Snakes. Different feelings arouse in man these creatures of nature. But you must admit that these are some of the most amazing and mysterious species of living creatures that inhabit our planet.
Since ancient times, snakes have been feared, and at the same time revered. They were worshiped and cursed at the same time. Snakes entered the legends and myths of many nations. On the headdresses of the pharaohs there was a cobra in an attacking pose. On shields and armor, snakes were inflicted to intimidate enemies. Among the Indians, some species of snakes were totem animals, and sanctuaries and temples were built in their honor. The medieval inhabitants of the Amazon basin connected all misfortunes with the giant Anaconda, attributing to it magical properties. Many superstitions have survived to this day.
Over the centuries-old history of Mankind, snakes have become a symbol of wisdom and judgment. Their dexterity amazes our imagination. They bring benefits to man. No wonder the snake organically intertwined with the international symbol of healthcare. Let's talk about the largest representatives of the snake genus.
The biggest snakes of our planet:
12
Gyurza (Macrovipera lebetina)
The ancient Persians called Gyurza “an iron club, mace, club”, while in science this snake is referred to the genus of giant vipers. And indeed, in the open spaces of the former USSR, this is the largest snake. The length of the gyurza can grow up to 2 meters.
This species of poisonous snakes is found mainly in the Eastern Hemisphere: in northern Africa, the islands of the Mediterranean Sea, Kazakhstan and Transcaucasia. You can often find Gyurza in the countries of Southeast Asia.
Its habitat is desert and semi-desert, foothills of the steppe zone, as well as mountains.
It feeds mainly on small species of birds, small rodents, but can also eat lizards, smaller snakes. Gyurza, when bitten, releases about 50 ml of poison, which paralyzes the victim and leads to death. After the cobra, it is a dangerous creature for pets and humans. Without the timely introduction of an antidote, a person bitten by Gyurza dies.
Snake venom is widely used in medicine for the production of medicines intended for the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular and nervous system.
11
Eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis)
A snake from the genus of aspids takes second place in the world in the toxicity of its poison. This dangerous snake is found in Australia and on the islands of Oceania. The snake can reach a length of 1.1 to 2 meters. Despite the name, it has a yellow-brown, sometimes black color. It has an interesting pattern on the belly, lighter than the whole body, with numerous red spots.
Eastern brown snake eats rodents, birds and frogs. Often eats eggs from nests of birds and other snakes.
The snake is very aggressive. When attacking, it takes an S-shape, while raising the front of the body high. From this position, she lunges and attacks. The poison released by a snake when it is bitten is fatal to humans, and serum is required when it is bitten. But often she bites a person without releasing her poison, so the mortality rate from a brown snake attack is 15–20%.
10
Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis)
In the shrouds and woodlands of Africa lives the most dangerous snake, called the “Black Mamba”.
One of the largest snakes on the planet. It can reach a length of over 3 meters. There is evidence of a meeting with larger specimens up to 4.5 meters. The black mamba also moves quickly, developing a speed of 11 km per hour, but in an aggressive throw, the speed reaches 20 km per hour.
The most interesting thing is that the name does not match the color of the snake. The shades of the skin of the black mamba range from dark olive to grayish brown. Abdomen has a lighter color. But the name of the snake received the black color of the internal cavity of the mouth.
This type of snake leads mainly a terrestrial way of life. Only occasionally, in search of prey can climb on the branches of trees and shrubs. A very agile and agile snake that slides on the ground with a raised upper part.
It hunts mainly from an ambush during daylight hours. Its victims are small rodents, bats, less often birds. It is interesting that the mamba pursues its escaped victim and bites it until it dies under the influence of poison.
The most dangerous species for humans. After a bite, without conducting an antidote, a person dies.
9
Bushmaster (Lachesis muta)
This snake, also called Surukuku, is the largest representative of the poisonous snakes of South America. The bushmeister belongs to a large family of pit snakes.
This type of snake is very difficult to meet, since it selects areas not inhabited by people as its habitat. This is a dense and impenetrable jungle of South and Central America.
The Bushmaster spends all day in the thickets of trees and only crawls out at night in search of food. It feeds on small rodents, lizards, as well as other snakes.
