Where do snakes live in the forest? Common viper - description, where it lives, features. — How can you protect your garden plot from snakes?

Representing an independent family. They inhabit almost the entire Earth, except Antarctica, Madagascar, Hawaii, New Zealand and Australia. Therefore, it will be important for readers to find out when and where a person may be at risk of being bitten by a viper. We will also discuss the consequences of contact with a poisonous amphibian and the rules of first aid, because such information can be a good help for those going into nature.

A little about the character of vipers

Contrary to popular belief, vipers are not aggressive and do not dream of attacking humans. Quite the contrary, when meeting him, the first thing the viper will try to do is crawl away as far as possible.

But the habit of the mentioned reptiles to hide in hollows, grass or under hummocks, waiting for prey, often leads to the fact that careless people who find themselves in the forest disturb or frighten the snake, forcing it to defend itself. So the number of people bitten increases, and, by the way, according to statistics, in 70% of cases the culprit is the victim himself.

The consequences for humans can be different, but they are recorded quite rarely. Poisoning most often has a mild form - the disease manifests itself in the form of a small painful swelling at the site of the bite, which goes away on its own after some time. But, unfortunately, from time to time there are serious problems caused by poisoning. It all depends on where, who and when the viper bit. We will tell you more about this.

What does a viper look like?

Lives in forests. It grows up to 75 cm, has a gray-blue or black color. And its closest relative, living in flat areas, on dry slopes overgrown with bushes, or in clayey ravines, is the steppe viper - lighter, brownish-gray with a contrasting zigzag stripe on the back. Another representative of this family, by the way, listed in the Red Book, Nikolsky’s viper, is absolutely black. It is already classified as a forest-steppe snake.

As you can see, each natural area has its own poisonous inhabitant. And, by the way, all of them are not particularly noble and do not warn the traveler about their presence, unlike, for example, the beautiful and very dangerous African noisy viper. A bite, the consequences of which are not difficult to predict, can be obtained from it only after a loud hiss and a menacing swelling of the body. And our “compatriots”, frightened and deciding that there is danger nearby, attack immediately, without unnecessary sounds.

Where can you meet a viper?

When going outdoors in early spring or autumn, remember that at this time of year, vipers stay closer to their wintering grounds. Typically this is:

• the edges of the swamps,
• clearings,
• forest edges,
• garden plots with construction waste,
• dumps of land management works.

In summer, snakes can be anywhere, however, during the day they most like places where they can bask in the sun (vipers are very thermophilic): the surface of stones, the southern slope of a ravine or a sunny edge. By the way, for the same reason they can crawl towards your fire at night.

And so that you don’t have to consider the consequences of a viper bite later, a tourist should immediately take care of safety: wear high boots with thick soles on the road, tuck the legs of his jeans into them (the fabric of these trousers is quite thick, so it is advisable to go on a trip in this outfit), arm yourself with a stick and it, and not with your hands, push apart heaps of leaves and dry branches, search holes, hollows, or throw stones out of the way. At night, be sure to shine a flashlight at your feet. And when you wake up in the morning at a rest stop, carefully check all the bags and shoes that were left outside the tent.

The consequences of a viper bite depend on the composition of its venom

Why is it dangerous? The fact is that it is mostly hemo- and cytotoxic. That is, as a result of its action, a deep structural and functional change occurs in blood cells or tissues, which causes their death. This effect is due to the huge amount of so-called necrotizing enzymes included in the poison.

But there are no neurotoxins in viper venom, due to which its effect on nervous system not visible. And the viper produces venom in much smaller quantities than its counterparts - adders or pit snakes. True, for a person who has suffered a viper bite, the consequences can still be quite sad, especially if he has already had problems with of cardio-vascular system or first aid was provided to him incorrectly.

What determines the danger of a viper bite?

Despite the fact that viper bites are recorded quite often, death does not always occur - the probability is less than 1% (by the way, among those who were stung by bees, wasps or hornets, much more died). However, this is not very pleasant.

But what the consequences of a bite will be depends on certain factors:

1. Viper size. It has been established that the larger the snake, the larger its venom glands, and, naturally, the poison is released in large volumes.
2. Weight and height of the victim. The larger the creature bitten by the snake, the less impact the venom will have. Thus, the consequences of a viper bite for a dog or child will be much more serious than for an adult. The secret lies in the fact that it is absorbed faster and more completely into the victim’s body with a small volume and mass.
3. Bite site. It is believed that bites to the neck, shoulder and chest are more dangerous than bites to a person's leg or animal's paw.
4. State of health of the victim. If you have a heart disease, there is a danger of developing shock, which can be triggered by panic and rapid heartbeat, which quickly spreads poison throughout the body.

