Snakes from ancient times are known as dangerous, scary creatures endowed with magical powers. They were credited with the ability to hypnosis, used in ceremonies, they were worshiped and feared. Among the representatives of these reptiles there are simply giants reaching 14 meters. However, there are babies, which we will talk about later.
Snakes: General Description
Belong to the class of Reptiles, or Reptiles. They have structural features that distinguish them from the rest of the taxon.
- The organs of vision in them are devoid of eyelids, so the look is very steadfast and unblinking. It was for this biological feature that snakes were credited with hypnosis abilities.
- Completely devoid of limbs. The body is elongated, narrow. In some species, rudiments of former hind limbs are preserved.
- Lack of external hearing. Snakes hear very hard - only very loud sounds, it is better if they are accompanied by vibrations and shaking of the air. But they have excellent thermoreceptors located on the tongue, and are also guided by the olfactory bulbs of Jacobson. Therefore, even in absolute darkness, they will unmistakably find their victim.
Also an interesting feature in the structure of these creatures is that all their internal organs have an elongated shape, and the lungs are greatly reduced. The bladder as part of the excretory system is absent. The skeleton is represented by a skull and spine, having a trunk and a tail section. In some species, there are over 430 vertebrae in the structure!
Ribs are structures that lie freely in the body cavity and are not connected by the sternum. Therefore, when swallowed, prey can move apart and provide a place for stretching. The jaws are also joined by tensile ligaments to facilitate absorption of food.
It is known that there are three categories of snakes by the way they eat:
- non-toxic predators;
- insectivores;
- Poisonous snakes.
There are the smallest snakes, there are giants. Among all the representatives there are both poisonous and safe species.
The smallest poisonous snakes
The fact that the snake is small in size and seems completely harmless does not mean anything. There are species that, with modest parameters, are scary killers. Their poison is deadly, and not only for animals, but also for humans.
The smallest snakes in the world, photos of which can be seen below, are able to absorb prey in half of their body, killing it with toxic products. Poisonous babies include:
- dwarf viper;
- common viper;
- sandy efa.
Consider how the smallest snakes among the poisonous live, and what they are.
Dwarf viper
Representative of the narrow coasts of Namibia in Africa. This small snake got its name for its modest dimensions, because the length of its body does not exceed 30 cm (usually 20-25). Outwardly, it is slightly different from its relatives in that it does not have horny outgrowths above the eyes. For this, she is also called a hornless. Despite the small parameters, it is poisonous and is capable of killing a fairly large lizard with one bite.
However, her poison is not instantly paralytic, so the victim dies only 10-15 minutes after the defeat. The color of the dwarf viper can vary, change throughout life after molting. It happens:
- cream gray;
- tan;
- reddish yellow;
- pink
- light brown.
A longitudinal pattern in the form of pale black spots stretches along the entire back. The body is thickened. The tail is painted black. It is able to quickly bury itself in the sand, as if screwing into it. So she spends most of her time waiting for the victim. It moves sideways. Does not lay eggs, as it is viviparous. The number of offspring at a time can be up to 10 individuals.
Common viper
Such small snakes, like ordinary vipers, are a typical species for Eurasia. The distribution area is very wide, because one individual accounts for an area of several hectares. They have features in the structure and coloring of the body. So, above the eyes of these snakes there are horny scales, the entire muzzle is also covered with similar growths. Nostril moves are cut in the center.
Torso coloration may be:
- gray
- brown;
- brown;
- olive;
- reddish.
In this case, the tail is much lighter, it can be yellow or slightly reddish. The abdominal part is light gray or yellow.
These snakes live mainly in forest thickets, on clearings. Occupy abandoned people winter houses. Their body length is not more than 75 cm. At the same time, females are larger than males. Lay eggs, from which up to 12 cubs can hatch at a time. The venom of these species of snakes is toxic, destroys blood and capillaries. However, they themselves do not attack idle, they are quite friendly.
Toddlers newly born feed on insects. Adults eat rodents and amphibians. Moreover, the vipers themselves also serve as food for many large birds of prey and animals.