The Bushmaster uses poison only on the hunt. Trying to avoid places of residence of people. In history, only 25 bites were recorded by the Bushmaster. Of these, five died. The species is endangered. The poison is widely used for the manufacture of medicines.
Speaking of ten animal components that are contained in modern cosmetics, you can find out on our website.
8
Amethyst Python (Morelia amethistina)
Python, Australia's largest snake, is listed as protected by law. It is also forbidden to sell and buy Amethyst python.
This species of pythons is not fastidious and chooses branches of dense forests, folds of rocks, stones, and coral reefs. Individual individuals can reach sizes up to 8.5 meters. Python has an olive brown color with a strong rainbow tint.
Amethyst python often appears near human housing and is dangerous for small pets. Therefore, dogs, chickens, cats are kept in cages. But the main food of the python is small birds and rodents. On the coasts, it can hunt bushy kangaroos.
Interestingly, during the hatching of eggs, the female does not eat at all and does not crawl away from the masonry.
7
King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)
The serpent, fully justifying its name, the title of "Queen of the snakes" has long been entrenched among her among the people. But people mistakenly consider her the most poisonous. There are snakes whose venom is 180 times stronger (Taipan McCoy) than the venom of a royal cobra.
But this is the largest poisonous snake on Earth. In length, they can grow up to 5.6 meters. But the average length of the King Cobra ranges from 3.5 to 4 meters. A unique property of the snake is that it grows throughout life, and they live for more than 30 years.
King cobra lives mainly in one place, preferring caves and burrows, less often - tree branches. But scientists have researched and proven that this species of snake can migrate for tens of kilometers.
An amazing feature in the behavior of the snake should be noted the ability to raise up to a third of the front of the body above the ground.
Cobras in search of food more and more go to places of residence of people. Rodents migrated, followed by other small snakes, which the King Cobra hunts for. For this, the cobra in the scientific world has received the name "snake eater."
Cases of so-called “single” human bites were observed. A cobra bit without releasing poison. Scientists concluded that the poison is used only for hunting, and it is not advisable to waste it. The number of deaths due to King Cobra bites due to this feature is small.
6
Common Boa (Boa constrictor)
A boa constrictor belongs to the pseudopod family and can grow up to 4 meters in length. There were cases of encounters with boas of this species, the length of which was 5.5 meters.
The non-poisonous snake can easily endure captive conditions. Therefore, many terrariums of the world can boast of their presence. But this boa constrictor has a peculiarity; in captivity it does not grow more than 3 meters.
The boa constrictor chose Central and South America as its habitat. It is also found in Florida and the Lesser Altai Islands. In nature, there are 10 subspecies of common boa constrictor.
He hunts birds, small mammals. During the hunt, it covers its prey and strangles in the chest area. These boas are single. Their color easily adapts to the habitat, so it is very rare to meet such a giant in natural conditions.
5
Indian python (Python molurus molurus)
This python is also called the "Tiger python" or "Bright python" and it lives in Nepal, India and parts of Pakistan. This type of snake can be found mainly at water sources. The Indian python can inhabit places high above sea level, climbing into the mountains at 1,800 meters.
Favorite time of day for python hunting is twilight or night. He waits for his victim in an ambush, and suffocates her, clasping a massive body. The length of the Indian python reaches 6 meters. Color pale gray or brown.
Indian python, as well as relatives, easily tolerates captivity. In vivo they feed on small animals. In captivity - a favorite treat - these are small rodents. But a prerequisite for keeping the python in captivity is the presence of a pool in the terrarium.
After the female lays eggs, she eats nothing, but only drinks water. The incubation period lasts from 60 to 100 days. In captivity, the Indian python does not breed.
4
Burmese python (Python bivittatus)
A relative of the Indian python is the Burmese or Dark Tiger python. But the Burmese python is a little larger and in nature there are individuals up to 7 meters in length. The weight of a snake with such a length reaches 55–100 kg.
This species lives in the savannah and rainforest. Chooses a habitat closer to ponds and rivers. Burmese python is a great swimmer and climbs trees perfectly. But still leads a not very active lifestyle.
At the same time, a non-toxic snake is very aggressive and can be dangerous for humans. The python feeds on mammals and birds, both small and large. Can eat a monkey or a large lizard - a Bengal monitor lizard.
Many peoples of Africa since ancient times eat python meat for food. All kinds of products are made of leather: from belts to shoes.