Why are some viper bites “dry”?

The decisive role in the severity of the consequences of a bite from a common viper is played by the amount of poison it secretes. And this directly depends on the hunting habits of the amphibian. The viper hunts only small living prey: mice, lizards, and sometimes moles. She does this quickly, from an ambush, after which she waits for the poison to take effect. By the way, it should be noted that the snake uses it carefully, trying, if possible, to keep something in reserve, so in some cases its bite turns out to be completely harmless to humans (in medicine it is called “dry”).

But, since it can be difficult to immediately determine the amount of poison that has entered the wound, the victim should in any case be provided with emergency assistance.

What does a viper bite look like?

It is important to know that the most toxic viper venom is in spring period, which means you should be especially careful when going camping at this time of year. In addition, it does not hurt to know the main consequences of a viper bite.

1. The bite site is very painful.
2. The affected limb quickly swells and becomes purple-bluish with dark spots.
3. Chills, nausea, and dizziness may occur.
4. In some cases, an increase in temperature is observed.
5. Blood pressure decreases.
6. If assistance is not provided in a timely manner, the bite area develops

IN severe cases the consequences of a viper bite can be expressed by a short period of excitement of the patient, which is quickly replaced by drowsiness and apathy. The victim complains of dryness and a bitter taste in the mouth, the pulse noticeably increases, weakness, shortness of breath, and dizziness appear. In particularly severe cases, collapse may develop. The functions of the kidneys and liver are impaired, and moist rales caused by congestion are heard in the lungs.

What to do if you are bitten by a viper

Lay the victim so that the head is lower than the body level - this will reduce the likelihood of cerebrovascular accident. Remove all jewelry from the limb (it may become very swollen).

Press on the bite site from the sides, thus opening the wound, and for 15 minutes suck out the poison with your mouth, spitting it out (this is not dangerous for the person providing assistance). Disinfect the wound with alcohol or iodine.

Immobilize the affected limb with a splint or bandage. Give the patient (but not coffee). Take him to a medical facility as soon as possible.

What you should absolutely not do

The consequences of a viper bite have always frightened people so much that to get rid of their troubles they have come up with many completely useless procedures that are not only unable to alleviate the patient’s condition, but can even cause harm. Therefore, remember what not to do if you are bitten by a snake.

1. Do not apply a tourniquet under any circumstances! This is useless, and besides, the poison already has a destructive effect on the tissues of the body, and if you add to this a tourniquet that interferes with blood circulation, you can achieve their necrosis within a few minutes. And after removing the tourniquet, the decay products formed as a result of this will aggravate the existing poisoning.
2. Do not burn the bite site! You will add a burn to an existing wound, and it is absolutely meaningless.
3. Do not cut the wound - it is useless, but the infection does not sleep.
4. Do not give the patient alcohol - this will help the poison spread throughout the body even faster.
5. Do not cover the wound with earth, do not apply cobwebs or grass to it - other than tetanus, you will not get anything from such procedures.

The color of the viper can vary, but the black form is most common. Gray coloration with a zigzag pattern along the back is less common and is more typical of young snakes. The female viper lays up to 14 eggs in August, from which young individuals immediately emerge. The length of newborns is 17-19 cm. The length of adult snakes is 80-90 cm.

The common viper preys on various vertebrates: small rodents, shrews, lizards, frogs, and even chicks of birds nesting on the ground. Before swallowing it whole, it kills its prey with poison. Vipers have a complex venom-dental apparatus. Their poisonous fangs are large and fit into a closed mouth only in supine position. Venom glands are modified salivary glands. The poison flows into the victim's wound through hollow teeth resembling a syringe. Cases of viper bites to humans are relatively rare and are more often associated with careless behavior of people. Therefore, when picking mushrooms, berries, and haymaking in places where there are vipers, you need to be careful and attentive. Snakes themselves are the first to not attack and bite only during defense. Snakes do not have good hearing, but they have a tactile sense and therefore hide before they are noticed.

