Kenyan cat snake. cat snake
The cat snake has a slender and smooth body, it has a relatively small size, it reaches a maximum of 81 centimeters in length.
The length of the tail is a quarter or sixth of the entire body. The head on the body stands out well. The head is covered with large symmetrical shields. Large eyes have vertical pupils. In the depths of the mouth are furrowed teeth.
The upper part of the body has a yellowish, pinkish or grayish color. Large black or brown spots run along the back.
On the sides of the body there are transverse stripes and smaller spots. Some cat snakes have little or no pattern at all. The upper part of the head is almost uniform in color. A dark stripe extends from the corners of the mouth to the edges of the eyes. The belly is light, strewn with many specks and spots. The iris around the pupil is pink or yellow.
Where does the cat snake live?
The cat snake is a relative of snakes. These snakes live in Asia Minor, the Caucasus, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. In our country, it is known from Dagestan. The habitat of cat snakes is mountainous open biotopes. They are found on slopes overgrown with vegetation, in semi-deserts, in the mountain steppe and on the outskirts of mountain forests.
These snakes live at altitudes up to 1800 meters. Often they settle next to a person - in the crevices of various buildings, in the attics of houses, in vineyards and gardens. Locals often refer to cat snakes as "house" snakes.
The cat snake climbs well on rocks, trees, bushes and walls. She clings to the bends of her body for the most insignificant irregularities, thereby holding onto sheer sections.
Lifestyle of a cat snake
Cat snakes are active both day and night, as they see equally well in daylight and in the dark. In the summer, in the heat, they prefer to hunt at night, and in the cool season they are happy to get out into the sun. These snakes rest in the crevices of walls, under stones, in the burrows of other animals and other shelters.
If the cat snake is in danger, it curls up into a ball, and raises the front of the body high above the ground, and makes throws towards the offender, while emitting a hiss. Cat snake venom is not dangerous for humans.
What does a cat snake eat?
The diet of cat snakes mainly consists of lizards. The snake grabs the lizard with its jaws and, holding it, wraps itself around it in a ring. These snakes do not so much strangle the victim as they try to restrain the jerks until it dies from the effects of the poison. The venom is found in the grooves of the snake's front teeth, which are deep in its mouth. Therefore, in order to kill the victim, the snake has to open its mouth strongly, only in this case it will be able to sink its teeth into its body.
The poison begins to have an effect on the lizard after 2-3 minutes. Cat snakes hunt at night, inspect lizard hiding places and kill sleeping prey. These snakes got their name because they sneak silently like cats, have vertical pupils and are active at night. Cat snakes eat not only, but also chicks, ruining the nests of birds.
Snakes... This word makes some shudder with horror, while others, on the contrary, delight. Today we will talk about an amazing representative of the class of reptiles - a cat snake. Photos and descriptions, habits and eating habits - you will find all this and other interesting information below!
Description
This snake can hardly be called large, it is comparable in size to an ordinary snake. The body length of a cat snake is about 70 centimeters. Although once a snake 81 centimeters long was caught. Her body is very graceful, smooth. The reason for harmony and special grace is slightly compressed sides. The cervical interception is also pronounced, it visually separates the head of the snake from the body.
The color of the back of the cat snake is usually light gray. There are reptiles of gray color with a slight yellowish tint and even a pink color. The skin of this snake is covered with brown or black spots, and transverse stripes are located on the sides. In some individuals, they are expressed quite clearly, while in others they are simply absent. The belly is usually light, covered with small spots. On the head there are shields that are arranged symmetrically. The lower surface of the head of this representative of already-shaped white. The mouth and eyes are connected by a dark stripe.
The main feature of the snake is its eyes. It is because of the narrow vertical pupils that this type of reptile got its name.
Habitat
It is worth noting that the cat snake occupies a special place in the Red Book of Russia, because in our country it is found only in the Republic of Dagestan. Most of these reptiles live in Asia Minor, in countries such as Syria, Turkey, Iran, Israel. You can meet them in the Caucasus - in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, in the Middle East, in the Mediterranean. They also live on the islands of the Aegean Sea.
