An ordinary snake (non-venomous snake). Common snake - non-venomous snake (Natrix natrix) What does snake eat in the swamp

Even in the century before last, an ordinary person could live calmly in a peasant’s yard and not fear for his life. The villagers were afraid to kill the uninvited guest, thinking that they would bring trouble to their home.

It is considered a snake belonging to the class of reptiles. Most people are afraid of snakes, but is it dangerous?

Characteristics of the common snake

Almost two-thirds of the snakes on the planet belong to the colubrid family. Today there are about one and a half thousand of them different types, and each of them has its own distinctive features.

And although the common viper and the common viper are very similar, the former differs from its poisonous relative in its peaceful and calm character.

Snakes used to be kept as pets instead of cats because they were better at catching mice and other rodents.

A couple of hundred years ago in Ukraine there was a belief that if you offend a snake, you will suffer bad luck. The name of the city Uzhgorod also speaks about the popularity of snakes., located in western Ukraine, which has remained untouched to this day.

Distinctive features

The difference between common snakes and other snakes is “ yellow ears", pronounced markings on the head, usually yellow, but sometimes white and orange. It is extremely rare that marks are absent or weakly expressed. Females are larger than males. As a rule, the length of the snake is one meter, but there are individuals that reach a length of one and a half meters.

The reptile has dark gray, black or light gray skin. On individuals with gray skin, dark spots are very noticeable. On the light belly there is a dark stripe from the tail to the neck. The snake has round eyes, but there are individuals with a “cat-like” cut. The tail is 3-5 times shorter than the body and has a varied shape - sharp, steep, rounded. Some reptiles have smooth skin, while others have prominent ribs.

The description would not be complete without mentioning the reptile's teeth. Located at the top of the mouth, some of them enlarge when the pharynx opens. There are reptiles with immobile small teeth, and some have bent teeth. The tongue is already forked.

Reptile diet and life expectancy

Sometimes the common one feeds on insects, small birds and mammals. Favorite food - various amphibians:

• tadpoles;
• lizards;
• newts.

But still, the most favorite delicacy is frogs, which reptiles hunt at any time of the day or night. Where there are many snakes, the frog population disappears.

The lifespan of a reptile in captivity is no different from how many years it lives in wildlife. As at home, the reptile lives in freedom for almost twenty years. Keeping such a reptile at home is not the best a good option , in this regard, it will be better if you get a less dangerous pet.

Reproduction in the natural environment

Reptiles can swim well and can stay under water for more than half an hour. As a rule, the mating season takes place in the spring in April-May and very rarely in the fall.

The mating courtship of snakes occurs without any complex elements; in one clutch, the female brings from eight to thirty eggs. To hatch eggs, she chooses the optimal place, for example, a pile of dry leaves, peat or sawdust. The birth period of the offspring is from one to two months.

Reptile-human contact

The reptile has acquired the title of a good-natured animal, because it very rarely uses its teeth against humans, and besides, it gets along well with other animals.

The snake is easy to tame and does well in captivity. Having noticed a person, he tries to run away, and when he is caught, he actively defends himself: he begins to hiss and throw his head forward. If this does not help, he secretes a thick, foul-smelling liquid from the cloacal glands and pretends to be dead. Such an imaginary death is defensive reaction reptile. If the reptile is left alone or placed in water, it comes to life. The pungent and foul-smelling liquid kills the appetite of four-legged predators.

It rarely bites, and its bite does not cause harm to a person, except for minor scratches.

Dangerous Enemies

Before the sun sets, the reptile must hide, otherwise it will quickly cool down and will not be able to quickly hide from its enemies, and it has many of them:

To frighten enemies, the reptile hisses and, pretending to poisonous snake, flattens the neck area, its body folds in a zigzag, and the tip of its tail twitches nervously. There is another option for salvation - he is trying to escape.

Such a number of enemies and dangers significantly affects how long a snake lives in the wild. Reptiles have a constant shortage of reliable, good shelters, so they take great pleasure in inhabiting human houses, chicken coops, bathhouses, basements, sheds, bridges, garbage dumps and compost heaps.

A snake is a snake that belongs to the class of reptiles, the order Scaly, the suborder of snakes, the family Colubridae (lat. Colubridae).

