Chess Snake: description, photo

In summer, on the shores of water bodies or even directly in the water, the frightened holiday-makers sometimes find a chess snake. Unfortunately, most of these meetings end badly: someone complains about the spoiled rest, someone hastily evacuates children and property away from the damned places, and some daredevils engage in a fight with a creeping opponent, throwing stones at him and everything under his arm Is horrible.

Even many experienced tourists when meeting with a snake decorated with cages, are sure that they are a dangerous enemy. In our time there are many common fictions about these creatures. Our article will tell you how things really are.

Common misconceptions

Serpentologists have long studied and described this species. However, many persistently continue to call the chess viper a snake, which is not even related to a dangerous poisonous predator. The stereotype is so common that even the name has taken root along with the scientific one.

Even those who are sure that the viper does not bite in the water, when they meet with the chess amphibians begin to panic. After all, it swims not only over the surface, but also dives perfectly. Many people think that this cunning variety is capable of attacking even at depth. But they are in many ways right: vipers do not actually dive and do not attack in the water.

Any living being in case of danger and even when he only thinks that danger is close, tries to protect himself. The instinct also moves this person. So many advise to get rid of the reptile, without waiting for an attack.

Is the chess snake poisonous or not? The question is simple only for those who are familiar with this animal. The majority prefers to simply deal with him. Many snake "chess" dies at the hands of frightened tourists due to banal ignorance.

And the adder: what's the difference

Specialists who are well versed in the matter know that distinguishing these two species is not so difficult. Of course, even ordinary children are able to recognize the horror of ordinary, possessing yellow-orange spots on the cheeks. But his fellow chess player was less fortunate.

However, there are several features that can help you identify these snakes.

The head of the viper is spear-shaped. At the horror it is oval, with a sharp nose. On the back of the steppe viper there is a pattern with a pronounced central zigzag strip, which is often confused with chess spots separated from each other.

These snakes have completely different pupils: the viper has thin vertical, like a cat, and the horror has a round one. Of course, from a great distance to compare the eyes, the shape of the spots and the head is difficult, but these differences are not unique.

This is why it is named so that it narrows along the entire length. The viper's tail is shorter, narrowing sharply.

But the main feature is that the steppe viper inhabits the steppe, and not near water bodies. But chess without them simply can not live. The next photo shows a steppe viper, and on all the others - water snakes.

External Features

Illustrations will help us evaluate the appearance. A photo of a chess snake clearly demonstrates its smoothly tapering body shape, both round pupils and the shape of the head.

This proves once again that we are not an adder at all. In length this slender snake usually reaches 1-1.3 meters, but there are also larger specimens. The color of these amphibians is very spectacular, dark spots are almost in perfect order on a light background. As for the color range, it can be from olive to chocolate. The tone is warm.

If you are lucky enough to observe the hunting of this predator discreetly, try to look into his mouth: there are no long vagabond fangs there. But a sharp, bifurcated tongue, like most of the brethren, is available. But he should not be afraid, he is not a sign of virulence.

Species

So, we already know that a snake with a chess pattern is the real one. Scientists call it water, which once again recalls the way of life. This predatory non-venomous animal, which belongs to the family of the same.

Areal

The heat-loving chess serpent inhabits the southern regions of Eurasia, as well as in Central Asia and the Transcaucasus. Villages live in pools of large bodies of water. You can meet them on the banks of the rivers Don, Dnepr, Volga, Kuban; Black and Azov seas; Many reservoirs and estuaries.

But the viper with zigzag spots, which are often confused with the water horror, lives in the steppe, forest-steppe and mountain areas of southern Europe, Ciscaucasia, the Caucasus, Siberia. She prefers shady gully, ruined buildings, bushes, mountain slopes. You can encounter such a snake in the mountains up to 2.5 thousand meters high, as well as in the alpine meadows. Ponds are not interested in a dangerous snake.

Features of behavior

At a meeting with a water person, it behaves quite typically: wriggling, releasing a fetid secret, trying to escape, and sometimes even pretending to be dead. Watching him is fun, but you should not abuse it. The loud noise frightens the chess serpent.

The behavior of this amphibian is not aggressive. It will not attack. In June-July, when chess water-borne eggs breed offspring, they can show increased anxiety when meeting a person. You should not be afraid: the snake does not try to harm you, it's just afraid for the kids.

In the afternoon these cold-blooded animals prefer not to fuss again. They rest on sun-warmed stones or wait out the heat in thickets of coastal vegetation. Hunting begins with the advent of coolness. They feed on small fish that are caught in the water. The diet can include frogs, small rodents, insects.

How to behave when meeting

If you happen to rest on a place where water dives live, do not forget that they are not dangerous. Try to explain to others what the "chess viper" really is.

Photo snakes made on vacation, will take their place in the album. But when shooting, try not to use the flash, it frightens many animals. In addition, during the day when the snake calmly rests and the chance to meet it is large enough, and so sufficient lighting that all beautiful spots can be clearly seen in the picture.

In the water, snakes should not be caught. They breathe lungs and, resisting, can choke. And generally in their hands it is better not to take - an unpleasant protective smell is not so easy to wash off.

Precautionary measures

Going to a long hike, the route of which runs along the coasts and along the steppe, it is worth thinking about the safety of the group. After all, frightened, anyone will have a hard time distinguishing an ordinary chess snake from a poisonous steppe viper.

It is worth saying that even poisonous amphibians are unlikely to take the chance to have breakfast with someone from the tourist group. But if the most unpleasant thing happened and the snake did bite, it's worth taking immediate action. On the site of the bite of the steppe viper there will be two obvious punctures from poisonous teeth, swelling and numbness will begin. There may be nausea, dizziness, a feeling of intoxication. In this case, the victim must be taken to the hospital. If this is not possible, it is necessary to cool the affected area, provide a drinking regime (up to 3 liters in small portions), give an antihistamine. Burning, drinking alcohol and burning a wound will aggravate the condition, there is no benefit from these methods. In the absence of an antidote, the condition is stabilized with the help of "Prednisolone", but this drug is inadmissible to use intuitively - it is necessary to control the medic. The sting of the steppe viper does not apply to the deadly, but it's not worth the risk. For example, the victim may have personal intolerance, and in addition, the wound channel receives bacteria from the vagus teeth.

But the bite of a chess snake can not be feared. Water is simply not capable of this. He can only frighten an ignorant person. But one who knows that in fact this snake is not dangerous, is unlikely to waste time and energy on an unreasonable panic.