If you are bitten by a snake, you must:

Suck out the poison from the wound, this must be done within the first 20 minutes;

treat the skin around the wound with alcohol, iodine or brilliant green;

Ensure rest of the affected limb;

Drink more fluids ( better tea or coffee);

It is acceptable to take medications that support cardiac activity;

Take the victim to a hospital as quickly as possible medical institution to be examined by a doctor, where an antidote will be administered if necessary.

Tugging at the bitten area, incisions and cauterization are not recommended; they not only do not help, but are also harmful. Cases with fatal are very rare and after a bite, in most cases everything ends well. The viper is used to obtain medicines. In serpentariums - special nurseries for keeping snakes - pharmacologists “squeeze” the poison and produce a serum against the bites of especially dangerous ones poisonous snakes- vipers, cobras, faffs.

Steppe viper

The steppe viper is in many ways similar to the common viper, but somewhat smaller in size and also lives in forest-steppe zone. The color of the body-steppe viper is lighter, it is dominated by gray-brown, brown tones, with a zigzag black stripe along the back. The habitats of this snake are the slopes and valleys of steppe rivers, forest groves among fields. Snakes feed on small rodents, lizards, and large insects (locusts).

“This summer it happened that for the first time in my life I was bitten by a snake, and not just any snake, but a viper. Bitten on thumb right hand. Next I will describe how everything happened, hour by hour, then by dates and with photos. The bite itself is not very painful, for me, the wasp bites more painfully. Blood flowed from the wound for about 10 minutes.

I sucked out the poison as much as I could while the wound was open. After about 5 minutes, I felt that my forearm began to go numb and hurt a little, then my shoulder, then my other shoulder. All this took about 15 minutes. Then the second shoulder let go. I felt a little dizzy, but I chalked it up to excitement, and it went away in just a minute. After half an hour, the hand at the site of the bite began to visibly swell. They took off all the rings and bracelets. Another half hour and I would have had to cut it short.

+ 45 minutes from a viper bite

An hour later, the hand was completely swollen and the swelling went higher to the forearm.

+ 1 hour 20 minutes

The head is a little loose, but not critical.

+ 2 hours

Volokolamsk, Central District Hospital - prednisolone was injected intramuscularly, 2 ampoules (2 ml). They have nothing else for such a case. They offered to go to their hospital. Refused. I could only sign the refusal with a cross. I couldn’t hold the pen - my fingers didn’t bend as needed.

Volokolamsk Central District Hospital

We're going to Moscow. The head is slightly dizzy, if you don’t spin and don’t hit bumps, it steers quite normally.

+ 4 hours

Emergency room at a clinic in Moscow, approximately 4 hours after the bite. The hand is slowly turning blue. An ambulance was called from the emergency room, which took him to the toxicology department of Sklif. Along the way, we put in one IV.

About the department itself acute poisoning for mental patients (this is where all adults with snake bites in Moscow end up) one thing can be said: it is the only one in all of Moscow and this is where everyone ends up with squirrels and overdoses. So it’s definitely not boring.

Upon admission, absolutely everything is taken away. You can't use the phone. If you had any valuable things, they are handed over for collection for collection. Upon discharge, every penny was returned to me. But those who get here in an unconscious state, as a rule, are very surprised by the lack of money, keys, etc.

Immediately they introduced 3 more IVs, antibiotics and, apparently, serum. By morning, the swelling began to subside, leaving in its place bruises along the veins and in places where there were more muscles.

+ 1 day

By the end of the second day, the swelling had completely subsided, leaving a bruise on the entire right arm. Squeeze something right hand almost impossible.

+ 1 day. A bruise appeared at night

I was released from the hospital on the third day. A man lay nearby with a bite to his leg. He had been lying here for a week already, and was left for further treatment.

The viper's venom had such a powerful effect on his body that the skin on his leg burst from swelling.

Discharged with adventures. They didn’t bring my things, but since I had been bitten, and not a drug addict, and I arrived in clothes, which is actually a rarity in this department, they sent me to another building with a note. Because of the wild heat, I walked home in a T-shirt. Quite epic: a T-shirt, tights and a hand riddled with needles. The doctors said that “nothing, everything will be ok - you have an extract from us with you, you can show it to the PEES people, if anything happens.” Considering where the extract is from, the statement is controversial.