What places do cat snakes choose for themselves? They prefer mountain slopes overgrown with shrubs or grasses, they like mountain forests. These snakes feel great in semi-deserts. The main condition is an altitude of no more than 1800 meters above sea level. These snakes perfectly move among the branches of trees, climb mountain slopes, while clinging to barely noticeable ledges.
You can often hear another name for snakes - “brownies”. This is due to the fact that they settle next to a person: in attics, roofs of houses, in cracks in walls, in gardens and vineyards.
Lifestyle
The organs of vision of cat snakes are well developed. This allows them to see equally well both day and night. That is, these snakes can be active at any time of the day.
In the summer heat, already-shaped snakes do not get out of their shelters, preferring a nocturnal lifestyle. They hide in the burrows of various animals or between rocks. But with the onset of the first cold weather, reptiles try to spend as much time as possible in the sun - in order to warm up well.
It is worth mentioning how this snake behaves in case of danger. If something frightened her, she curls up into a tight ball, while raising the front of her body, begins to hiss and lunge towards the offender. Many are interested in whether a cat snake is poisonous or not. Scientists note: she has poison, but it is not dangerous for humans.
diet
Lizards predominate in the menu of this snake, as, for example, in the copperfish. The predator captures its prey with its mouth, tightly wrapping it around. However, cat snakes do not strangle their prey, but wait for the poison to take effect. By the way, poisonous teeth are located deep enough in the snake's mouth, and therefore even a small victim can become a serious problem - reptiles have to open their mouths very wide. That is why cat snakes are completely safe for humans, the maximum that they can do is bite the little finger. And in this case, she will literally need to swallow her finger! Although in such a situation you can not worry, because the poison of these snakes is extremely weak.
Usually representatives of this unique species go hunting late at night. They survey the places where lizards live and attack sleeping reptiles. After that, the most difficult thing begins: the snake needs to hold the lizard for three minutes - during this time, the poison begins to act.
In the diet of these reptiles there are also chicks of small birds. Cat snakes are excellent tree climbers and can destroy nests.
reproduction
These snakes lay eggs. At one time, the female can lay 6-9 eggs! By the way, young snakes also prefer to eat lizards. True, usually their prey in size is significantly inferior to the prey of adults.
population
Scientists have not been able to find out exactly how many common cat snakes, which are also called Caucasian, live in Russia. It is known that there are about 500 individuals in Armenia.
In Russia, the main factors causing the limited number of snakes are their capture and destruction, as well as the destruction of habitats. To restore the population, it is necessary to carry out explanatory work, explaining the importance of protecting reptiles. Artificial breeding of representatives of this rare species will also help.
Telescopus fallax Fleischmann, 1831
Description: Body length with tail about 1000 mm. The coloration of the upper side of the body is light gray, yellow-gray or pinkish. Large, often oblique, blackish, brownish-gray or yellowish-brown spots running in 1 row on the back along the ridge, between which the coloration is somewhat lighter than on the lateral surface of the body. Transverse stripes or smaller spots are located on the sides of the body and in the spaces between the dorsal spots. In some individuals, the pattern on the body is partially or completely absent. On the monochromatic surface of the head, a small dark spot is often noted on the border between the parietal scutes, a dark stripe runs from the posterior edge of the eye to the corner of the mouth. The belly is lighter with numerous dark spots and specks, often merging with each other. The underside of the head is white.
Spreading: On the territory of Russia, the species is known from finds from the territory of Dagestan. Outside of Russia, it is distributed in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Balkan Peninsula and the islands of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey and Israel.
