Common viper (lat. Vipera berus) - common in Europe and Asia poisonous snake Viperidae family. This is the only reptile in the world that is found even beyond the Arctic Circle.

The species was first described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus under the name Coluber berus. Currently, 3 subspecies are known. The nominative subspecies is distributed on the European continent.

Common viper bites

This snake, despite its reputation, is a relatively peaceful creature. Although her poison can be deadly to humans, she attacks him only in self-defense. In most cases, she avoids meeting people and always tries to crawl away, even if she was stepped on, of course, not very much.

Often, humanoid misunderstandings, seeing a viper, grab the first drin that comes across and try to kill it with a wild cry. It is absolutely impossible to do this. If there is nowhere to run, and the bipedal primate is extremely aggressive, then the snake first emits a warning hiss, and then rushes to the attack, injecting an increased portion of poison into the aggressor.

Usually, an accidental bite from a common viper is shallow and does not pose a particular danger. At the bite site, only pain and severe swelling appear, which disappears in 2-3 days.

Problems arise if the bitten suffers from allergies or diseases of cardio-vascular system, including after heavy drinking. In any case, in case of a bite, you should urgently consult a doctor, and not try to be treated on your own.

It is not the skin damage itself that is dangerous, but the possible non-standard reactions of the body to it. Those who wish to be guaranteed to die from the poison of an ordinary viper must provoke a simultaneous attack by at least 5 reptiles.

Spreading

The reptile lives throughout Europe except for the extreme south, as well as in North Asia, Siberia and the Far East right up to the coast. Pacific Ocean. It is very unpretentious, so it feels comfortable in a variety of biotopes.

IN forest-steppe zone In Ukraine and Russia, representatives of this species often coexist with (Vipera nikolski), which was previously considered to be its black morph. He prefers to settle where you can always find sunny places and the shade he needs, as well as many secluded corners.

The snake can occupy fairly large hunting areas, diligently bypassing the fields, gardens and vineyards, where it can meet a person. But she lives with pleasure in abandoned houses and for some reason loves the railroad embankments overgrown with grass.

IN highlands it can live at altitudes up to 3000 m above sea level.

Behavior

The common viper is diurnal. It is attracted primarily by areas with a cool microclimate, high humidity and significant daily temperature fluctuations. She spends her nights hiding under rocks or under the roots of shrubs and trees.

Sometimes it settles in burrows abandoned by small animals with an entrance sheltered from the wind. The burrow, as a rule, is located on the southern and sunny side of the hillock.

The reptile spends winter in deep hibernation, which in the northern regions can last up to 8 months.

Shelters for wintering snakes are looking for in October. Often in one place there can be several dozen copies that are woven into one huge ball. They wake up from hibernation in early spring. First, they bask in the sun for several hours, and only then they go to fish.

Common vipers hunt mainly from ambush. Their victims are small warm-blooded animals, birds, lizards and frogs. Most often, small rodents get to them for lunch.

A predator waiting for its prey constantly throws out a long forked tongue from its mouth, which serves as a sensitive organ of smell. With its help, she transfers the smallest particles of an odorous substance to the Jacobs organ, which is a chemical analyzer of odors and is located in the upper palate.

Having sensed the prey, the viper instantly attacks it, injects a portion of the poison and immediately opens its jaws.

The bitten animal runs away, but soon drops dead. The snake finds its runaway victim in a few minutes by smell and swallows it whole.

reproduction

The mating season takes place in April-May. At this time, the males are desperately fighting among themselves, intertwining their bodies and trying to press the head of the enemy to the ground.

The fight is somewhat reminiscent of a kind of dance and lasts until one of the males leaves the battlefield.

Fertilized eggs develop in the mother's body within 3 months. Pregnant female observes strict post and basks in the sun for a long time to provide the embryos the necessary conditions for development. In August-September, she lays from 5 to 18 eggs, from which the cubs soon hatch.

Young snakes are quite independent and can immediately start hunting. They are born 15-18 cm long with well-developed venom glands, so it is undesirable to pick them up and stroke them.

The female brings offspring once every 2-3 years. She uses a long break between births to replenish the supply of nutrients and restore the strength of an exhausted body. Vipers molt every 1.5-2 months.

Description

The body length in adult females is 75-80 cm, and in males 65-70 cm. The body is dense and muscular. Adults weigh from 100 to 200 g, and pregnant individuals about 300 g.