On the third day, in the evening, the site of the serum injection began to hurt, as the surgeon at the clinic said in the morning, this is normal and will last for a long time. I was not mistaken... It hurt for about a week. At home the treatment was prescribed as follows:

• Liaton ointment - on the whole arm if possible (I applied it before bedtime);
• aspirin ACC - according to instructions.

+ 3 days

The whole arm is one big bruise. It’s not like saying hello - holding something hurts.

The drips left traces

The unique ability of snakes to recover from hibernation Even in ancient times, it inspired people with mystical horror. Even in our time, snakes are attributed magical properties, using their dried skin to attract wealth and protect against enemies. Be that as it may, zoologists gradually studied the habits and properties of reptiles. They have been distributed into classes and units and now they know where the snakes spend the winter and how they live.

Snakes in Russia

Today, snakes living in Russia have been well studied, but due to the fact that they habitat Their habitat is constantly changing due to human intervention; they migrate and adapt to new places.

Conventionally, Russia can be divided into zones where these reptiles are found:

• Not long ago, information began to appear that they began to appear in the forest-tundra. How they adapted to local conditions and where the snakes winter in the tundra is unknown, but reindeer herders claim that there have been cases of bites.
• There are only 4 species of snakes, one of which is poisonous.
• The third zone covers the territory of the Black Sea region, the shores of the Caspian, Azov and Aral Sea and the border with Kazakhstan. This territory is home to 17 species of reptiles, 3 of which are poisonous, and 2, although not poisonous, are aggressive, and their bites can be very painful. The places where snakes (photo below) hibernate in this area are animal burrows, or wind-protected crevices in the mountains.

• Krasnodar, Stavropol Territory, countries North Caucasus and Kalmykia are the habitat for 14 species of reptiles, 3 of which are dangerous and 3 are poisonous.
• The Far East is home to 15 species of snakes, of which only three are poisonous.

The lifestyle and choice of place where snakes spend the winter directly depend on their habitat. For example, in warm areas they may not hibernate at all, while in regions with cold winter they are forced to seek shelter that is warmer and away from people.

Poisonous snakes in Russia

Among the reptiles dangerous to humans that live in different regions Russia, are:

• Steppe viper - although not large snake, but its bite can cause serious harm to human health, although deaths have been rare. The length of its gray-brown body with a zigzag or stripe on the back usually reaches 30-40 cm. It lives in meadows and steppes, but while the grass is green. As it burns out, this snake moves closer to bodies of water. It likes to burrow into hay, where snakes of this species usually spend the winter. There have been cases when people who were bitten by a steppe viper for a long time lost their sight, so it was better to avoid meeting her.

• is listed in the Red Book and is rare, but its bite is fatal to people. The adult grows up to half a meter in length, the body color varies from yellow to dark red with a black, sometimes intermittent, stripe on the back. Lives in forests and meadows on mountain slopes. Overwinters in crevices between stones.

These snakes represent mortal danger, but since they avoid human settlements, a meeting with them can only occur on their territory. When hunting or picking mushrooms in these places, you should familiarize yourself in advance with what kind of inhabitants you can meet here.

The most dangerous snakes in Russia

There are reptiles that it is better never to meet on your way, but even they try to hide at the sight of a person, although they can harm him:

• Gyurza is one of the most dangerous snakes Russia. In the steppe variety, the body length can reach two meters, although most individuals are 130-140 cm. These snakes live in families and are extremely aggressive at the end of May, when they begin to mate. In the summer, they crawl together into their hunting “grounds,” and in the fall they return to where snakes of this species spend the winter, although they do not hibernate.
• lives in the south of Siberia and the north of Kalmykia. This one is colored with black transverse stripes along the body. When it sees a person, it takes a defensive posture and emits a repulsive odor that can be felt at a distance of up to 5 m, which has saved many people from its bite, which, although very painful, is not fatal.

Usually snakes avoid meeting people, but they can get caught by accident, so you should hit the bushes and grass with a stick while walking through the forest, picking mushrooms and berries, just in case. Hearing the noise, the snakes crawl away.

Dangerous snakes of Russia

If you look for places where snakes spend the winter in Russia, the most common will be rodent burrows. They can combine into large groups, this is especially true for steppe and forest reptiles.