The Russian name “uzh” may have come from the Old Slavonic “uzh” - “rope”. Moreover, the Proto-Slavic word supposedly comes from the Lithuanian angìs, which means “snake, snake.” According to information from etymological dictionaries, these words may be related Latin word angustus, which translates as “narrow, cramped.”

Types of snakes, photos and names

Below is short description several varieties of snakes.

• Common snake (Natrix natrix )

It has a length of up to 1.5 meters, but on average the size of the snake does not exceed 1 meter. The snake's habitat extends across Russia, North Africa, the countries of Asia and Europe, except for the northern regions. In southern Asia, the range boundary includes Palestine and Iran. A characteristic distinctive feature of the common grass snake is the presence of two bright, symmetrical spots on the back of the head, at the border with the neck. Spots with a black border are yellow, orange or off-white. Occasionally there are individuals with faint spots or no spots, that is, completely black common snakes. There are also albinos. The back of the snake is light gray, dark gray, sometimes almost black. There may be dark spots on the gray background. The abdomen is light and has a long dark stripe that stretches all the way to the snake's throat. Most often, the common grass snake is found along the shores of lakes, ponds, quiet rivers, in coastal shrubs and oak forests, in floodplain meadows, in old overgrown clearings, in beaver settlements, on old dams, under bridges and in other similar places. In addition, common snakes settle near human habitation. They make their home in the roots and hollows of trees, in haystacks, in burrows, in other secluded places, in gardens and vegetable gardens. They can settle in basements, cellars, barns, woodpiles, piles of stones or garbage. In poultry farms, snakes like moist and warm litter, and they get along well with poultry. They can even lay their eggs in abandoned chicken and duck nests. But snakes almost never settle near large domestic animals that can trample them.

• Water snake (Natrix tessellata )

Much like his close relative an ordinary snake, but there are differences. It is more thermophilic and common in the southern regions of the habitat of the genus of snakes - from the southwest of France to Central Asia. Also, water snakes live in the south of the European part of Russia and Ukraine (especially at the mouths of rivers flowing into the Caspian and Black Sea), in Transcaucasia (very numerous on the islands of the Absheron Peninsula in Azerbaijan), in Kazakhstan, in the Central Asian Republics, up to India, Palestine and North Africa in the south and to China in the east. Outside of reservoirs, snakes are extremely rare. Water snakes live on the coasts of not only fresh water bodies, but also seas. They swim well, can cope with strong currents of mountain rivers, and stay under water for a long time. The water snake has a color of olive, olive-green, olive-gray or olive-brown with dark spots and stripes located almost in a checkerboard pattern. By the way, Natrix tessellata literally translates from Latin as “chess snake.” The snake's abdomen is yellowish-orange or reddish, covered with dark spots. There are also individuals that have no pattern or completely black water snakes. Unlike an ordinary snake, there are no “signal” yellow-orange spots on the head of the water snake, but often on the back of the head there is a dark spot in the shape of the Latin letter V. The length of the water snake is on average 1 meter, but the largest individuals reach 1.6 meters. With the onset of morning, water snakes crawl out of their shelters and settle under bushes or, literally, “hang out” on their crowns, and when the sun begins to get hot, they go into the water. They hunt in the morning and evening. During the day they bask in the sun on rocks, reeds, and in the nests of water birds. The water snake is non-aggressive and safe for humans. It is not able to bite at all, since instead of teeth it has plates to hold slippery prey. But because of its color, it is confused with a viper and is mercilessly destroyed.

• Colchis, or big-headed already (Natrix megalocephala )

Lives in Russia in the south Krasnodar region, in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Abkhazia. Already lives in chestnut, hornbeam, beech forests, in thickets of cherry laurel, azalea, alder, where there are clearings and ponds, on tea plantations, near streams. Colchis snakes can be found high in the mountains. They are adapted to life in fast mountain streams. This snake differs from the common snake in its wide head, with a concave upper surface, and the absence of light spots on the back of the head in adult specimens. The body of the big-headed snake is massive, from 1 to 1.3 m in length. The upper body is black, the head is white below, the abdomen has a black and white pattern. In spring and autumn, the Colchis grass snake is active in daytime, and in the summer - in the morning and at dusk. Snakes living in the mountains are active in the mornings and evenings. Colchis is no longer dangerous for humans. He escapes from his enemies by diving into the water, even despite the rapid current of the river. The number of large-headed snakes is small and in Lately decreases. This is due to uncontrolled trapping, a decrease in the population of amphibians due to the development of river valleys, and the destruction of grass snakes by raccoons. Conservation measures are necessary to preserve this species.