Coloring can be gray, brown and black. A dark zigzag stripe stretches along the ridge. There are a number of dark spots on the sides. The entire back is covered with narrow convex scales.

The triangular or heart-shaped head is delimited from the body by a pronounced cervical interception. At the junction of the head and neck there is a dark spot in the form latin letter V or less often in the form of the letter X. Pupils are vertical. The iris is red or reddish brown.

The tail is spindle-shaped, thick and long. Males are usually colored a little brighter. The base of their tail is wider than that of females, in which the tail is shorter and gradually tapers towards the tip.

The life expectancy of an ordinary viper in natural conditions is about 12 years.

Vipera berus, the common viper, is the most famous venomous snake in Eurasia belonging to the viper family. Gradually, she mastered the habitat in the Central and Northern Europe and is the only snake in the world that lives north of the Arctic Circle.

In this article, we will show you what the common viper looks like, what areas it lives in, what animals it eats, and who eats it.

The body of the reptile is emphasized by a clearly separated head. Small scales cover the entire body. You can often find small markings in the center of the head, which usually look like an X or V. Females are most often brown on the back, males are more grey. But it is possible that blue, reddish brown, copper red and black tint can also be present on the body of the viper. Both sexes often have a kind of zigzag stripe along the back, colored in dark tones. But there are individuals without any pronounced color.

This is how she looks in the photo.

The snake has an "eyebrow" and prominent scales above the eyes. Because of this, the expression of her muzzle takes on a stern look. A strip is “laid” from the neck to the eyes, which only emphasizes the whole severe appearance of the reptile.

The viper reaches a length of 50 to 70 centimeters. In rare exceptional cases, there are specimens up to 90 centimeters long. For example, the largest viper in Europe reached 87 cm in length, and the largest female in the world was found in central Sweden and had a body length of 104 centimeters.

Habitat of the common viper

This reptile was able to move from Asia to Europe in a few years and take root well there. This viper gained its fame due to the fact that it managed to take root north of the Arctic Circle, where no snake lives. Today it is found throughout the Alps, the Balkans, northern Russia and eastern Asia. On this moment common viper increasingly began to be noticed in North Korea, Mongolia and China.

In Germany, the viper especially appreciates the north German lowlands, the eastern mountain ranges, and large parts of southern Germany. Especially in the Black Forest and the Swabian Alb, you can find many individuals of this species, the only venomous snake in Bavaria. Although it has been able to spread throughout Europe, its species is seriously threatened. It is for this reason that the viper has been under protection for several years throughout Germany. Larger populations of the common viper can be found on Rügen and Hiddensee. It's connected with low level human influence and a higher level of freedom for the reptile.

In Austria, the situation looks a little better: a large population common vipers lives primarily in the Mühlviertel and Waldviertel. Switzerland also has large families of these snakes, distributed throughout the Alpine region.

Habitat

As a preferred habitat, the viper appreciates those habitats that are characterized by intense temperature fluctuations between day and night. They also appreciate high level humidity. The snake prefers bushes or small depressions under stones, which, although heated, at the same time provide high-quality protection from excessive temperatures. Humus, peat or dry grass are also ideal habitats in which the reptile feels at home.

Lifestyle

The common viper is active mainly during the day. She loves direct sunlight. But there are also exceptions. For example, during a heat wave, her period of activity shifts closer to twilight.

Mostly in the morning and afternoon she seeks good places for sunbathing, to raise your body temperature to an optimal level (cold-blooded snakes). This is an average of 30 to 33 degrees Celsius.

Shows a particularly high level of activity on wet days. The longer it rains, the more active the viper will be.

Does not tolerate wind and extreme cold. At the first manifestations of windy or cold weather hides in a warmer shelter.

In winter, she hibernates, which lasts from four to seven months. It does so in well-defended dens that it often shares with other vipers, or in general with other reptiles. Mostly they come out of hibernation in late April, early May. If the cold lingers, the duration of sleep increases by several weeks. Males usually wake up 2 weeks earlier than females.

reproduction

There are only two periods of the year that the viper uses for mating. This is the period after the winter fast, and the period of mass awakening, which lasts from April to May. During mating season competitive fights take place between males. During the conflict, the males try to defeat each other and win the favor of the female. During mating, vipers appreciate sensual foreplay, which is used to win over the female. Prelude takes a lot of time.

