Common copperfish is an elegant nimble snake with a very interesting color. This reptile is very nimble, capable of doing tricks that most of its fellow snakes are not capable of. A copper snake, if it is lifted by the tail above the ground, can bend sharply, reach for the head and bite the impudent offender by the fingers. Copper is common from Western Siberia to Western Europe, but is more common in southern regions.
The color of the top of her body is beige, brown-brown or
gray with longitudinal small dark spots. The belly is gray or brown-brown with a silver tint and a pattern of dark spots. In males who have reached puberty, the belly is colored in orange or brick red. Males are slightly smaller than females. On the back of the head there are two spots in the shape of a rhombus, which sometimes merge with each other. A wide strip of dark color stretches from the eye to the nostril, and then to the corner of the mouth. The copper snake has round pupils and a reddish-brown
iris of the eyes with a golden hue. The reptile reaches a length of up to 80 cm. The scutes on the trunk and tail are smooth.
Due to its impressive size and high aggressiveness, this snake is often mistaken for a viper and killed. Partly because of this, and partly because of worsening living conditions, it is listed in the Red Book. Some people think that the copper snake is poisonous and dangerous for humans, but this is not so. Its poison is dangerous only for rodents or lizards. This reptile differs from a viper with a narrower head with a barely noticeable neck interception, larger shields of the head, smoother scales and round pupils (vertical in the viper).
Copper snake lives in mosaic dry forests, is found in overgrowing clearings, in sunny meadows, and on the edges of dry pine forests, and loves hilly terrain. Avoid the snake of the shores of reservoirs and wetlands. Sometimes it can be found along roads and railway embankments. Habitats depend on the availability of basic food, which lizards make up for coppers.
Unlike many other reptiles, the copperfish is a territorial snake, and for many years lives in a well-defined area, not exceeding 1 ha. In times of danger, the copperfish seeks to hide in a shelter, but can also defend itself by attacking the offender. The usual shelters for her are heaps of deadwood, burrowing rodents, tree roots and rotten stumps.
In winter, the copper snake hibernates and awakens around mid-April, when the average daily air temperature begins to exceed 15 ° C. Her mating season begins in May. She is an ovoviviparous snake. Fertility of females is 5-10 cubs. Embryos develop about 2.5 months, and young growth is born from the end of July until mid-August. The copperfish is most active in the daytime, loves to bask in the sun, especially in the morning.
The general widespread downward trend in the number of these snakes is due to the fact that their main food is lizards, which have recently become smaller.
This food base is not as reliable as that of snakes that feed not only on lizards, but also on small rodents and frogs.
Copperwort does this only with an extreme degree of lack of habitual food. In such periods, these reptiles may even exhibit cannibalism. In many countries, the copper snake is protected by law.