Habitat: It occurs on rocky slopes overgrown with sparse herbaceous and shrubby vegetation. It lives in the mountain-xerophytic steppe, in semi-deserts and much less often on the outskirts of mountain forests. Sometimes it settles near human habitation, meeting in attics and reed roofs of houses, in cracks in walls and fences, in vineyards and gardens. It rises to the mountains up to 1700-1800 m above sea level. In the spring in the Transcaucasus, it leaves wintering in early-mid March and is active until October. It climbs well on trees, bushes, rocks and walls of buildings. Feeds on lizards, rodents, birds. Oviparous species, in laying 6-9 eggs measuring 10-13x27-35 mm. The female lays her eggs in late June-early July, the young appear in September.
Number: There are no credentials for the territory of Russia. In Armenia and Georgia, 1-3 copies were taken into account for a day trip. In Armenia, the approximate total number is estimated at 500-600 individuals. Limiting factors in the limited area of this species in Russia are habitat destruction, trapping and physical destruction of snakes.
Security: It is necessary to protect the habitats of the cat snake, organize environmental explanatory work with the local population and artificial breeding of this rare species.
The cat snake is a relatively small (the largest specimen known to us reached 81 cm), slender and smooth snake.
The tail is from a quarter to a sixth of the total length. It differs by a head sharply delimited from the body, covered in the anterior part by large, symmetrically arranged shields; eyes with a vertical pupil; the presence of large, furrowed teeth located in the depths of the mouth.
The upper side of the body is painted in grayish, yellowish or pinkish colors. Large, sometimes oblique, black or brown spots are arranged in one row along the back. Smaller spots and transverse stripes are found on the sides of the body. In some individuals, this pattern is weakly expressed or absent altogether. The upper side of the head is almost uniform in color. A dark stripe runs from the posterior edge of the eye to the corner of the mouth. The underside of the body is light with many spots and specks. The iris around the vertical pupil is golden yellow or pink.
Where does the cat snake live?
The cat snake is common in the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, the Middle East, and the Caucasus. In Russia it is known from Dagestan. She is an inhabitant of dry open mountain biotopes. It can be found on rocky slopes overgrown with sparse herbaceous and shrubby vegetation, in areas of mountain steppe and semi-desert, on the outskirts of mountain forests. The cat snake rises to a height of up to 1800 meters. It often settles near a person - in the attics of houses, in the crevices of adobe and stone walls, in gardens and vineyards. Locals often call this snake "house snake". She climbs equally well on the branches of trees and shrubs, and on sheer rocks or walls, clinging to the bends of her body for the slightest unevenness of the stone.
Lifestyle
The activity of the cat snake is mixed: it is equally well oriented both in the light and in the dark. In the heat of summer it becomes a typical nocturnal animal, and in the cool season it prefers to crawl out during sunny hours. The rest of the time it hides under stones, in crevices and spaces in the ground and walls, in buildings, in the passages of other animals.
A disturbed cat snake gathers into a ball and raises the front of the body high. Periodically, with a short hiss, throws towards the enemy. However, for humans, her bite is not dangerous, she is not considered poisonous.
What does a cat snake eat?
This snake feeds mainly on lizards, which it seizes with its jaws and, without opening them, wraps around the victim with one or two rings of its body. But the prey is not so much strangled as it is restrained by its strong jerks until it dies under the influence of poison. The poison flows into the blood of the victim along the grooves located on the front (side of the longest, deepest teeth in the mouth. Thus, in order to poison the prey, the cat snake must grab it with its wide-open mouth - only then will the long back teeth pierce the victim. Poison on lizards begins to act in two to three minutes.This snake hunts at night: it hunts sleeping lizards, carefully examining their possible hiding places.For the "cat" softness and stealth when hunting, as well as for night activity and eyes with a vertical pupil, this snake got its name. In addition to a variety of lizards, she eats chicks, which she takes out of nests.
Reproduction of cat snakes
Cat snakes reproduce by laying eggs, usually one female has from six to nine of them. Newborn snakes feed on small lizards.
Part of the range of this species, falling on the territory of the Russian Federation, is very small, and the abundance of the species is very low, so it is included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.
