. It reaches 1.6 m in length. Boa is also popular. She is originally from Central America. This snake is a predator known for its ability to bring down large prey. Before eating the victim, it strangles it, and strong jaw muscles and sharp teeth help it swallow quickly. Boa reaches 2-3 meters at maturity. The colors and patterns of her body are quite varied, but the predominant colors are brown and gray. The boa requires a large terrarium made of thick fiberglass, which should be lighted and well ventilated.

So, we have listed the characteristic features that different types of snakes have, and their names with photos. Of course, this is incomplete information. We have described only the main types of snakes. The photos presented above introduce readers to their most interesting representatives.

The very word “snake” evokes awe, and an actual encounter with some species does not bode well. Beauty bordering on mortal danger. Gracefulness with seeming drowsiness and slowness. During evolution, they acquired a lot of incredible abilities, which significantly distinguishes them from other living creatures of the earth's fauna. Let's overcome fear, and the most beautiful snakes on the planet are collected in our unique terrarium. As in any terrarium, we will make signs of snake species and their names with photos.

The most beautiful snakes on our planet:

Texas White Snake / Elaphe obsolete lindheimeri

The second name of the snake is the white rat snake, and it lives in vast areas of North America. Settles in river valleys and damp forests. May live near cities.

This snake reaches a length of 1.8 m. The color, as can be seen from the species name, is white, but black and bright orange individuals can be found. It feeds on rodents and is excellent at catching lizards.

They are non-poisonous, but have an aggressive disposition. The bite is very painful. Sharp teeth penetrate deeply into the body, which is why the wound bleeds for a long time. It is necessary to immediately treat the bite site to avoid infection.

King Cobra / Ophiophagus hannah

The largest poisonous snake belongs to the asp family, and it settled in the countries of Southeast Asia. They prefer to hide in caves and deep holes, but can also live on.

The average length reaches 2-4 m, but there are specimens over five meters. Thus, in the London Zoo there lived a cobra that grew to 5.71 m. The color is dark brown, but there are also individuals with a greenish-yellow tint. The cobra has a hood that makes it stand out from other snakes.

When meeting a cobra, experts advise a person to sit at eye level with the snake, breathe evenly and try not to move. She will consider the person harmless and will eventually crawl away.

Lizard Snake / Malpolon monspessulanus

A fairly large snake, growing up to 1.8 m, widely distributed in the Mediterranean region, Asia Minor and the Middle East. In Russia it is found in the Caucasus.

Adults are olive-brown in color with a characteristic dark stripe. Young snakes are lighter in color. They have dark, almost black small spots on the upper surface of their body. The muzzle is slightly rounded.

In times of danger, it tries to hide in a hole or under stones, and when this is not possible, it behaves aggressively. It inflates its body, hisses loudly and can jump up to one meter to bite.

Sandy ephas / Echis carinatus

You can meet a small snake in the countries of Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the USA. It grows no more than 75 cm. In spring and autumn it grows night look life, and in summer period active during the day.

They have a light zigzag stripe on their sides, and the body itself is covered in dark, almost diamond-shaped spots. It moves along the sands using a kind of lateral movement. First he throws his head to the side, and then pulls his body up.

In India they are called rana, and in the USA - saw-scaled viper. It feeds on rodents and can hunt scolopendras and lizards. But, no matter what it is called, it is a very poisonous reptile.

Rough Tree Viper / Atheris squamigera

The photo shows a poisonous snake from a large family of vipers that lives in Africa. Adults grow no more than 78 cm, and females are much larger than males.

The inhabitants of the African continent have a variety of colors. There are completely yellow, green, blue, and some with a reddish tint. Mostly choose rain forests, hiding among the stones and thickets.

The strong poison has hematological effects. It rarely attacks humans, but in history there have been two recorded deaths from a tree viper bite.

Garter snake / Thamnophis sirtalis

These are small in size with different colors Snakes are also called garden snakes. They feel great both among the plains and high in the mountains.

They settled from Mexico to the northern regions of Canada. They lead a diurnal lifestyle and grow no more than 80 cm. Females are slightly larger than males. The only species of couchi gigas can reach a record height of 1.4 m.