How do vipers give birth? In general, like many mammals. The reptile bears offspring in its body. The eggs cannot provide constant heat, while the body temperature in the uterus is maintained at a sufficient level due to the influx sunlight on which snakes bask.

Young vipers are born most often from August to October. A newborn reptile is similar in size to an ordinary stationery pencil. A female can give birth to up to fifteen cubs at a time, in very rare cases up to 20 cubs.

Immediately after birth, the offspring become active and even begin to hunt for small lizards and frogs. The viper becomes an adult only after three to four years.

diet

The common viper is one of the most secretive hunters and has no specific prey preferences. Every animal found is a victim and is immediately attacked. After the attack, the reptile bites the victim and injects poison into her body. She then waits until the poison takes effect and the prey is significantly weakened before it finally dies. After that, the animal is completely absorbed by the viper.

Not only lizards, frogs and other amphibians, but also small mammals, such as mice and rats, are included in their diet. Also, in rare cases, the snake can eat earthworms, insects and young birds. With a severe shortage of food, cannibalism can flourish to a large extent.

natural enemies

As natural enemies some birds of prey and mammals come forward. Larger snakes are also among the predators for the common viper. Cannibalism for snakes is no wonder, given the fact that the common viper itself eats the young of other snake species. Here are the main predators that pose a serious danger to this species.

Predator birds:

  1. Buzzard.
  2. Black kite.
  3. Spotted eagle.
  4. Serpent-Eater.
  5. Owl.
  6. Gray heron.
  7. White stork.

Mammals:

  1. Ferret.
  2. Ermine.
  3. Badger.
  4. Red fox.

In the event of an attack on a reptile, it hides under stones or hides in dense vegetation. If cornered, she will respond with a hiss and lunge at her opponent, biting them and injecting her venom (not always).

Common viper venom

It belongs to poisonous snakes and creates an endogenous poison that kills prey, and also pre-treats it. During a dangerous situation, venom is also used for defense, but usually the snake bites the attackers without injecting the venom. For example, for large opponents such as a fox or a wild boar, the poison is practically harmless.

When it bites a person, you can observe similar symptoms as with a wasp sting. At the site of the bite, swelling and redness form. Next comes nausea and vomiting. In the future, this can lead to shortness of breath, light bleeding and convulsions. However, there are many cases when a person did not feel anything after her bite.

To protect yourself, it is recommended to wear sturdy boots and long, tightly woven trousers in areas where these reptiles are likely to be present. Under no circumstances should you try to touch her, so as not to provoke a defensive reaction.

If, however, she bit, you need to remain calm. Since many snakes that do not have venom are also prone to bite, identifying the snake is of paramount importance. If this fails, it is recommended to consult a doctor immediately. In no case should you resort to known home methods, such as burning, sucking or picking at the bite site.

In addition, decontamination with alcohol is not recommended, because the blood is liquid and the poison spreads throughout the body in a matter of seconds. For extremely severe bites and allergic reactions, doctors will give an antidote. However, to cause serious harm to an adult, it is necessary to be bitten by an adult 7 times (corresponding to 75 mg of poison).

Bite

In principle, we can say that the fear of snake bites of this species is unfounded: even with minor shocks, animals tend to retreat on their own. Care must be taken when picking mushrooms and/or berries, as at this time a person carries a weapon with him, which the snake may perceive as a threat.

The fangs of snakes are reminiscent of the injection needles known to us, which are used for medical purposes. To bite, the teeth are straightened. When she doesn't need her teeth, they disappear into the folds of the oral mucosa.

Why is the snake on the verge of extinction in Europe?

In Russia, conditions for survival for this species are more favorable. But in Europe, not everything is so smooth. In many European countries, it is on the red list. In some states, the viper is considered endangered, in others it is an endangered species.

The main reason for their extinction is the "circumcision" of the habitat. While humans are expanding their pelting environment, snake-appropriate habitat is constantly shrinking. Open spaces and forests are disappearing in favor of industry, roads and cities. Even in existing forested areas, the preferred breeding grounds for reptiles are steadily declining, for example through deforestation. Thus, there is a constant reduction in the habitat of vipers. For this reason, man is the main enemy of the viper.

Other extinction issues

But not only destruction natural environment habitation, but also the sheer malice of man is partly responsible for the gradual extinction of this species. Many people still believe that it is perfectly normal to kill both vipers and other snakes for fun.

Wild boars also often search under branches for food, where they encounter and kill snakes.

In addition, they serve larger animals such as birds of prey and mammals as a natural food source. Sometimes, even domestic cats become a real danger to snakes.

