Nature is unique in nature. It seems perfect, but many are mistaken in thinking that scientists have researched this perfection to the end. Sometimes such amazing facts are revealed that it is simply impossible to believe. For example, when it was recently proved that a jellyfish that is capable of regeneration lives on the ocean floor. The hypothesis that the mysterious creature lay in almost the same place from the very beginning of time provoked a strong public outcry. To an ordinary person, such facts seem fantastic, it remains only to lean toward scientific statements or deny a phenomenon incomprehensible to the perception of the mind: the ability of any earthly being to eternal life.
On the other hand, it has always been human nature to endow some dangerous animals and even plants with peculiar fairy-tale properties. So, many centuries in a row happened to snakes, which were reckoned among dragons or considered minions of the forces of darkness. Today we would like to pay attention to one of the most beautiful and at the same time the most unusual reptile of the existing ones - the needle snake. The article will tell a lot about this species: distinctive features, characteristics of the species, lifestyle, environment and habitat, as well as the main diet of its diet.
Such different names for one particular species
Serpentologists and some nature lovers who are seriously interested in reptiles are familiar with a name like the needle snake (Mehelya capensis). Often in encyclopedias and scientific journals you can find a more familiar reference to the average man in the street: Cape, file, scaly or already-like snake. By the way, you should not get lost, noticing such discrepancies in the scientific literature, because each name is applicable to one particular snake, therefore there will be no mistake if you call the file reptile a scaly snake.
This species is considered one of those who opposes and is not afraid of the most dangerous and poisonous inhabitants of Africa - black mambas. Cape snakes have immunity to poison injected with a bite of a reptile from the genus of aspids, which is bypassed by both humans and animals. The needle snake belongs to a family called snakes. It is easy to guess that such an accessory is not considered exotic, but it gives the species certain advantages relative to other representatives of reptiles on the planet.
External distinctive features of the Cape (file) snake and its size
The very name of this type of snake already says a lot about its appearance. The needle snake, as mentioned above, is an unusual reptile that can withstand the most poisonous representatives of the reptile squad. Moreover, such a snake hunts them and prefers dangerous reptiles as the main snack. Among the creeping inhabitants of Africa, this reptile is considered one of the smallest snakes living on the continent. As a rule, adults can reach a length of a little more than a meter. There are exceptions to this rule, science knows cases when a sexually mature needle snake (Mehelya capensis) reached a huge length, which was 1.5 meters.
Color
The cold-blooded reptile from others is quite difficult to distinguish by the color of the scales. All due to the fact that snakes already have many natural colors. They can be monophonic, for example, black, brown or dark olive. Other snakes from this family look so variegated that sometimes such a coloring seems fantastic. Be that as it may, but any color that predominates in the skin color and is the main one in the Cape snakes looks intense and saturated because of the colorful overflows characteristic only for Mehelya capensis. It is these overflows that make the snake's scales even more distinct, distinguish each diamond applied to its skin, clearly distinguishing it in a special way.
By the way, this characteristic feature was the reason that the snake began to be called scaly or file. The belly of a reptile can be in color or very strikingly different in color from the main color. The abdomen is bright white, milky or gray. Such a contrast of the natural clothing of the needle snake does not yet prove the fact of the excessive danger of the representative of her species. After all, based on the main rule of the wild, which states that brightness is a sign of poison, the Cape snake should be avoided. If you answer the question about the danger of the bite of today's heroine, it is worth saying that she is not poisonous, and her attack is not fatal to humans.
Advanced Reptile
In the scientific literature, one can find a description of what the snake Mehelya capensis looks like. From this description, it becomes clear that the reptile has certain characteristic features inherent in all snakes in general. For example, the eyes. Here you should pay attention to the vertical pupil, contracting in the light to a tiny size. However, the visual acuity of this species is superior to many, because the reptile leads mainly a nocturnal lifestyle. During evolution, the visual system of the file snake was perfected by nature to the smallest detail. The mouth of a representative of the already similar family is most often colored in dark shades.