They can be easily identified by the stripes along their entire body. In some species there are up to 8 such longitudinal stripes. They feed on tadpoles, frogs, and hunt salamanders and ground lizards. In total, more than 40 subspecies of garden snakes are distinguished in zoology.

Green mamba / Dendroaspis viridis

In tropical rainforests you can meet one of the most dangerous snakes in nature. But it’s better to bypass it. The fast-acting poison causes tissue necrosis and leads to paralysis.

The mamba has a graceful build. The body is bright yellow-green in color. There are individuals whose tail is completely yellow. The belly is white or with a light yellowish tint.

Leads ground and wood image life. It hunts during the day, but can crawl out of its shelter at night. It's movable and fast snake capable of developing higher speed when moving.

Anaconda / Eunectes murinus

Among the dangerous giant scaly inhabitants of the planet, one of the most beautiful is the anaconda. Europeans first saw this huge creature in 1553.

The main color of the anaconda is grayish-green with two rows of dark spots. On the sides there are rows of small yellow spots. The body is massive, which is why it has practically no enemies in wildlife. Few people would dare to fight such a giant.

It feeds on mammals, and when settling near a person’s home, it attacks domestic animals. There are many legends associated with it, on the basis of which works of art and films were made.

Horned Viper / Cerastes cerastes

An unusual snake with two growths on its head in the form of horns lives on the Arabian Peninsula and in North Africa. Not found only in Morocco.

The color is sandy yellow with characteristic spots all over the body. This color is in harmony with the sandy desert, so it can easily hide. Hunts small mammals and.

Knew about horned snake even the ancient Egyptians. Her image can be found on the walls of tombs, and the ancient Greeks introduced her name into their alphabet with the letter “phi.”

South China Multistriped Krait / Bungarus multicinctus

The range of the beautiful snake extends to Taiwan, the southern regions of China, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Thailand.

The body is thin with a small head. The krait is poisonous, and grows no more than 1.5 m. Although in the wild there are individuals up to 1.85 m. The black body is covered with white transverse stripes. It feeds on rodents, eats insects, lizards.

Lives among rocks, sometimes rising to a height of 1,500 m above sea level. The contrasting black and white snake is easy to see, but it is better to avoid this dangerous reptile.

Coral adder / Micrurus

The multi-colored reptile has a distinctive pattern of red, black, yellow and orange rings. Color varieties depend on the species and habitat.

Distributed in Northern and Latin America, from Uruguay to southern regions U.S.A. They have deadly poison. After a bite, if an antidote is not administered and treatment is not provided, the person can die within 24 hours.

Handsome adders feed on small rodents, insects, and lizards. They can hunt amphibious forest inhabitants. In nature, there are several non-poisonous species that have adapted their color to their poisonous counterparts.

Cross-striped Kingsnake / Lampropeltis triangulum

The colubrid family is represented in our terrarium at topcafe by a beautiful snake with white stripes along its bright orange body.

This shining example mimicry in wildlife, when its color resembles coral adders. They grow no more than 1.5 m, and live in the Western Hemisphere. This species is widespread in Canada, Mexico, and Uruguay.

One of the most beautiful views This is a king milk snake that lives in Florida and New Jersey. Life expectancy is no more than 10 years. In captivity it can live longer. It feeds on lizards and eats large insects. It creeps out to hunt at dusk, and during the day it prefers to hide in a shelter.

Spectacled cobra / Naja naja

A dangerous snake is also called Indian cobra, and adults grow up to two meters in length. It lives over a fairly large territory, from the countries of Asia Minor to the Philippines.

The cobra is colorfully painted. The color can be varied, but the main color is fiery yellow, sometimes with a blue tint. There are characteristic patterns on the head and hood. The pattern on the head resembles glasses, which gave it its species name.

It seems slow in nature, but when necessary it can swim quickly and nimbly crawl along tree branches. It is this type that fakirs often use in their circus and street performances. But before that they are deprived of their sharp teeth.

Blue Racer Snake

An unusual scaly reptile with the same unusual name, which the man gave her. The species is on the verge of extinction.

It got its name from its characteristic pale blue body color, as well as its speed of movement. It has a rather aggressive disposition, and when meeting a person, it tries to bite. But he spends most of his time in hiding, trying not to be seen.

Like most reptiles, it eats insects, lizards, and happily destroys bird nests.