Another problem is the fragmentation of forests due to construction and highways that surround the remaining habitats and thus provide genetic impoverishment.

What is being done to protect them?

This species is under strong protection throughout the European Union. It is forbidden to catch or kill them. Any catteries that have snakes and offspring must prove that the offspring were raised in captivity and not taken from their natural habitat.

There are also special development measures for biotopes in numerous forests that are designed specifically for this species. Sunny areas are created in the forests, which are used as a mating place and for sunbathing of reptiles, which in turn significantly increases their birth rate. However, even such serious measures are not enough to ensure the survival of the species on an ongoing basis.

“This summer, it happened that for the first time in my life I was bitten by a snake, and not just any snake or copperhead, but immediately a viper. bitten for thumb right hand. Then I will describe how everything was, by the hour, then by date and with pictures. The bite itself is not very painful, for me, so the wasp bites more painfully. Blood flowed from the wound for 10 minutes.

The poison sucked away as much as it could while the wound was open. After 5 minutes, I felt that my forearm began to go numb and hurt a little, then my shoulder, then my second shoulder. For all 15 minutes. Then the second shoulder let go. I felt a little dizzy, but I attributed it to excitement, it went away in just a minute. After half an hour, the brush began to noticeably swell at the site of the bite. Removed all rings and bracelets. Another half an hour and I would have had to cut it.

+ 45 minutes from viper bite

An hour later, the hand swelled up completely and the tumor went higher on the forearm.

+ 1 hour 20 minutes

Leads the head a little, but not critical.

+ 2 hours

Volokolamsk, Central District Hospital - injected prednisolone intramuscularly 2 ampoules (2 ml). They don't have anything else for that. They offered to go to the hospital with them. Refused. I could only sign the waiver with a cross. I could not hold the pen - the fingers do not bend as they should.

Volokolamsk Central District Hospital

We're going to Moscow. The head is slightly spinning, if you do not spin and do not get on the bumps, it is quite normal to rulitsya.

+ 4 hours

The emergency room of a polyclinic in Moscow, about 4 hours after the bite. The hand turns blue slowly. An ambulance was called from the emergency room, which took him to the toxicological department of Sklif. On the way, they dripped one dropper.

One thing can be said about the department of acute poisoning for the mentally ill (this is where all adults with snakebites in Moscow go) one thing can be said: it is the only one in all of Moscow and it is there that everyone with squirrels and overdoses ends up. So it's not boring for sure.

Everything is taken away upon admission. The phone cannot be used. If you had any valuable things, they are handed over for collection against an inventory. At the checkout, everything was returned to me to the penny. But those who get here in an unconscious state, as a rule, are very surprised by the lack of money, keys, etc.

They immediately rolled in 3 more droppers, antibiotics and, apparently, serum. By morning, the swelling began to subside, leaving in its place bruises along the veins and in places where there are more muscles.

+ 1 day

By the end of the second day, the edema subsided completely, there was a bruise on the entire right arm. Squeezing something with your right hand is almost impossible.

+ 1 day. There was a bruise at night

She was released from the hospital on the third day. Next to him lay a man with a bite in his leg. He had been lying here for a week, and he was left to be treated further.

The viper's venom had such a powerful effect on his body that the skin on his leg burst from the tumor.

Discharged with adventure. They didn’t bring my things, but since I was bitten, and not a drug addict, and entered in clothes, which, in fact, is rare in this department, they sent me to another building with a note. Because of the wild heat, I went home in a T-shirt. Epic: T-shirt, tights and a hand pierced with needles. The doctors said that "nothing, everything will be ok - you have an extract from us with you, show the peeps if anything." Considering where the extract is from, the statement is controversial.

On the third day, in the evening, the injection site of the serum ached, as the surgeon said in the clinic in the morning, this is normal and for a long time. I was not mistaken ... It hurt for about a week. Home treatment was prescribed as follows:

  • ointment liaton - on the whole arm if possible (I smeared before going to bed);
  • aspirin ACC - according to the instructions.

+ 3 nights

The whole arm is one big bruise. It's not like saying hello - holding something hurts.

Droppers left traces

Being a symbol of wisdom in the legends and tales of various cultures, the snake traditionally represents both a sophisticated mind and excellent insight, as well as speed of reaction with great striking power. The lifestyle and habits of the most common of the poisonous snakes in middle lane Russia - the common viper - is confirmed by the established image of this reptile.

