Rostov region is located in the temperate climatic zone. Climate here
continental, so severe frosts or intense heat are rare here. The abundance of greenery, many reservoirs, hills and plains have become an excellent residence for many species of fish and amphibians, reptiles, insects, mammals. There are snakes in this region.
Steppe viper
Snakes of the Rostov region are mostly non-toxic. The most dangerous among them are the steppe vipers. They are mainly found in the Oryol region, but sometimes they are found even in close proximity to the city: under the village of Bagaevskaya, between Rostov and
Bataisk. In a word, wherever there are clay ravines and dry shrub-covered slopes. Brownish-gray, with a dark back decorated with a dark brown zigzag, these snakes are very beautiful. They can grow up to 65 centimeters. Vipers are very similar to snakes, but, unlike them, dark, not very pronounced spots adorn the sides of the steppe viper. Contrary to popular belief, the snakes of the Rostov region, including the steppe vipers, never attack first. They bite only in defense. Vipers feed on small rodents, chicks, and lizards. The bite of the steppe viper is poisonous, but not always fatal. A person can die only if he does not receive medical care at all. In general, the snakes of the Rostov region are either
not poisonous at
all, or their poison is not fatal. However, if dirt gets into the bite, the recovery may take a long time. Chess and
black vipers are not found in the RO.
Yellow belly
The yellow-bellied snake in the Rostov region prefers dry steppe, bushes, so you can meet it anywhere. This snake is non-toxic, but extremely aggressive. She moves very quickly and quickly hides in thickets or other people's holes. If the yellow-bellied one does not have time to hide, then he rushes at his pursuer and can painfully bite and scare him even more. Yellow-bellied snakes grow up to two meters, but such large specimens are not found in RO today. The yellow belly got its name because of the bright orange or yellow abdomen. Like all snakes of the Rostov region, the yellow-bellied avoids crowded places.
Uzhi
The closest relatives of the yellow-bellied are snakes. They can be gray (there are most of them in the RO), black, dark greenish. You can distinguish snakes from any other snakes by their bright “ears” - this is the name for very noticeable spots on the sides of the head. They can be bright orange, yellow, white. Oh - this is not just a harmless and non-poisonous snake. Cowardly. These are other snakes of the Rostov Region (photo) hiss and scare people, and in case of danger they bite their enemy. Having seen or felt
man flees. It is precisely this feature of Rostov that is used by boys, for whom fishing for snakes is a familiar and not at all heroic occupation. Caught already "butts" and hisses, and then, if the enemy is not afraid, relaxes and ... releases from its cesspool a stream of disgustingly smelling liquid. That is why the Rostov boys say that they are "cowardly to us ... ru." Fortunately, the smell disappears very quickly and leaves no residue.