• Viper snake (Natrix maura )

Distributed in Western and Southern Mediterranean countries, not found in Russia. Snakes live near ponds, lakes, calm rivers, and swamps. Snakes of this species got their name because of their color, similar to that of a viper: on the dark gray back there is a black-brown pattern in the form of a zigzag stripe, with large ocellated spots on the sides of it. True, some individuals have a color similar to water snakes, and there are also individuals with a solid gray or olive color. The snake's abdomen is yellowish, with reddish and black spots closer to the tail. Average length reptiles are 55-60 cm, large individuals reach 1 meter. Females are larger and heavier than males.

• Tiger snake (Rhabdophis tigrinus )

Lives in Russia in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories, distributed in Japan, Korea, North-Eastern and Eastern China. Settles near water bodies, among moisture-loving vegetation. But it also occurs in mixed forests, far from bodies of water, in treeless areas and on the seashore. The tiger snake is one of the most beautiful snakes in the world, the length of which can reach 1.1 meters. The back of the snake can be dark olive, dark green, blue, light brown, black. Juveniles are usually dark gray. The dorsal and lateral dark spots give the snake the tiger stripes. Adult snakes have characteristic red-orange, red and brick-red spots between dark stripes on the front part of the body. Upper lip snake yellow color. The snake defends itself from predators by releasing a poisonous secretion from their special neck glands. The tiger snake is capable, like a cobra, of lifting and inflating its neck. When people are bitten by enlarged back teeth and poisonous saliva gets into the wound, symptoms are observed, similar to a viper bite.

Taken from: www.snakesoftaiwan.com

• Shiny tree snake (Dendrelaphis pictus)

Distributed in South-East Asia. It is found near human settlements, in fields and forests. It lives on trees and bushes. It is brown or bronze in color, with a light stripe bordered by black stripes on the sides. There is a black “mask” on the snake’s face. This non-venomous snake with a long thin tail making up a third of her body.

• Schneider's fish snake(Xenochrophis piscator )

It lives in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, some islands of Indonesia, western Malaysia, China, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Lives in small rivers and lakes, in ditches, in rice fields. The color of the snake is olive green or olive brown with light or dark spots forming a checkerboard pattern. The abdomen is light. Length 1.2 m. The head is slightly expanded and has a cone-shaped shape. Non-venomous fishing snakes are aggressive and fast. They hunt mainly during the day, but often at night.

• Eastern ground snake(Virginia valeriae )

Distributed in the eastern United States: from Iowa and Texas to New Jersey and Florida. It differs from other species in having smooth scales. A small snake, the length of which does not exceed 25 cm. The color of the snake is brown, tiny black spots may be observed on the back and sides, and the abdomen is light. Ground snakes lead a burrowing lifestyle, living in loose soil, under rotten logs and in leaf litter.

• Green bush grass snake(Philothamnus semivariegatus )

A non-venomous snake that is found throughout most of Africa, excluding arid regions and the Sahara Desert. Green snakes live in dense vegetation: on trees, in bushes growing along rocks and river beds. The body of reptiles is long, with a thin tail and a slightly flattened head. The body of the snake is bright green with dark spots, the head bluish tint. Scales with pronounced carinae. Active during the day. Not dangerous for humans. It already feeds on lizards,

• Japanese snake ( Hebius vibakari)

One of the species of snakes found in Russia, namely in Far East: in the Khabarovsk and Primorsky territories, as well as the Amur region. Distributed in Japan, Eastern China and Korea. Inhabits forests in these regions, thickets of bushes, meadows in the forest zone, abandoned gardens. The length of the snake is up to 50 cm. The color is uniform: dark brown, brown, chocolate, brown-red with a greenish tint. The abdomen is light, yellowish or greenish. Small snakes are light brown or more often black. The non-venomous Japanese grass snake leads a secretive lifestyle, hiding under the ground, stones and trees. It feeds mainly on earthworms.

How do snakes reproduce?

The main part of snakes reproduces by laying eggs. Some species, such as American grass snakes, are ovoviviparous. And in some species the rudiments of viviparity are observed (for example, in the species Thamnophis sirtalis).