Common viper: what is it?

Let's start our acquaintance with this very unusual snake with its description. What does a viper look like? This is a reptile, reaching a length of 0.7-1 m. Males are usually smaller than females. The viper's head is quite elegant, rounded-triangular with clearly defined scutes - two parietal and one frontal. The nasal opening is in the center of the anterior shield. The pupil is vertical. Teeth - movable tubular, located in front of the upper jaw. A clear delineation of the head and neck adds grace to this graceful and dangerous creature.

snake coloring

Nature did not stint on colors, painting the viper. The many shades of color of the snake are striking: the gray or sandy-brown back of almost every individual is dotted with bizarre patterns of various tones - from light blue, greenish, pink and lilac to terracotta, ash and dark brown. It is impossible to determine the dominant color, since there are as many color options for the viper as there are individuals. But distinctive feature of this type is a zigzag or even stripe stretching along the entire back. Usually it is darker, but there are exceptions. Sometimes there are snakes with a light stripe
on dark background. One way or another, but this element is a kind of visiting card of the animal, warning about its belonging to a very dangerous look- common viper.

There is an interesting pattern: males are purple, gray or bluish-blue cold color. Females, on the contrary, are much brighter decorated; they have red, yellow, greenish-brown and delicate sand tones in their arsenal. True, both sexes can wear black. Moreover, they can be exactly the same color, without any identification stripes. However, you can still distinguish them by looking closely: males have small white spots on upper lip, and the bottom of the tail is also lightened. Females have red, pink and white speckles on their lips and throat, and Bottom part the tail is bright yellow.

Diversity colors the color of the snakes is striking, and the more surprising is the fact that viper cubs are born entirely brown-brown in color with a terracotta zigzag on the back, and the change skin begins no earlier than 5-7 molts, that is, almost a year after birth.

Snakes and vipers: similarities

Scientific studies of past years show that the main difference between these two species is the habitat. The snakes have always lived next to a person, not being afraid of such a neighborhood. Vipers, on the other hand, have never sought to communicate with people. Moreover, if people settled near the habitats of snakes, the outcome for these animals was natural. Currently due to changes natural conditions and man-made disasters have changed a lot. For example, massive fires drive vipers out of their usual places. Cases of snakes in gardening associations located near burnt forests have increased significantly. Of course, the appearance of reptiles in crowded places cannot be explained by a change in the snake worldview. Often they simply have nowhere to go, and the differences between snakes and vipers become similarities imposed by circumstances.

Snakes and Vipers: Differences

There are external differences between these species. The most important is the presence of orange-yellow spots on the sides of the head. The coloring also varies - the snakes do not have a zigzag pattern on the back. His body is more elongated from head to tail, by the way, quite long. The viper's tail is short, sharply tapering.

They differ in the shape of the head and eye pupils. The head of the viper is covered with small shields, in snakes they are large. The pupils of the viper are vertical, characteristic of a nocturnal reptile. Already - a lover of daytime vigils, and his pupils are round. For a person who knows what a viper looks like, it will not be difficult to distinguish these animals.

Lifestyle of snakes

Leading a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle, snakes can be active during the day. They can calmly bask in the sun, having chosen stones, large bumps, and even clearings. Night is hunting time. The gray viper (common) is a great hunter. Quick reaction, accuracy and suddenness of the attack leave no chance for mice and frogs that fall into her field of vision.

These reptiles mate from mid-May to early June. Being ovoviviparous, vipers bear offspring until mid-late August. Cubs are born already poisonous small snakes up to 15-18 cm long.

Behavior and habits

Immediately after birth, the babies are released from the egg shell and spread. The growth of young vipers is accompanied by constant molting. Having made the transition to an independent life, they feed on various insects, and as they grow older, they begin to hunt small birds, field mice, lizards, toads and frogs. In turn, the young become a victim of large birds of prey and animals. But after 2-3 years, the cubs look the same as the viper looks, that is, a completely adult individual.

Snakes spend winter in the soil, burrowing to a depth below the freezing layer. They climb into mole and vole burrows, tree root grooves, deep rock crevices, and other suitable hiding places. Often there are clusters of small groups in one place. This is how they survive the cold. Quite severe winters cause snakes to become numb, which lasts up to six months. The life expectancy of vipers is about 10-15 years.

steppe viper

Dwelling in Southern Europe the steppe viper - a resident of the plains and mountain steppes - is found in Greece, Italy, France and many other European countries, as well as in Altai, Kazakhstan and the Caucasus. This amazing snake can climb mountains to a height of up to 2.5 thousand meters above sea level. What does the steppe viper look like?