Corn Snake / Pantherophis guttatus

A red snake with dark round spots lives among deciduous forests, as well as on rocky slopes. The snake is distributed throughout the American continent.

The color varies, but most often with bright reddish shades. The abdomen has a characteristic mesh white and black pattern. It can settle in farmers' fields and abandoned buildings.

He is distinguished by his good-natured character, and often ends up in homes as a pet. Caring for such an animal is easy and pleasant. The main thing is to clean the aquarium and feed it on time.

Rainbow Boa / Epicrates cenchria

A beautiful non-venomous snake lives in the jungle South America. It swims superbly, and therefore settles near bodies of water. A particularly large population lives in the Amazon basin.

The main background of the body is brown with dark ring-shaped spots. In the rays of the sun, the scales give off a beautiful metallic sheen. The body is massive, growing no more than two meters in length. In nature, there are two subspecies.

If you look at photos of boas from different habitats, the coloring is completely different. There are individuals who have spots with a purple tint on their fawn body. There are also pink spots.

Hieroglyphic python / Python sebae

Pythons are large snakes, and this handsome one can grow more than six meters. Moreover, its weight reaches 100–120 kg. They live just south of the Sahara in subtropical and tropical forest and savannah.

There is a characteristic dark spot and stripe on the head, and the whole body is covered with bizarre patterns reminiscent of mysterious writing. It is nocturnal, crawling out to hunt at sunset. They reproduce by laying eggs. One clutch can contain from 40 to 50 eggs. Very rarely 100.

Among its main enemies, besides humans, are Nile crocodiles and lions. Hyenas and mountain eagles also pose a danger to them.

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Bottom line

It is difficult to choose which snake is the most beautiful in the world, because each of our list on topcafe has its own charm and originality. But, as the famous Russian writer Nikolai Leskov said, the best snake still remains a snake. But when asked why a snake is dreamed of, any dream book will answer that it means any kind of evil. The editors of TopCafe ask you to write in the comments which beautiful snakes do you like best? Perhaps we missed someone by not including them on our list?

Below are a few more beautiful photos snakes of various types:

With this we say goodbye to you! Best wishes!

The snow has long melted, the cold has finally subsided, which means that connoisseurs of outdoor activities, summer residents and lovers of country life are beginning to think about their own safety. The forest is not only a source of fresh air, beautiful views, mushrooms and berries. Its shady massif serves as a home for a variety of creeping reptiles.

Snakes are cold-blooded reptiles. Their habitat is scattered across all continents, with the exception of Antarctica. The catalog containing the name of snakes contains about three thousand species. In the territory Russian Federation their numbers are limited. According to official data, only ninety species live on our territory. Among them there are individuals that pose a threat to human life, as well as those who are completely harmless. Types of snakes and their names are of interest to many people who want to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Viper

This is perhaps the most well-known animal to Russians, falling into the category of “poisonous snakes”. This species has different names. They are often influenced by the reptile’s habitat. Common viper can be found in forests and forest-steppe zones. Favorite places to live are swamps, clearings, and areas near water bodies. It is most widespread in the European territory of the state, in Siberia, and the Far East.

It is small in size compared to others. Typically, it reaches a length of no more than seventy-five centimeters. But closer to the north there are individuals that grow up to one meter. The viper does not attack a person without reason. When meeting him, he usually tries to run away. Only in case of a threat does it take a defensive position: it hisses menacingly and makes warning throws. For this reason, you need to avoid sudden movements if you encounter a viper.

Already

By nature they are completely harmless creatures. Very often they die at the hands of a person who has not studied the names of snakes, their descriptions and differences from each other. very similar to a poisonous viper. People who confuse them with each other purposefully kill reptiles, wanting to protect themselves from being bitten. Snakes are widespread throughout the European part of the state, with the exception of the polar regions. Very common in the Far East, near Lake Baikal and Siberia. The name of snakes often influences the naming of the area in which they live. So, in Ukraine there is the city of Uzhgorod and the river Uzh, named after this animal.

They reach a length of ninety centimeters. They prefer to live near bodies of water with flowing water. Unlike Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians are in no hurry to kill snakes. Residents tame them. These harmless creatures are actually very easy to make contact with. And it won’t be difficult for a person to make friends with them. Cold-blooded snakes are naturally excellent mousecatchers. They can even be used on the farm.