Sand efa
The smallest snakes and the most dangerous ones are sand ephs. Representatives are small - only up to 60 cm in length. However, with such a modest size, beautiful moving snakes of this species are the strongest killers. They are afraid of more than large spectacle snakes. Why?
The answer is simple - the bite of this individual is fatal. And for a person as well. Even if it is possible to remove the poison from the body in time and neutralize it, in most cases people remain crippled.
The worst thing is that the distribution area of efa is very large. It inhabits the lands of northern Africa, Persia, Algeria and the adjacent territories, Turkey. It is almost as widespread as the common viper in Eurasia.
Her body color varies in different versions of yellow, brown and cream. The snake is quite beautiful, since its entire body is decorated with patterns - spots, stripes, geometric patterns.
Another feature is live birth and the number of offspring - up to 16 pieces at a time! In this case, snakes can reproduce even in winter, since they do not fall into hibernation. Efa is a very mobile snake. At the sight of danger, she makes characteristic rustling sounds, bounces all the time, wriggles and rushes about.
Poisonous little snakes
Among the more or less friendly representatives, at least not introducing poison into the victim’s body, there are both large and small forms. At the same time, small snakes are very interesting. The types of the tiniest of them are as follows:
- blind snake, or Brahmin blind molehill;
- peaceful eirenis;
- Barbados narrow-snake.
Consider each representative in more detail and find out why these creatures are interesting and unusual.
Brahmin blindman
The smallest snake in the world, reaching a length of only 12 cm. The body is painted in dark brown. Very shiny, quirky and agile. Habitats:
- Sri Lanka;
- Madagascar;
- India;
- Southeast Asia.
Another name for these creatures is potted snakes. And this is not surprising. After all, they completely freely adapted to life in flower pots, where they lay their eggs. Thanks to this, they settled even wider. Love dark, humid habitats. The tip of their tail has a small spike. They feed on insects, worms. They do not attack or bite a person.
Barbados Squat Carla
By right, the smallest snake in the world is the Barbados narrow-minded carla, which was discovered by scientists in 2008. It got its name for its habitat - Barbados, as well as in honor of the wife of the scientist who made the discovery.
It is difficult to call the centenarians of these tiny (up to 10 cm) creatures. After all, they live only a few months - from spring to autumn. At the same time they manage to give offspring in the form of eggs. Their lifestyle and characteristics are still poorly understood.
It is known that they feed on narrow-necked termites and larvae; their coloration is dark brown on top and light brown on the abdomen. They prefer to hide under stones, in crevices and other secluded places.
The opening of this snake was made by Blair Hodges. During the study, the individual did not attack and did not try to defend itself, so for now it is considered a fairly friendly species. To date, the habitat of these creatures has declined significantly due to deforestation and human settlement. Therefore, in the future, the species may be in danger of extinction.
Peaceful Eirenis
Representatives of snakes are also small snakes. A photo of one of these can be seen below. This is a peaceful eirenis. Received its name for absolute conflict-free. He does not attack people, does not bite, is actually meek.
The color of this snake varies in such limits:
On the head there is a pattern in the form of a bright spot. With age, it darkens and merges with the rest of the body. The tail is greatly shortened against the background of the body. It lives in:
- Iran and Iraq;
- Turkey
- Azerbaijan
- Georgia and Armenia;
- on the islands of the Mediterranean Sea.
Hibernates for the winter. It becomes active only in the evening, sleeps in the bushes or rocky crevices during the day. It can climb mountains to a height of over 1,500 m. It is listed in the appendix to the Red Book of Russia.
It feeds on insects, scorpions. Can eat centipedes and wood lice. Lays eggs, burying them in the ground.
The biological role of snakes in nature
The smallest snakes, like the largest, are of great importance to nature. Indeed, for many birds of prey and animals, they are a source of nutrition. In addition, not only the individuals themselves can be useful to a person, but also their fat, eggs, and skin. So, a person eats some types of snakes. In addition, it is these reptiles that destroy a huge number of insects, which are malicious pests of agriculture.
Also, one of the uses of snakes for humans is the extraction of their poison, which is used to create effective medicines for many ailments - ointments, tinctures, balms, and other remedies.