There are a number of snakes that, although not poisonous, can harm humans with their bite. In Russia these include:

• Yellow-bellied Snake. It reaches a length of more than 1.5 m. The color of its back can be either olive or black, but its belly is always yellowish, hence the name. They live far from people in fields and steppes, but are not afraid to settle in gardens and even parks. They feed on birds and small rodents, and when meeting a person they can lunge up to a meter and bite the person who disturbed them. Snake bites are quite painful and take a long time to heal. They often settle in haystacks or in the burrows of rodents that they have previously eaten. The yellow-bellied snake is attached to its home, so it always returns to it after hunting.

• The Caucasian does not avoid people at all, and can even settle under the roof of a barn and catch mice there. Its bite is not dangerous, but it is better not to tease this small snake, up to 75 cm in length. Unlike others non-venomous snakes, she has pupils like a cat, which is why she was given that name. It also overwinters in hay, barns or empty buildings.

These reptiles, although they are not dangerous to humans, are best not touched. It is a pity that often people, without understanding these beautiful creatures, kill snakes that are completely safe for them.

Poisonous snakes in the Moscow region

In the Moscow region there is only one type of poisonous snake - the common viper. They live along the banks of swamps, rivers and lakes, in forests and sometimes in meadows. Vipers avoid people, but chance meeting may provoke the snake to bite a potential enemy. It is easy to recognize as this species of snake has a triangular head on a thin neck and narrow pupils of the eyes.

The places where snakes spend the winter in the Moscow region can be completely different. For example, a single viper can lie down in someone’s hole or crevice at a depth of up to 2 meters, where even severe frosts cannot reach it. If there is no such place, the vipers unite in groups of up to 200 individuals and hibernate in a shallower hole.

Non-venomous snakes in the Moscow region: snakes

In this area there are 2 types of non-venomous snakes - grass snakes and copperheads. The former prefer to settle near bodies of water with running water. They are often confused with vipers, and therefore exterminated, although in some countries, for example Ukraine, Belarus, rural areas they are tamed. They are excellent mousecatchers and easily get used to people. They overwinter in deep cracks in the ground or burrows.

Medyanki in the Moscow region

In the forests where snakes spend the winter middle lane In Russia, copperheads prefer clearings and clearings, as there is more warmth and sun there. They hide in holes or holes under snags and stones, where they sleep until the first warmth of spring. These are incredible beautiful snakes They are also subject to extermination by people, although they are not yet on the list of endangered animals.

In the Moscow region they are found in the Chekhov, Klin and Podolsk regions.

Wintering of snakes in the Leningrad region

This region is inhabited by the same snakes as in the Moscow region. Because of extreme heat, especially in the period from May to September, they are very active, therefore, when going into the forest or even digging in the garden, you should be careful. But it is especially necessary to avoid encounters with snakes during the period Indian summer, since before hibernation they are always aggressive.

They are most common in the Luga, Kingisepp and Volkhov regions, where snakes winter in Leningrad region. They choose deep holes or hollows, sometimes burrowing into the ground to a depth of 2 meters, where the temperature rarely drops below +3 degrees even in frost.

Not to mention American rattlesnakes, which have instant reactions and deadly poison, an unsuccessful meeting with which has a very high chance of becoming the last. But, nevertheless, among the reptiles that live in our latitudes, the viper is the most dangerous. Speaking of the name of this snake, the word “viper” goes back to ancient times and literally comes from the word “reptile”, which meant disgusting animals, which is the heroine of our article today.

Viper: description, structure, characteristics. What does a viper look like?

Many vipers have a short and thick body. The maximum length of a viper reaches 3-4 meters, while small snakes can be up to 30 cm long. The weight of an adult large viper is approximately 15-17 kg.

All species of vipers also have a flattened, rounded-triangular skull shape with noticeable temporal protrusions. At the tip of the muzzle of some species of this snake there are single or paired formations - the so-called modified scales.

The viper's eyes are small, have vertical pupils that can contract and expand, filling the entire eye. Thanks to this, vipers can see at night just as well as during the day; in general, the vision of these snakes is well developed.

The color of a viper can take on the most different colors, depending on its type. Also on her body there can be a variety of simple patterns. But in any case, the colors of the viper depend on where it is located and are designed to blend in as much as possible with the surrounding space.

All vipers, however, like other poisonous snakes, have a pair of well-developed fangs, which are also devices for releasing poison. The latter is formed in the poisonous glands that are located behind the upper jaw of the snake. The teeth of a viper can be up to 4 cm in length. When the mouth is closed, they are folded and covered with a special film fabric.