Copperhead, or yellow snake

This reptile received its name due to its color. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a poisonous snake. She lives throughout the state. Recently, people have begun to destroy more and more natural places her habitat. This has led to the fact that the number of individuals of this species is rapidly declining. In addition, copperheads, like snakes, are destroyed by people themselves, mistaking them for poisonous snakes.

The length of the reptiles is relatively small, only seventy centimeters. Common habitats: forests in the Federation. Copperheads especially liked the edges of deciduous, coniferous or even mixed forests. The most favorite habitat is one that is well warmed by the sun's rays. It is extremely rare for copperheads to be found in open areas.

Gyurza

A direct relative of the viper. It belongs to its family, which means it is similarly poisonous. Compared to the viper, the viper is a very large snake, with well-developed muscles. The length of the individual reaches one and a half meters. Lives in the southern territory of Siberia. The venom of the viper has many properties that allow doctors to appreciate and widely use it to create medicines. This snake itself is very brave. But despite this, she never attacks a person unless he himself provokes her. If the collision occurs unexpectedly, for example, a viper is stepped on, it immediately attacks the offender, like other snakes. Photos and names of other members of the family, for example the Armenian or big-nosed viper, can be found in any encyclopedia.

Cottonmouth

The name of the snakes in this category will be presented below. There are three types: Ussuri and stony. They are characterized by their habitat. The common copperhead lives over a fairly wide area from the mouth of the Volga River all the way to the very shores of the Pacific Ocean. It reaches seventy centimeters in length, the color is dirty gray or brown with large dark spots located along the ridge. The head is covered with scutes, which is how the snakes got their name.

The animal's venom contains hemotoxins, which provoke heavy bleeding and widespread necrosis. In addition, it contains a certain percentage of neurotoxins that have a strong effect on nervous system human body, as well as causing paralysis. Fatalities after the bite of the copperhead was not officially recorded. However, this does not mean that you can safely provoke a snake when you meet. The bite is extremely painful, as are its consequences.

Tiger snake

The name of this species of snake comes from its characteristic color. Lives in the Far East. It has a bright green color with dark stripes across the body. In the front part of the body, the spaces between them are painted red. They reach a little more than a meter in length. They prefer to live in fairly damp places. They hunt frogs and fish.

The poisonous teeth of a tiger snake are located deep in the jaw, that is, they are created for prey that has already entered the mouth. If for any reason a snake manages to bite a person, he will suffer painful poisoning, very similar to the effects of viper venom. The bleeding is difficult to stop. After a bite, the victim should immediately consult a hematologist so that he can prescribe a course of special therapy.

Many people are scared of snakes. At the same time, it is simply impossible not to note their features and uniqueness. Cold-blooded animals amaze with their behavior, in an original way movement, the strength of the toxic substance and unusual appearance. Snakes are classified as chordates. Reptiles are included in the order Scaly, suborder snakes. The existence and well-being of cold-blooded animals is greatly influenced by the ambient temperature. The study of snakes reveals the unpredictable traits of reptiles and is gaining a growing audience that cannot help but fall in love with this population.

Characteristics and structure of snakes

Until recently, science knew of 3,200 species of snakes, and only 410 species were poisonous. The most interesting and unusual feature Cold-blooded animals have a unique body structure. An adult can grow up to nine meters in length. The smallest snakes grow up to 10 cm. The same fluctuations apply to the weight of representatives of the squamate order, starting from 10 g and reaching 100 kg. Home distinctive feature males are characterized by their long tail; they also grow smaller in size.

The variety of body shapes is simply amazing. There are individuals that have long and thin body, or, conversely, short and thick. Those snakes that live near the sea have a flattened appearance and often resemble a ribbon. The skin of cold-blooded animals is predominantly dry, completely covered with scales or peculiar scutes. In different parts of the body, the surface is different, for example, on the sides and on the back the scales are small and resemble tiles (as they overlap each other). The belly of most snakes is “studded” with wide semi-circular plates.

The snakes' eyelids are motionless and seem to be able to hypnotize their prey. Reptiles never blink and even sleep with their eyes open. The unique structure of the skull allows even the smallest individuals to open their mouths enough for a small rabbit to fit into it. This is because the upper jaw is connected to neighboring bones and is movable, while the elements of the lower jaw are connected by a ligament that stretches.