Males snakes reach sexual maturity at the 3rd year of life, females at the 4th or 5th year. There are snakes that become sexually mature when their body reaches a certain size.

Usually the mating season for snakes begins in the spring. Immediately, or 1-2 weeks after leaving wintering grounds, snakes begin to mate. In common snakes, “courtship” occurs as follows: the male, approaching the female, shakes his head from side to side, then presses tightly against her side or back, rubs against her, and wraps his tail around her. Sometimes several males gather around a female, forming a so-called “nuptial ball.” But the males do not fight among themselves, but only try to interfere with each other. Mating occurs in late April - early May, and snakes lay eggs in late June - early July. If the summer is cold, these dates are shifted to a later time.

In some species, mating occurs in the fall. This is typical, for example, for water snakes. In this case, the female lays fertilized eggs next summer.

Snake eggs are covered with a white leathery film consisting of microscopic fibers soaked in sticky protein. They may have different shape: oblong, round, pear-shaped. The sizes of eggs and clutches vary, depending on the type of snake, age and length of the female. Clutches are often “collective” and can number up to 1000 eggs.

To lay eggs, snakes use secluded warm and damp places: heaps of humus, old straw, fallen leaves, rotten stumps, damp moss, loose litter under stones. The incubation period lasts 1-2 months. The embryo goes through the initial stages of development in the mother's body. The snake hatches from the egg using a special egg tooth, which makes cuts in the shell. The length of the newborn constriction varies among different species of snakes. Newborns immediately crawl away and lead an independent lifestyle.

Enemies of snakes in nature

Snakes have no protective equipment; they can only scare or run away and hide. Great danger for the snake represents man. Many mammals (foxes, minks, martens, raccoon dogs), predatory or big birds(snake eagles, storks, kites), as well as some snakes include snakes in their diet. Rodents destroy their nests. Rats eat their clutches and small snakes. Even their future food threatens young harvests: frogs, toads, fish, insects.

• In nature, two-headed snakes are quite often born. For example, every fiftieth newborn water snake has 2 heads. True, such individuals do not live long.
• He never shows his stomach to the enemy. You can see the color of the abdomen only during “imaginary death” or when removed from the shelter during wintering.
• Prey swallowed by a snake remains undigested in the stomach for some time, and if a caught snake regurgitates food in defense, then recently eaten frogs or fish remain alive and unharmed.
• There are many tales told about snakes: reptiles hypnotize frogs while hunting or suck milk from a cow's udder. In fact, this is fiction.
• The snake is a reptile that quickly gets used to humans. It is easy to tame. But keeping snakes at home is a troublesome task. He only eats live food, that is, the one that moves. Also difficult to maintain desired temperature in the terrarium.
• Since ancient times, there have been many fairy tales and beliefs about these reptiles, according to which the snake is the keeper of treasures and treasures, the ruler of all reptiles.
• In the old days, in the villages of Ukraine, Belarus and the Baltic states, they lived in the house and caught mice just as well as cats. They were fed by deliberately leaving a jug of milk open. I have always been a security guard and as magic symbol, and as a rodent exterminator. Destruction or expulsion of the snake was considered unacceptable, as this threatened the house with misfortune.

We all, both adults and children, like to meet environment. This is truly an exciting activity. Today we will take a closer look at the colubrid family.

First of all, let's find out who he is? It's a snake. Snakes are usually classified as belonging to the class of reptiles, as well as to the order of squamates.

Who is he, the origin of the name

The name of this reptile has both Proto-Slavic and Lithuanian roots. Often, it is customary to translate as “narrow” or “cramped”. This reptile is divided into thousands of subspecies. But we won't discuss them. Let us pay attention exclusively to one species - this is an ordinary one. First, let's look at the structure of the snake's body.

Structural features of the snake

The body of a snake. Reptiles have quite slender body. It is often covered with scales (as is the case with the common grass snake). The common one is considered the largest representative of the reptile family. Maximum length this reptile is more than 3 meters. The body of females is always larger and larger in size than the body of males. If we talk about ordinary snakes, then the upper side of the body of such reptiles is usually gray in color with different shades. Shades on the body can be arranged in very different orders, even in a checkerboard pattern. There is also a black one.