During an attack or defense, the snake's mouth opens at an angle of 180 degrees, the jaw rotates, and the fangs extend forward. When the viper's jaws close, a sharp contraction of the strong muscles surrounding the poisonous glands occurs, resulting in the release of poison, which is more similar to a blow than a bite.

What do vipers eat in the wild?

The viper is a notorious predator, and also a leader night look life. These snakes prefer to attack their prey from an ambush, quickly biting it with their poisonous fangs; the poison kills the victim within a few minutes, then the viper begins its meal, usually swallowing the prey whole.

The viper's main menu consists of a variety of small rodents, marsh frogs, and some birds. Small vipers feed on large beetles, locusts, and can catch caterpillars and.

Natural enemies of vipers

Vipers also have their own enemies, who, despite the presence of poisonous fangs, are not averse to feasting on this snake. Among them are ferrets, badgers, wild ones (surprisingly, viper venom has no effect on wild boars at all), and also a number birds of prey: owls, herons, storks and eagles. And also among the enemies of vipers are vipers, which, although they do not feast on them, often engage in fights with these reptiles, from which they usually emerge victorious.

How long does a viper live?

Typically, the average lifespan of a viper in nature is 15 years, but some specimens can live up to 30 years.

Where does the viper live?

In fact, vipers live not only in our latitudes but also over a much wider geographic range; they can be found in almost any climatic conditions and landscapes: Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, Australia and New Zealand.

Lifestyle of vipers

Typically, these snakes lead a sedentary lifestyle, only occasionally making forced migrations to wintering areas. Vipers spend most of their time basking in the sun or hiding under stones.

Where and how do vipers winter?

Vipers begin to worry about wintering in October-November. For “winter apartments,” burrows are sought that go up to 2 m into the ground, so that the temperature inside remains above zero. If there are many vipers living in this area, then many individuals can winter in one such hole. In March-April, when the spring sun begins to warm, vipers crawl out of their winter shelters and begin to reproduce.

Viper venom - consequences of the bite and symptoms

The venom of a viper is not as potent as, for example, that of a cobra or rattlesnake, but in some cases it can also be fatal to humans. Therefore, it would not be amiss to remind you once again that you should stay away from the viper, as well as all poisonous snakes in general.

On the other hand, viper venom has found its use for medical purposes; a number of medicines are made from it, and it is also used in the production of cosmetics. According to its chemical structure, viper venom consists of proteins, lipids, peptides, amino acids and salt and sugar of inorganic origin. Preparations from it help as a painkiller for neuralgia, rheumatism, hypertension, and skin diseases.

When bitten, the viper's venom enters the human body through the lymph nodes and from there instantly ends up in the blood. Symptoms of a viper bite: burning pain, there will be redness and swelling around the bite site, as a result of intoxication there will be dizziness, nausea, chills, rapid heartbeat. Needless to say, if you are bitten by a viper, you should immediately seek professional help. medical care.

Viper bite - first aid

What to do if you are bitten by a viper, and bitten far from civilization (and this most often happens), somewhere in the mountains and forests:

• The first step is to provide rest to the bitten area by securing it with something like a splint, or by tying the bent arm with a scarf. After a bite, it is very undesirable to move actively to avoid the rapid spread of poison throughout the body.
• By pressing your finger at the bite site, you should try to open the wound and suck out the poison. You can do this with your mouth, then spitting out the saliva, but only if there is no damage in the mouth: cracks, scratches, otherwise the poison can enter the blood through the mouth. The poison must be sucked out continuously for 15-20 minutes.
• After this, the bite site must be disinfected with any available means, maybe vodka, cologne, iodine, and a clean and slightly pressure bandage must be applied to it.
• It is advisable to drink as much liquid as possible, water, weak tea, but under no circumstances coffee and certainly nothing alcoholic.
• At the first opportunity, it is imperative to seek qualified medical help from a doctor.

How is it different from a viper?