She represents large snake up to 0.7 m long. It is distinguished by a slightly elongated head and somewhat raised edges of the muzzle. The back of the viper is painted in brown-gray tones, with a light transition to the middle, decorated with a black or brown zigzag-stripe along the ridge, sometimes divided into spots. The sides of the body are decorated with a row of vague dark spots, and the upper part of the head is decorated with a black pattern. The abdomen is gray, with light patches. The maximum density of distribution of the viper is observed on the steppe plains (up to 6-7 individuals per hectare).

reproduction

Plain vipers are most active from late March - early April to October. Mating time is April-May. The term of bearing offspring is 3-4 months. The female lays from 4 to 24 eggs, from which in July-August babies appear 10-12 cm long and weighing 3.5 g each. Having reached a body length of 28-30 cm (as a rule, three years after birth), the cubs become sexually mature. Slow on land, the snake is an excellent swimmer, can climb low bushes and trees with amazing speed. Being a great hunter, the steppe viper hunts down birds, mice, does not disdain lizards, grasshoppers and locusts.

In the recent past, the steppe viper was used to obtain snake venom, but barbaric extermination led to a sharp reduction in its numbers, which stopped this fishery. Today in all European countries This species, as endangered, is under the protection of the Berne Convention.

swamp viper

Russell's viper, chain, or swamp viper is considered the most dangerous of the whole family. This species is found in vast areas of Central and South-East Asia. The average length of this snake is 1.2 m, but occasionally there are individuals whose dimensions exceed the mark of one and a half meters.

The head has a somewhat flattened triangular shape. Large eyes are speckled with golden veins. Large fangs, reaching 1.6 cm, are a serious threat and excellent protection for the reptile. The back is rough, covered with scales, the belly is smooth.

In body color swamp viper grey-brown or dirty yellow tones predominate. The back and sides are adorned with rich dark brown spots, surrounded by a black ring with a bright yellow or white outer rim. Up to 25-30 such elements can be located on the back, increasing as the snake grows. The number of spots on the sides may vary, sometimes they merge into a continuous line. On the sides of the head there are also dark stains in the shape of the letter V.

Behavior, nutrition and reproduction of swamp vipers

Ovoviviparous Russell's vipers mate at the beginning of the year. Duration
gestation is 6.5 months. The appearance of cubs, as a rule, occurs in June-July. In one litter, there are up to 40 or more baby reptiles with a body length of 2 to 2.6 cm. Immediately after birth, the first molt occurs. Cubs reach sexual maturity at the age of two or three.

As the most venomous snake found in the Asian region, the chain viper is a dangerous nocturnal predator. She crawls out to hunt as soon as the sun disappears below the horizon. The diet of the swamp viper does not differ from the menu of other representatives of the class and consists of rodents, frogs, birds, scorpions and lizards. For humans, this snake is a mortal danger.

Encounters with snakes

As already mentioned, the viper is a venomous snake. You need to remember this when going to the forest. True, a meeting with a person is never included in the plans of this creature, as a rule, it tries to hide as soon as it hears a threatening noise. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to avoid unforeseen contacts during walks in the forest, picking mushrooms and berries, in swamps, during gardening.

Feeling threatened, the viper actively defends itself: hisses, rushes forward menacingly and makes dangerous bites. Remember: when meeting with a snake, it is strictly forbidden to make sudden movements so as not to provoke an attack by a reptile!

To avoid such an unpleasant encounter, extreme caution must be exercised when walking through forest areas where a viper can live. A photo of this representative of the animal world should be carefully studied by each person.

When visiting places of possible encounters with these reptiles, you must have the appropriate equipment. Reliably protect against snake bites high rubber boots worn over woolen socks; tight trousers tucked into shoes. It is good to have a long stick with you, which will help you look for mushrooms and scare the snake. Most likely, she will crawl away. It will not be superfluous to tap with a stick when moving along the path. Vipers are deaf, but are able to perceive the slightest vibration of the soil. Only a soft peat cover or fresh arable land does not allow the snake to recognize the approach of a person in time. As a general rule, snake bites are not an expression of aggression, but rather a reaction to unexpected or frightening anxiety.

