Water already - a description of where it lives, features

Many people have met ordinary snakes in their lives, but not everyone knows that there are several varieties of these creeping. For example, watermark is its immediate relative. Unlike his relative, he loves warm and humid places. They are almost similar in size. The largest individual is fixed at a length of 1.5 meters. There are other differences. Let's consider them in more detail.

First of all, the water snake has a completely different color than that of the next of kin. The shields on the head are located elsewhere. The belly of a water snake is yellow or red. The color of the whole body is green or brown. The pattern can be staggered as well as narrow transverse stripes. In some individuals, spots turn into stripes. There are water snakes that have no pattern and have a uniform color. Scientists called these individuals melanists.

Water snake habitat

As previously reported, water snakes are heat-loving creatures, so you can only meet them in the southern, eastern and central parts of Europe. They are not adapted to the northern temperature. Water snakes can be found in the Caucasus, China, India and other Asian countries. In Russia, they are found on the Volga and Ciscaucasia.

Water snakes spend most of their lives near water bodies, so finding them in other places is a real rarity. They live on the banks of rivers, lakes, ponds and even some seas. In addition to them, they are also found in artificial waters and reservoirs. Water snakes love warm, settled reservoirs where there is no sewage. In addition, snakes can live in cool channels, which are located in the mountains at a distance of 3 kilometers.

Water snakes prefer to search for food in water, so they do not like contaminated water. In transparent ponds, it’s convenient to track the victim. Any places of passage are stones and branches growing above water bodies. Water snakes swim beautifully, not only on the surface, but also in depth. They can travel great distances even against the tide. In addition, snakes overcome vegetation well, and also crawl through trees and shrubs located next to the pond.

Snake lifestyle

With nightfall they are passive. In warm weather, they tend to be on the surface to bask. Then they go hunting, plunging into a pond. After eating, they again climb onto branches or stones and digest the food. They do not tolerate high temperatures, so they crawl into water or vegetation. With the onset of cold weather, snakes hibernate. They are located in deep holes on the banks or in the burrows of other animals. Wintering can be carried out both individually and in groups. Scientists have discovered a cluster of more than 200 snakes of different ages and sex. In such places, they winter each year.

How does reproduction occur?

The breeding period begins with the connection of snakes in certain groups, where coition occurs. Water snakes creep out after wintering in spring, when the street is warm enough. Marital behavior is no different from their closest relatives. After fertilization, the female hatches the cubs until the end of June, and then lays eggs. One snake can lay up to 15 eggs.Masonry is carried out in loose soil, which is reliably protected by stones. Many scientists have observed collective procrastination. In such places can be more than 1000 eggs.

Cubs grow for 30 days. After hatching, they are able to hunt and eat tadpoles. Puberty is reached upon reaching 3 years.

Some water snakes can reproduce on colder days. In this case, they move further from the water. Hatching snakes occur in the summer. Waterbirds already have many detractors. Like their closest relatives, birds of prey or large fish want to feast on them.

What is included in the diet of water snakes?

Most water snakes eat small fish, which swims not only in fresh, but also in salt water. In one hunt, a snake can eat more than 40 small fish. They also bite and large fish, whose length reaches 15 centimeters.

Water snakes can be hunted in two ways. The first is that the snake first tracks its prey and then quickly attacks it. In case of failure, she is actively pursuing. Another technique: creeping in the event of an unsuccessful attack do not chase, but switch to another victim.

Water snakes cannot strangle, so they direct their bite into the middle of the body. Small fish snakes swallow immediately, but with larger ones, the situation is more complicated. To eat it, she needs hard terrain. Already reliably fixes the fish in its mouth, rises above the water and pulls it ashore. It starts to eat fish from the head.

Water is not able to enjoy large prey, therefore, having pulled it to land, it simply throws it. On this food is not limited. He enjoys eating small rodents, frogs, toads and birds.

Eating a large number of fish, water already causes enormous harm to the fishing industry, so there is an active struggle against these creeping. If the snake feels the danger, it burrows into the soil, or plunges to the bottom of the reservoir.
If you take water snake, then it emits an unpleasant liquid, like its closest relative.

Conclusion

Water snakes are one of the relatives of ordinary snakes. They are completely non-toxic, therefore, when bitten, a person is not in danger. This snake is easy to recognize by its characteristic color. The belly is red or yellow in color, the pattern on the back can be staggered, as well as in longitudinal and transverse stripes.

The snakes spend most of their life near water bodies, settling on stones and tree branches. Small fish, rodents and mammals are preferred as food. The mating period begins after wintering. One female is able to lay up to 25 eggs. Cubs develop within two months, after which they hatch. Small snakes can hunt small fish.

As noted earlier, water snakes are harmful to fisheries. Therefore, in their habitats active destruction is underway.

Video: Watery Already (Natrix tessellata)