Due to the unusual body, the structure of the organs is also unique: they are all elongated and elongated closer to the head. Skeleton in total has about 200-400 vertebrae, each of which is movable and connected by ligaments. The snake glides along the ground due to the movement of the scutes located on the belly. Thanks to the keratinized layers of the epidermis, cold-blooded animals move quickly without difficulty.

Despite all the features of snakes, reptiles have poor eyesight and hearing. In return, nature rewarded them with an excellent sense of smell and touch. An important role in orientation in space is played by the tongue, which is forked at the end. Many researchers call it a “sting.” Opening its mouth, the snake catches the air with its tongue and various particles and elements of the atmosphere stick to it, then the reptile brings the organ to a certain place located in the mouth and smells and tastes.

In most cases, snakes use their venom for self-defense, and this is also one of the ways to kill the victim.

Nutrition and hibernation of snakes

What snakes eat depends directly on the size of the cold-blooded animal. The main diet of reptiles consists of rodents and some types of insects. But the fact remains that all snakes are carnivorous. For individuals, it is considered a real delicacy to have breakfast with small chicks or eggs. Thanks to the ability to climb trees, they can easily destroy bird's nests and enjoy their meal.

Meals are not eaten every day. Snakes cope well with hunger and, provided there is water nearby, individuals can go without eating for months. The peculiarity of reptiles is their endurance and patience. Snakes hide among the foliage, wait for prey along the road or on the ground, but the hunt is patient and, as a rule, effective. Animal-eaters swallow food from the head, but with caution, so as not to be injured by the sharp teeth of the victim. Before this process, individuals try to immobilize the animal by squeezing its body with their rings.

Food is digested within 2-9 days. The speed of the process depends on the health of the individual, temperature environment, the size of the victim. To speed up digestion, many snakes expose their abdomen to the sun.

Snakes do not like cold weather, so at the end of October - beginning of November they leave for the winter. Individuals can choose a rodent burrow, a haystack, tree roots, cracks, crevices and other places as a home. If reptiles are near people, they hide in basements, sewer systems, and abandoned wells. Animal hibernation may be interrupted or not occur at all (if cold-blooded animals live in tropical or tropical areas).

Towards the beginning of April, representatives of the scaly order begin to crawl out of their shelter. Exact time“coming out of torpor” depends on the level of humidity, temperature and other factors. Snakes bask in the sun almost all spring. in summer daytime animals prefer to be in the shade.

Numerous families of snakes

Experts have differing opinions regarding the number of families in the suborder of snakes. Here is the most popular classification of reptiles:

• Colubridae - this family has more than 1,500 species. Among them are a wide variety of snakes, differing in color, shape, pattern and habitat. Representatives of this group grow from 10 centimeters to 3.5 meters. These include aquatic and terrestrial, burrowing and arboreal cold-blooded animals. More than half of the snakes are non-venomous and are often kept in terrariums. At the same time, false snakes are considered poisonous representatives of this group, as they have large teeth with grooves along which a dangerous substance flows.
• Vipers - the family includes more than 280 species. Most often, viper snakes are found on continents such as Asia, North America, Europe and Africa. The body length of cold-blooded animals varies from 25 cm to 3.5 m. Representatives of this family have light zigzag or rhombic patterns on their sides and back. All individuals have long fangs that secrete poison.
• Aspids - there are about 330 species of snakes. This group of reptiles is poisonous. Individuals grow from 40 cm to 5 m in length. Cold-blooded animals can be found on continents such as Asia, Africa, America and Australia.
• Blind snakes - the family includes about 200 species. Snakes of this group live almost throughout the planet.

Thanks to their ability to adapt, snakes can be found in any part of the world. Despite belonging to the same family, animals have a variety of shapes, colors, differ in color, habitat and other characteristics.

The most striking representatives of snakes

Among the wide variety of snakes, the most striking subspecies are considered to be snakes, vipers, adders, sea snakes, pitheads and cold-blooded pseudopods. The following reptiles are considered the most interesting and unusual.