Mutations depending on permanent living conditions
Depending on the habitat, the primary color and shade of the abdomen of a needle snake may vary. This phenomenon is described in the writings of the great Darwin, who proved the influence of the changing living conditions of any animal, without exception, on the color of the species that got into it. So, for example, praying mantises living in green grass will correspond to the main color of the natural habitat, and moved to arid steppes with predominantly yellow vegetation, they will change the color of the body to yellow. It is worth saying that the cut of the mouth of the Cape snake has a rather peculiar shape, because of which it can often seem that she is smiling. But do not be touched by such an appearance. It must always be remembered that despite the distinctive features of the appearance of the snake, it belongs to the order of reptiles that live in Africa, with which a person is better not to contact.
Do reptiles have enemies?
It would seem that one of the most agile snakes on the planet, which can easily defeat the black mamba and even the cobra, simply cannot have enemies. However, nature has ordered in such a way that despite this fact, there are representatives of the fauna who actively maintain a balance in this area. Thus, the needle snake, the description of which was described in detail above, can easily become prey for a black or brown serpent. These are birds of prey, actively hunting precisely for reptiles, they are considered them their favorite delicacy.
Habitat
Answering the question about where the needle snake lives, it is worth talking about two continents: America and Africa. The reptile chooses both humid and arid territories, on which there is practically no vegetation: savannas and light forests. By the way, in Africa, such areas are found in the east and south, in some areas of the central part and directly in the Sahara desert. As for America, here such areas are located close to Mexico.
If we go into the problematics of the issue of relatively snakes in more detail, which include the scaly reptile, then we can say that these representatives of reptiles are a terrestrial way of life. They can hide in bushes or spend time waiting for prey on trees and other hills. However, they still prefer to live on earth most of the time. Scaly snakes live in hollows of trees, abandoned termite mounds, but favorite places are abandoned rat holes. By the way, a file snake can easily bury itself in the ground and thus hide from the heat. It is worth saying that in burrows and shelters such snakes spend days on end, preferring to get out of there only at night.
Ability to adapt
Speaking of a detachment of already similar snakes, it should be noted that such reptiles can adapt to almost any locality to live in. They are fast, dodgy and have several advantages over other reptiles. There are recorded cases when already similar representatives of the cold-blooded lived exclusively in the water. And they felt great there: they swam and dive, like fish. Others prefer to live only on trees in birds abandoned or busted by them. In the process of evolution, everyone has learned to adapt to specific conditions and not bad to exist in them.
File snake worship
Locals in Africa are quite serious about the needle snake. In general, it is worth saying that the indigenous people of the continent revere all representatives of reptiles without exception. They are considered the harbingers of death, credited with kinship with the gods and endowed with supernatural powers. There is no question of whether the poisonous needle snake is among the native population of the mainland, because every resident knows that if a reptile copes with the most dangerous black mamba, whose bite is fatal, then it definitely has a magical gift. They are not afraid of her here, but they try not to touch her.
What do snakes Mehelya capensis eat?
The needle snake is considered a predator that feeds on small animals and their own kind. Reptiles prefer poisonous snakes (black mamba), rodents, small birds, lizards (iguanas) and those who can be easily caught and captured as their main food. Despite the fact that the file snake can develop a fairly fast speed, it rarely takes advantage of this. In terms of hunting, such reptiles prefer to attack the selected victim from an ambush. Due to its excellent ability to merge with the landscape, the reptile often goes unnoticed until the moment of attack.
By the way, hiding in the trees or sitting in the branches of a bush or blackthorn, the Cape snake can wait its victim for a long time. Such behavior is very rare for other representatives of the flora. Sometimes it happens that prey can escape, then the snake will follow its prey until it reaches its goal. Do not be surprised that snakes of their own kind eat, because in nature there are still examples confirming this strange fact. The yellow-bellied snake is also not averse to enjoying the poisonous species of reptiles. The snake is a wild creature, so keeping it at home, as is now fashionable, is not recommended.
Breeding
Mating of a female and a male occurs once a year in the spring. Eggs in the clutch are from 10 to 15 pieces, and each subsequent female lays with a five-minute interval. The incubation period lasts about 4 months. By the way, the laying of the needle snake is better not to disturb. Like any other reptile, a file snake will frantically protect the nest. First, she will warn the unexpected guest with a hiss, and then she may attack. There were even cases when, due to provoked aggression, a reptile bit through human hands to bloody traces.