- Class: Reptilia = Reptiles
- Subclass: Lepidosauria = Lepidosaurs, scaled lizards
- Order: Squamata Oppel = Scaled
- Suborder: Serpentes (Ophidia) Linnaeus, 1758 = Serpents
- Family: Colubridae Cope = Already-shaped snakes, snakes
Species: Telescopus fallax (Fleischmann, 1831) = Cat snake
Cat snakes (Telescopus, or Tarbophis), a genus of snakes, a subfamily of false snakes. The pupil of the eye is vertical, like a cat's (hence the name). 12 types. Distributed in Southeast Europe, southwestern Asia, tropical and Northeast Africa. In the USSR (in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Dagestan), as well as in M. Asia and the Balkans, cat snakes (T. fallax) live up to 1 m long. It lives in dry, often stony places; sometimes in abandoned buildings, ruins, reed roofs. Hiding in cracks, voids and crevices, including under the bark of trees. In the hot season, it is active at dusk and at night. It feeds mainly on lizards and chicks. It wraps its prey in rings of the body and, biting, poisons it with poison. For humans, the bite is not dangerous. In the southern part of Turkmenistan, a larger Iranian cat snake (T. rhinopoma) is found.
Cat snake - Telescopus fallax Fleisch.
Class Reptiles, or Reptiles - Reptilia Suborder Snakes - Ophidia, or Serpentes Family Snakes - Colubridae Subfamily False snakes - Boiginae
A medium-sized snake up to 70 cm long. The body is dark gray on top, large dark stripes stretch along the ridge, separated by lighter intervals.
In the USSR, it is distributed in Azerbaijan, the Nakhichevan ASSR, and Dagestan. It lives in dry rocky places, but often settles in the reed roofs of houses. It feeds on lizards, chicks, which it takes out of nests, deftly climbing trees. In case of danger, he takes a characteristic pose: he gathers the back of the body into a ball and raises the front towards the enemy. From this position, the cat snake makes swift throws towards the enemy. It kills prey with body rings and with the help of poison that paralyzes small animals.
cat snake
CAT SNAKE (Telescopus fallax) in length reaches 1 m, but usually does not exceed 70 cm. The scales around the middle of the body are located in 19, less often in 21 longitudinal rows. The coloration of the upper body is gray, dark gray or pinkish. Large, often oblique, black, brownish, occasionally yellowish-brown spots are arranged in one row along the ridge, the space between which is lighter than the sides of the body. The same type, but smaller spots or stripes are located on the sides of the body in the intervals between the dorsal spots. The belly is densely dotted with dark spots and speckles, the bottom of the head is white. The iris of the eyes in living individuals is golden yellow or pinkish in color. Distributed on the Balkan Peninsula, the islands of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, in Asia Minor, Syria, Iraq, Iran. In Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Dagestan. It settles in dry places covered with stones, on rocky slopes of mountains, sometimes overgrown with steppe or semi-desert vegetation. Often in abandoned buildings and all kinds of ruins. It willingly settles in the reed roofs of dwellings, for which it received the name of the house snake from the locals. Hiding in all sorts of cracks, voids and crevices, including under the bark of trees. Active at dusk and at night, especially during the hot season; in other seasons it also occurs during the day. It climbs superbly and easily climbs vertical planes. It feeds on lizards and birds, especially chicks, which it takes out of nests. The captured lizard quickly wraps one or two rings around the body and squeezes. The death of the victim comes, apparently, not so much from suffocation, but as a result of the action of a poison that is detrimental to small animals. For humans, the bite of a cat snake is not dangerous. The menacing posture of this species is quite peculiar: an angry snake gathers the back of the body into a tight ball, and sharply curved front part of it sharply raises it at an angle upwards. In this position, the cat snake silently or with a short hiss makes quick throws towards the enemy....
Poisonous animals and plants of the USSR / B.N. Orlov, D.B. Gelashvili, A.K. Ibragimov. - M.: Higher. school, 1990. - 272 p.