Snakes have small heads (including black ones). In its back part there are spots of yellow, pink and even orange-red hue. In some cases, shades are completely absent on the snake’s body. In some species of snakes, including common snakes, the head is protected by special shields.

Eyes. Common grass snakes have rather large eyes. The pupils usually have round shape. Sometimes the pupils may be vertical. For example, a cat snake. This species also belongs to the colubrid family.

Tail. Snakes are endowed with short tails. Their length is 3 or even 5 times shorter than the body. The shape of the tail may vary. The tail may be stubby, sharp or rounded. It is noteworthy that the females have a longer tail than the males of the common grass snake.

Teeth. In addition to the tail, the teeth of this reptile deserve special attention and consideration. Snakes' teeth can vary in appearance, shape and size. It all depends on the type of reptile itself. In some species of snakes they are small and smooth, in others the teeth are sharp and motionless. In addition to teeth, snakes have a tongue unusual looking. In a reptile it is forked.

Other types of snakes

During review general characteristics appearance we mentioned one of the snakes known species snake - this is too ordinary. But in nature there are other species of snakes that also have interesting features body structure. Here are a few of these types of snakes:

How is it different from a viper?

Snakes are sometimes confused with vipers and snakes. In this regard, it is important to know some of the features of snakes that distinguish them from vipers.

Here are the main differences between a grass snake and a viper:

These are the main differences between snakes and vipers. Let's continue our further acquaintance with snakes and see what the life expectancy of a snake is.

How long does he live and how does he move?

In fact, the life expectancy of snakes is very good (from 19 to 23 years). However, the quality and duration of existence completely depends on water. This reptile spends almost all its time in water. Snakes drink a lot of water. They mainly swim along the banks of rivers or seas. Some species of snakes can go out to the open sea.

It moves just like a snake. While moving, it raises its head and alternately bends its body and then its tail in a wave-like manner. He prefers to dive during the hunt. But this reptile is accustomed to resting at the bottom of a river or sea.

Features of snake hunting

As already mentioned, snakes are big fans of hunting. This is almost their main way of finding food. Snakes are looking for food in different time days (both during the day and in the evening). Although experts note that grass snakes are more active and eager to hunt during the daytime. With the arrival of darkness, reptiles are more inclined to look for a secluded place for the so-called overnight stay. What do snakes eat? The diet of snakes is considered monotonous. It may consist of:

Snakes (including common snakes) are not attracted to plants. At the same time, snakes like fish. While in the water, snakes use wait-and-see tactics and patiently wait for the prey to swim closer. After which, they take possession of the victim. How often should you eat?

If the reptile has eaten a hearty meal, then for the next five days it can easily do without food. In some cases, it will last several months without food.

Peculiarities of snake reproduction

This reptile species puberty occurs in the third or even fourth year of their life. But the mating season falls on spring months(from April to May) and for summer (from July to August). After mating, the female snake lays eggs. Eggs, that is, future offspring, need careful care. So, eggs must be protected from cold and drying out. Therefore, the female grass snake lays her eggs in a special warm incubator in the form of a pile of rotten leaves. However, she never hatches offspring. After 5-8 weeks, small cones hatch.

The main enemies of the snake

Snakes have their ill-wishers, who actively hunt for them after sunset. So, the enemies of snakes can be considered:

• ground beetle and ant;
• fox, hedgehog, weasel;
• heron and stork;
• toad, frog;
• trout.

Some eat adults, others, on the contrary, prefer to hunt snake eggs. So, ants hunt for eggs.

As a child, I often went fishing and into the forest to pick berries or mushrooms. And, of course, in wet weather I met snake. Very unpleasant animals. And most often snakes. Yes, many will say that you shouldn’t be afraid of snakes, and they are generally harmless. But when you are in the forest and see a snake, you do not have time to quickly determine what kind of snake it is. So, now I will tell you about the fear of my childhood. About " already».

What do snakes eat?

Already - this snake, which is most common in Eurasia, not poisonous. His diet is not very varied, here is a list of what he usually eats feeds:

• Alive frogs.
• Rodents.
• Fish.

Here's a list of those who usually eats snakes:

• Storks.
• Predatory birds.
• Some mammals.