Hamadryand (king cobra)

If you collect all the snakes together, the hamadryand will be superior to the rest. This type of animal-eating animal is considered the largest, even gigantic and poisonous. King Cobra grows up to 5.5 meters, there is currently no antidote for its bite. The terrible poison kills the victim within 15 minutes. In addition, it is hamadryands that can eat their own kind. Females can fast for three months, carefully guarding their eggs. On average, cobras live about 30 years and most often they can be found in the territory of the state of India and the islands of Indonesia.

Desert taipan (fierce snake)

It is quite possible to meet a land killer in the desert or on the plains of Australia. Quite often, individuals of this species grow up to 2.5 meters. The venom of a cruel snake is 180 times more powerful than that of a cobra. The color of a cold-blooded animal depends on weather conditions. So, in hot weather, taipans have straw-like skin, and in cold weather, they have dark brown skin.

Black Mamba

The maximum height of a black mamba is 3 meters. The representative of reptiles is considered the fastest (individuals can move at a speed of 11 km/h). A poisonous snake kills its victim in just a few seconds. However, the animal is not aggressive and can attack a person only if it feels threatened. The black mamba got its name because of the color of its mouth stripe. The skin of a predator comes in olive, green, brown shades, sometimes with an admixture of metal.

Cassava (Gabon viper)

Large, thick, poisonous - this is how one can characterize the Gaboon viper. Individuals grow up to 2 meters in length, and have a body girth of almost 0.5 meters. The main feature of the animals is the unique structure of the head - it has a triangular shape and small horns. This type of snake can be classified as calm. Females are viviparous.

Anaconda

Anacondas are included in the boa constrictor family. These are the largest snakes, which can be 11 meters long and weigh 100 kg. The “water boa” lives in rivers, lakes, and creeks and is a non-poisonous reptile. The main food of cold-blooded animals is fish, waterfowl, iguanas and caimans.

Python

A giant non-venomous snake reaching 7.5 meters in length. Females differ from males in their powerful body and large size. Pythons prefer to feed on small and medium-sized mammals. They can easily swallow a leopard or jackal and digest the prey for many days. Snakes of this type hatch eggs, maintaining the desired temperature.

Eggeaters (African egg snakes)

The animals feed exclusively on eggs and grow no more than 1 meter in length. Due to the unique structure of the skull, small snakes easily swallow large prey. The cervical vertebrae break the shell, and the contents of the eggs are swallowed, while the shell is coughed up.

Radiant snake

Non-venomous snakes with excellent body color. Individuals grow up to 1 meter and feed on lizards and small rodents.

Worm-like blind snake

Small representatives of reptiles (length does not exceed 38 cm) look like earthworms. They can be found under stones, in bushes, and rocky slopes.

Non-venomous snakes

Non-venomous snakes include the following representatives of cold-blooded animals:

Common snake

Ordinary already - distinctive features are yellow or orange spots located on the sides of the head;

Amur snake

Amur snake - the length of the animal can reach 2.4 m, belongs to the colubrid family;

Common copperhead

Also to the number non-venomous snakes include the tiger and reticulated python, milk snake, corn snake, yellow-bellied snake and aesculapian snake.

Tiger python

Reticulated python

Milk snake

Yellow-bellied Snake

Poisonous snakes

Gyurza

The viper is one of the most dangerous poisonous snakes. The length of individuals rarely exceeds two meters.

This one lives in Asia dangerous predator, like efa. Snakes of this type are afraid of people and warn them of their presence by hissing. Cold-blooded snakes grow up to 80 cm and are viviparous snakes.

A special place in the list of poisonous snakes is given to rattlesnake (pit-headed) representatives of reptiles. They are one of the most dangerous animals on the planet and are known for their tail, which acts as a “rattle.”

Snake Reproduction

Cold-blooded animals like to be alone. But in mating season they become very friendly and loving. The “dance” of males can last many hours before the female gives consent to fertilization. Most snakes are oviparous animals, but there are some species that give birth to live young. A snake clutch can reach 120,000 eggs (this process is influenced by the habitat and type of reptile).

Sexual maturity in snakes occurs in the second year of life. The female is searched for by smell, after which males wrap around the body of the chosen one. Surprisingly, parents of newborns do not pay the slightest attention to them.

Conclusion

Snakes are extraordinary creatures, differing from each other in size, shape, skin color and habitat. Unique body structure interesting image The life and character of individuals makes them a bright object for research.