It is noteworthy that many keep the Dark Tiger python at home, believing that it will protect the house and its inhabitants from evil spirits, as well as for practical purposes - pythons rid the house of rats and mice.
3
Hieroglyphic Python (Python sebae)
The habitat of this python is also called the African rock python. But the species name this snake received in honor of the Dutch zoologist and pharmacist Albert Seb, who lived in the late XVII - early XVIII centuries.
One of the largest snakes on the planet. Pythons of this species can reach 6 meters in length, and weigh up to 100 kg. The snake has a massive body, a triangular spot and a dark stripe on its head. It is easy to distinguish from other representatives of the python world. The color is dark brown with dark zigzag stripes.
The hieroglyphic python lives in Africa, south of the Sahara and up to the southern tip of the continent. Mostly he spends time on branches during the day, and at night to hunt warthogs, small Nile crocodiles. Adult individuals of this species of crocodiles are the natural enemies of the python. Enemies also include leopards and lions.
The hieroglyphic python can be without food for a long time, and the life expectancy is 20–25 years.
2
Anaconda (Eunectes murinus)
The most common scientific name for this large snake is “Green Anaconda” or “Giant Anaconda”. In ancient times, the peoples called this giant "Water Boa" and were, in some ways, right, because the anaconda refers to the subfamily of boas.
Europeans learned about this large snake from the notes of the Portuguese traveler "Chronicles of Peru" in 1553.
To date, Anaconda is the most massive of snakes living on earth. The length of the adult reaches 7 meters. There is evidence from the category “fear has big eyes” about 11 and even 12-meter specimens. But all this is from the category of human fantasies, which Thebiggest.ru does not take into account.
The color of the snake is grayish-green with two rows of dark spots. Anaconda populated the entire tropical part of South America. Basically, he chooses hard-to-reach places, so meeting a person with her is very rare.
The snake spends most of its life in water. The hunting of this large predator takes place in the water. It feeds on rodents, reptiles that live in ponds. On the beach creeps out to bask in the sun.
In history, there are very few cases of snake attacks on humans. But still, a snake that weighs almost 100 kg can be dangerous to humans. But it poses a greater threat to domestic animals: pigs, goats.
Anaconda, due to its size, is widely represented in legends. The ancient inhabitants of the Amazon coast worshiped her as a deity.
1
Reticulated Python (Broghammerus reticulatus)
Reticulated python, living in Asia, is the largest snake on Earth. It can reach sizes up to 8 meters in length. The weight of the python varies from 75 to 90 kg.
The snake got its name because of the original, complex pattern on the body, in the form of intertwined spots. The head relative to the body is small, light, and the scales of the snake have a bright rainbow tint.
Reticulated python leads mainly a terrestrial lifestyle, occasionally climbing on tree branches. It can be found both in rocky terrain and in tropical forests. On the island of Java, researchers found a specimen at an altitude of 1,200 above sea level.
In the diet of a snake are various mammals: monkeys, small ungulates. Cases of frequent attacks on pets have been recorded. Among the records, the python swallowed a pig weighing 60 kg.
Since ancient times, local peoples have been using python meat for food. Python is also a hero of legends and tales, in which the size of the reptile is significantly exaggerated.
But this large snake also has natural enemies in nature. Basically, these are various types of crocodiles, as well as Komodo lizards. Python is trying to settle in areas away from places where these species of animals live.
Finally
Anyone who once met a snake, whether it be a huge anaconda or a small steppe viper, in natural conditions, perhaps, will never forget this meeting. The first desire, of course, is to bounce and run away. But those who are fortunate enough to notice a snake from afar get the opportunity to observe its behavior and make sure that these are some of the most amazing creatures on Earth.
And it is difficult to imagine and predict human behavior when meeting with Titanoboa, whose length reached 15 meters, and the weight is more than a ton. But these reptiles lived on the surface of the earth about 58 million years ago. After the dinosaurs became extinct, this snake remained the largest animal for 10 million years.
By the way, you can learn about the largest dinosaurs on thebiggest.ru.
Snakes are not only dangerous, but also useful. Do not count the medicines, the basis of which is snake venom. Nature endowed them with deadly weapons in order to survive in the wild. A man must know - a snake never attacks the first people!
Article author: Valery Skiba