The snake's feeding method is the same as that of all other snakes. No longer chews prey, but swallowsfully, and since this snake has no poison, the victim at the moment of swallowing will still be alive. If the object is large enough, then the process of eating can last a very long time. But after such a meal maybe I won't eat for several days. Several cases were recorded when the snake remained without food for 300 days and did not suffer any harm to health. Snakes can go a long time without food, but They cannot live without water.

A snake usually stays on earth for a long time pursues your victim. In water, on the contrary, it hides in some place and waitingt booty, which itself floats to him.

A little information about already

Identify a snake from other snakes you can on yellow, or white spot on the head. But in very rare cases there may be no spot on the head at all. Usually snakes do not differ in size, but in some cases the size of females reaches up to 2,5 meters in length.

No matter how strange it may sound, it’s really easy tamed and does not experience any special problems with life Vcaptivity. In Ukraine and Belarus, cases have been recorded where local residents tamed snakes for catching mice.

Already - not aggressive snake. But when he is attacked, he begins hiss and throws his head forward. If this does not help, then he releases odorous liquid, which scares away animals. When all else fails, the snake simply pretends to be dead, relaxing all muscles.

Not many people like snakes, but we have to meet them. The main thing is to know how to distinguish one snake from another. But never go close to a snake unless you are sure that it will not cause you much harm. be careful!

The most famous and widespread species of the genus. It is well distinguished from all our other snakes by two large, clearly visible light spots (yellow, orange, off-white) located on the sides of the head. These spots are semi-lunar in shape and bordered in front and behind with black stripes. Sometimes there are individuals whose light spots are weakly expressed or absent. The color of the upper side of the body of the snake is from dark gray or brown to black, the belly is white, but along the midline of the abdomen there is an uneven black stripe, which in some individuals is so widened that it displaces almost all the white color, which is preserved only in the throat area. The body length of the snake can reach 1.5 m, but usually does not exceed 1 m; females are noticeably larger than males.

Fig.1. Common grass snake (lat. Natrix natrix)

The snake's habitats are very diverse, but certainly quite humid. Snakes are especially numerous along the banks of calm rivers, lakes, ponds, grass swamps, wet forests and floodplain meadows covered with shrubs, but are sometimes found even in the open steppe and in the mountains. They often live in vegetable gardens, orchards, and barnyards and sometimes crawl into various outbuildings. In spring, as well as in autumn, when the soil retains a lot of moisture, snakes can move far from water. Shelters for snakes include voids under tree roots, piles of stones, rodent holes, haystacks, cracks between logs of bridges, dams and other shelters. Sometimes snakes settle in basements, under houses, in heaps of manure or garbage. In fallen leaves and loose soil, snakes can make their own passages. Common snakes very active, mobile snakes. They crawl quickly, can climb trees and swim well using the lateral bends of their body characteristic of snakes.

Snakes can move many kilometers away from the shores and remain under water for several tens of minutes without surfacing. They usually swim with their heads raised above the surface of the water and leaving characteristic ripples behind them, so snakes moving through a body of water are clearly visible. Snakes are active in daylight hours days, and hide in shelters at night. They hunt mainly in the morning and evening hours. During the day they like to bask in the sun, curled up on the creases of reeds, stones, trees bent over the water, hummocks, and nests of water birds. In the hottest times, especially in the south, they hide in the shade or go down into the water, where they can lie on the bottom for a long time. Snakes begin mating at the end of April - May, after the first spring molt. In July - August, females lay from 6 to 30 soft, parchment-coated eggs in one portion, which are often glued together like a rosary. Eggs easily die from drying out, so snakes lay them in moist, but well-retaining heat (25-30°) shelters: under fallen leaves, in damp moss, heaps of manure and even garbage dumps, abandoned rodent holes, rotten stumps. Sometimes, especially when there is a lack of suitable shelters, several females lay eggs in one place. A case is described when over 1,200 snake eggs, arranged in several layers, were found under an old door lying in a forest clearing. The initial stages of development of the embryo go through the mother’s body, and in the newly laid eggs, the pulsation of the embryo’s heart is noticeable to the naked eye.