Probably, folk tales and the legends that tell about such an amazing creature as a viper (a description of some species is presented in the article) are absolutely right: natural wisdom and endurance help these reptiles survive.

Ecology of life: The classic Russian representative of the family is the common viper (Vipera berus). Distributed throughout the forest zone of Europe and Asia, in fact, "from the taiga to the British seas." What should be done when meeting with a viper and what actions should be taken when bitten by a reptile, says medical journalist and writing physician Alexei Vodovozov.

The classic Russian representative of the family is the common viper (Vipera berus). Distributed throughout the forest zone of Europe and Asia, in fact, "from the taiga to the British seas." What should be done when meeting with a viper and what actions should be taken when bitten by a reptile, says medical journalist and writing physician Alexei Vodovozov.

Firestarter

Vipers form an independent family, Viperidae. They are called both viper and viper, but more often they are just vipers. Sometimes using the construction "Oh, bl *, viper!".

Vipers live almost everywhere, with the exception of Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland (thanks to St. Patrick;)), Madagascar, Hawaii and the Far North. Though it strongly depends on what classification to adhere to. If it is considered more modern and advanced, then we cross out the whole New World, and write Australia back.

This family is considered one of the youngest, and therefore has absorbed all the best in the course of natural selection. The head of vipers resembles the tip of a spear, the shields covering the head are small and practically do not differ from those on the body (unlike asps, say). The eyes are small, a small ridge usually protrudes above the eyes.

The head is separated from the body by a sharp neck interception, the body is short and thick, sharply tapering towards the posterior end and passes into a short, blunt tail.

The poisonous apparatus of vipers can be called perfect. If you remember, in asps, poisonous teeth are not removed anywhere, they are fixed at a certain angle (because of this, they can often break). Vipers, on the other hand, have learned to press them against the palate, sheathing them with their points back. Thanks to this feature, some representatives of the family have grown 4-centimeter teeth.

During the throw, the vipers can open their mouths to almost 180 °, the weapon is uncovered, its ends are directed forward, pierce the victim's body, and poison is injected through the poisonous ducts.

Another difference from asps: no nobility. Vipers will not warn of their presence by adopting demonstrative poses and hissing loudly. They will try to slip away quietly. If it doesn't work, they will bite. If your leg is next to a sleeping viper, then, upon waking up, it will bite first, and then it will figure out what it was.

In spring, vipers are more dangerous. Firstly, the poison at this time of the year is most toxic for them, and secondly, the period of mating and nesting begins. IN warm time vipers are active mainly at dusk, and during the day they either sleep in their burrows or bask in the sun.

Features of the national poison

With slight variations, the venom in all vipers is primarily hemo- and cytotoxic. That is, it destroys blood and tissues. This happens because the composition of the poison includes a large number of high-molecular protease enzymes. Such toxins are called necrotizing.

There are practically no neurotoxins in the composition of viper venom, so the symptoms of damage nervous system not seen in the clinic. But there are enough local manifestations and surprises from the cardiovascular system.

In the first minutes, nothing seems to happen at the site of the bite. But it only seems. In fact, the vicious viper enzymes are already in full swing dismantling everything that comes their way. After 10-15 minutes, this is manifested by swelling and redness. Within a few hours, the swelling covers the entire limb, and then it can spread to part of the body. In severe cases, blisters with hemorrhagic (bloody) contents appear at the site of the bite.

In the future, signs of necrosis and deep long-term non-healing wounds appear at the site of the blisters. And the bitten can begin to turn into a mummy. Especially if he was bitten in the brush. Fingers can dry out and decrease in size (mummify).

Simultaneously with the increase in edema, pain occurs in the affected limb, which after 10-15 hours turns into PAIN. And for about 10 hours the patient walks along the walls, remembers all the snake relatives with a kindly quiet word and promises to unscrew the head of the doctors who do not want to alleviate his suffering. What do you do if his arm or leg is actually digested alive? By the way, after the bite of some types of vipers, PAIN occurs almost immediately, and what it grows into later is better not to try to imagine.

Vipers - on average in terms of livestock - produce less poison than, say, asps or pit vipers. Therefore, there are significantly fewer deaths from their bites. And most poisonings are mild.

In mild cases, the reaction to receiving a dose of viper venom is limited to a slight swelling at the site of the bite, minor pain and redness. It goes away on its own with no side effects.

