Already - a large snake, on average, its body is up to ninety centimeters long. However, some individuals reach one and a half meters. Above, the body color of the snake is brown, black or olive. On top of the reptile is covered with black spots, arranged in a checkerboard pattern. But the most expressive distinguishing feature that it has is two bright orange spots on the sides of the head and neck. Let's take a closer look at it.
Cute snake: description and habitat
This reptile is ubiquitous in Europe. It is not found only in the northern part of England and in some areas of Scandinavia. In Russia, you can find three out of ten subspecies. Already - a snake that lives in ponds. Both standing and filled with running water. And also on the coasts and marshy lowlands. The snake swims well, holding its head high above the surface of the water, dives and is not afraid to swim far into the open sea. No problem, the snake rises high in the mountains. It tolerates pressure differences well. A reptile hides under piles of stones and branches, in the voids of the roots of large trees, in abandoned burrows of rodents. If the soil is soft and loose, then she herself can make moves in it.
Already - a snake, which is often seen near settlements. It is active most of the year - from late March to November. It feeds on amphibians, lizards and relatively rarely can include small fish in its menu. He swallows his victims alive and in full. Sometimes he catches even small birds or mammals. During mating, the snakes gather in large groups, forming clusters. The female lays eggs, and at the end of August young individuals emerge from them. Already
not poisonous. That is why you need to learn and remember their external signs well. Because a snake that looks like a snake can actually be poisonous. The snakes are active during the day, spending the night in shelters. They hunt more at dawn and dusk. Often a snake can be noticed when it basks in the sun, lying on bumps, branches and warm stones. When it sheds, he feels the need to constantly crawl into narrow crevices and rub against hard surfaces. This helps him lose his old skin - it comes off the reptile, starting from the head.
Wintering of the snake, its habits and keeping in captivity
Before the onset of cold weather, the snake begins to fall into a stupor. Previously, she seeks a secluded shelter and settles in it. Snakes hibernate individually, occasionally collectively. Hibernation begins quite late - in late October and November. The first weak frosts can not damage the already. He wakes up early - at the end of March even in the coldest regions you can see the awakened reptiles. This snake is non-aggressive. Seeing a person, most often she flees. Being caught, it first actively defends itself (hissing, dodging and emitting a disgusting smell from special glands), and then pretends to be dead. In captivity, the snakes are quite easily tamed and tolerate content in the terrarium well. If you install a small pond and several shelters there, pour soil from a mixture of gravel, earth and sphagnum moss, then you will live quite a long time.