Very often, vipers are confused with other snakes, for example with the completely harmless snake, which is not surprising, because both snakes are very similar, they have a similar color, and live in the same places. And yet there are a number of differences between them, which we will write about further:

• Despite the similar color, appearance these snakes have one significant difference - the snake has two yellow or orange spots, but the viper does not have them.
• There is also a difference in the spots on the scales: in snakes the spots are in a checkerboard pattern, while in vipers there is a zigzag stripe on the back that runs along the entire body.
• The eyes of a snake and a viper are different; the viper has a vertical pupil, while the snake has a round pupil.
• Perhaps the most important difference this is the presence of poisonous fangs in the viper, which are simply absent in the snake.
• Usually it is longer than a viper, although a large viper may be caught that will be longer than a small snake.
• The snake's tail is longer and thinner, while the viper's tail is short and thick.

Types of vipers, photos and names

In nature, zoologists have counted more than 250 species of vipers, but we will focus on the most interesting of them.

The most common of vipers, living over a wide geographical range, including on the territory of our country, so when hiking in the Carpathian Mountains or simply collecting in the forest, you should carefully look at your feet so as not to accidentally step on this snake. The common viper is usually 60-70 cm long and weighs from 50 to 180 grams. Moreover, females are usually larger than males. The color of common vipers can be different: black, light gray, yellow-brown, depending on where they live.

A characteristic feature of this viper is the presence of a scaly outgrowth at the tip of its muzzle, very similar to a nose. The length of this viper is 60-70 cm, the body color is gray, sandy, or red-brown. This species of viper lives in southern Europe and Asia Minor: Italy, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Georgia.

Steppe viper

It actually lives in the steppes of southern and southeastern Europe, and is also found on the territory of our Ukraine. The length of this snake is 64 cm, the color is gray-brown, along the back steppe viper there is a zigzag stripe.

A characteristic feature of this type of viper is the small horns located above the snake’s eyes. It is 60-80 cm long, its body is creamy-light green in color and dotted with small dark brown spots. The horned keffiyeh lives in South-East Asia, in particular in China, India, Indonesia.

She is also the Burmese fairy viper; she received her second name thanks to the zoologist Leonard Fea, who studied her. Lives in Asia, China, Tibet, Burma, Vietnam. The length of this viper is 80 cm. It has large scutes on its head, its body is gray-brown with yellow stripes, and its head is completely yellow.

This is perhaps the most dangerous viper in the world; its bite in 4 out of 5 cases leads to death. But fortunately, the noisy viper does not live in our area; it lives exclusively in Africa and the south of the Arabian Peninsula. It has a golden yellow or dark beige color, with a U-shaped pattern running along the body.

This type of viper has a special decoration on its face in the form of vertically protruding scales. The thick body of this snake can reach up to 1.2 m in length, and it is also covered with very beautiful patterns. Lives in wet forests equatorial Africa.

Labaria or kaisaya

One of the largest vipers, its length can reach up to 2.5 m. It has a lemon yellow color, due to which it is also called “yellow beard”. This viper lives in South America.

She is also the Levant viper, also one of the most dangerous vipers, its venom is second only to that of the cobra in its toxicity. It is also a very large snake, its body length can reach up to 2 m and weigh up to 3 kg. Body color is usually gray-brown. The Gyurza lives in Asia and North Africa.

This is the smallest viper in the world, and due to its size it is relatively harmless, although, of course, its bite can cause unpleasant consequences. The length of the dwarf viper does not exceed 25 cm. It lives in central Africa.

Bushmaster or surukuku

But this is the opposite, the largest viper in the world, its body length can be up to 4 m and weighs up to 5 kg. Lives in humid tropical forests Central America.

How do vipers reproduce?

Breeding of vipers usually begins in March-May; with the onset of spring warmth, these snakes begin mating season. Viper eggs are formed in the womb of the female, and small snakes hatch there and emerge into the world either in late summer or early autumn. One medium-sized viper usually gives birth to 8-12 babies.

The process of birth of new reptiles is taking place in an interesting way: a pregnant female wraps her tail around a tree trunk, holding her tail suspended and simply scattering her cubs on the ground, by the way, already fully formed and ready for independent life. The length of newborn snakes is 10-12 cm, they immediately molt, and subsequently they molt 1-2 times a month.

• In some nations, vipers are even considered sacred, such as the temple keffiyehs on the island of Penang. They are specially taken to the snake temple and hung on trees. Locals Vipers are considered guardians of the hearth.
• Dried pit viper meat is in demand among Chinese and Japanese gourmets. It is also used in folk healing.

Viper, video

And finally interesting documentary from the Net Geo Wild channel about vipers.