Incubation lasts about 5-8 weeks. Young grass snakes are about 15 cm long when they hatch; They immediately spread out and begin to lead an independent lifestyle. Young people lead a much more secretive lifestyle than adults and are rarely seen. For the winter, snakes take refuge in deep rodent burrows, in cracks of coastal cliffs, under the roots of rotten trees. Sometimes they winter alone, often several individuals together, and they do not avoid the close proximity of snakes of other species. They leave for the winter relatively late, in October - November, when night frosts already begin. Awakening from hibernation occurs in March - April. IN warm days snakes begin to crawl out of their winter shelters and bask in the sun near them for a long time, sometimes gathering into balls of many individuals together. With each spring day, snakes become more active and gradually creep away from their wintering places.

Snakes feed on small frogs, toads and their young. Occasionally, their prey includes lizards, small birds and their chicks, as well as small mammals, including newborn cubs of water rats and muskrats. Young snakes often catch insects. The common belief that snakes feed on fish and are very harmful to fish farming is based on a misunderstanding. Small fish eaten by these snakes rarely and in small quantities. Even in reservoirs rich in fish, snakes sometimes swim among such dense schools of fry that they literally push them aside with their bodies, and yet in the stomachs of caught snakes it was possible to find not fish, but only juvenile frogs. During one hunt, a large snake can swallow up to 8 frogs or large tadpoles of a lake frog. Frogs that are being chased by snakes behave in a very peculiar way: although it would be easier for them to escape with large jumps, they make short and rare jumps and emit a cry that is completely different from the sounds that we are used to hearing from them. This cry is more reminiscent of the plaintive bleating of a sheep.

The pursuit rarely lasts long, and usually the snake very soon overtakes its victim, grabs it and immediately begins to swallow it alive. Usually he tries to grab the frog by the head, but often he fails, and he grabs it by the hind legs and begins to slowly suck it into his mouth. The frog beats hard and makes croaking sounds. It swallows small frogs easily, but it sometimes spends several hours devouring large individuals. If a snake is in danger, it usually belches, like other snakes, the swallowed prey, and opens its mouth very wide if the swallowed animal was large. There have been cases of snakes regurgitating live frogs, which, despite having been in the snake’s throat, later turned out to be quite viable. Like all snakes, snakes are capable for a long time go without food. There is a known case when a snake starved for more than 300 days without harm to itself. Snakes drink a lot, especially on hot days. Snakes have a lot of enemies. They are eaten by snake eagles, storks, kites and many predatory mammals (raccoon dogs, foxes, minks, martens). Serious enemies of snakes are also rats, which eat clutches and young snakes. Snakes always try to escape from humans by running. Unable to crawl away, sometimes they (especially large individuals) take a threatening pose: they curl up in a ball and from time to time throw their heads forward with a loud hiss.

Once caught, snakes bite, but only in extremely rare cases, causing light, quickly healing scratches with their teeth. The snakes' only means of defense is the extremely smelly yellowish-white liquid they release from their cloaca. In many cases, a caught snake quickly stops resisting, throws out prey from its stomach, if it has been eaten recently, and then completely relaxes its body, opens its mouth wide and, with its tongue hanging out, hangs lifelessly in its hands or rolls over on its back. This state of “imaginary death” quickly passes if you throw the snake into the water or simply leave it alone. Snakes live well in captivity, quickly begin to take food offered to them and soon become completely tame. They need water for drinking and bathing.

Distribution area. European part Russia to the north to Lake Onega, the south of Siberia to the north to the 60th parallel, to the east - to the Eastern Baikal region and the Selenga valley. North-West Africa, Europe, Asia Minor, Palestine, Transcaucasia, Iran, South-West Turkmenistan, North and East Kazakhstan, North-West Mongolia, North-West China. Closely associated with waterway habitats, lives in damp places in meadows, near the banks of reservoirs, in gardens and orchards. Swims and dives well. It feeds mainly on amphibians, but sometimes eats small rodents, lizards or bird eggs. Snakes feel good in water and can remain without air for a long time while diving. Leads active image life - moves around a lot, climbs bushes and trees, swims. Hunts in the morning. The rest of the time it hides under bushes or basks in the sun. In July-August, females lay 6-30 eggs. Eggs are laid in a warm place that is well protected from drying out. Such places are a kind of “incubators” made of rotting plants or heaps of wet manure. Since there are few suitable places, different snakes often lay eggs in one place. For example, a case was described when 1200 snake eggs were found under one abandoned door. Young snakes emerge from eggs 5-8 weeks after laying. Winters away from bodies of water. In autumn, snakes hide in holes where they spend the winter.