But in moderate and severe cases, at first there is a short period of excitement with the shouting of the already mentioned construction “Oh, bl *, viper!”. Excitation is replaced by apathy and drowsiness. Dryness and bitter taste of tears are felt in the mouth. Exit a large number fluid from the vascular bed and expansion of capillaries cause a fall blood pressure. The pulse quickens, there is weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath. In severe cases, collapse can be observed. The functions of the liver and kidneys are impaired, moist rales (congestion) appear in the lungs, and the temperature may rise.

The greatest number of deaths occurs in the first three days of poisoning. The main causes are shock of mixed genesis and DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation). However, there are chances to get away from complications to a better world at a later date.

Viper venom is also used for peaceful purposes. So, on its basis, viprosal and vipratox ointments are prepared, which are used for articular pathology, sciatica and other problems with the musculoskeletal system.

Save-help!

As in all other cases, antidote therapy is the most effective. If a specific serum is introduced to the victim in the shortest possible time, the action of which is directed to the poison of a particular viper, he will get off with only a slight fright. Of the "viper" sera on the territory of the Russian Federation, Antigadyuka, Antigyurza and Antiefa come across. The second and third - less and less. Because with the loss of the RF Central Asia as a region of residence of the Gyurza and Efa, the relevance of serums against their poison for Russians is also lost.

In the case of vipers, the serum must be injected within the first 30 minutes. Well, an hour is the maximum. When administered after a few hours, its effectiveness will drop significantly, and later it is generally pointless to inject.

What to do if there is no serum at hand? As usual - suck. Well, that is to suck. I. From the wound. Better with a special tool. Because a person with a perfectly healthy mouth is sometimes harder to find than serum. And in the case of vipers, the requirements for the integrity of the teeth and oral mucosa are especially relevant. Sucking only makes sense for the first 10 minutes.

Do not apply a tourniquet! In no case. The poison is necrotizing, remember? The case will end with the fact that the arm or leg will have to be amputated. At the level of the 2nd cervical vertebra.

What needs to be done is to lay the victim so that the head is below the level of the legs. This will keep the cerebral circulation at a more or less acceptable level.

The spread of the poison occurs mainly through the lymphatic vessels and increases with muscle contractions. This means that you need to immobilize the bitten limb, as in fractures (the rule of two joints). Ideally, you need to immobilize the victim himself, give him a plentiful warm and sweet drink (hot tea is fine). No alcohol. Unless the witnesses of the incident, so as not to climb with clumsy attempts at first aid.

It is also not necessary to make incisions and cauterization, I remind you once again - the poison is necrotic, and so the damage is large-scale. There is no need to exacerbate the picture.

Bloodletting is also not necessary. Poison in the systemic circulation is negligible. Yes, and with blood there, problems begin, as I already wrote. And even more bleeding will not lead to anything good.

The sooner the bitten gets to the hospital, the better. If the bitten snake was punished right at the scene of the crime, its corpse, which has not yet cooled down, should be taken with you. In this way, you will facilitate the identification of the serum that should be used in this particular case.

Not breathe!

Prevention of viper bites, in general, comes down to the same simple rule - do not pester snakes. But, as we have already found out, vipers are not particularly in a hurry to warn of their presence. So, we ourselves will have to take some precautions.

If we go to the forest, we put on high boots. The vast majority of bites occur precisely in the legs when the viper steps on the tail or enters the nesting territory. Well, or she's just too lazy to crawl away. Unlike the cobra, the viper cannot perform high throws, its maximum is the shin.

For the night it is better to stop on a hill with sparse and low vegetation, away from various holes, rocks and glacial boulders. We do not leave the tents open from the bottom, before getting into the sleeping bag we check if the viper's wife has warmed up there. There were cases when a tourist wakes up in the morning, and next to her is a snake. It is not recommended to yell and make sudden movements in such cases, bites in the neck are much more difficult.

Well, before climbing into unfamiliar bushes, reeds, crevices or burrows, it is better to first poke around there with a long stick. What to do if, for example, a bear jumps out of there - I don’t know, this is for traumatologists;)

Show me your face

common viper

The classic Russian representative of the family is the common viper (Vipera berus). Distributed throughout the forest zone of Europe and Asia, in fact, "from the taiga to the British seas." The length is usually no more than 75 cm, the color is from blue-gray to black. A dark zigzag runs along the back, which is usually clearly visible. Mortality with her bites does not exceed 0.5 percent, and even then, if no help is provided at all, none.

steppe viper

In the Astrakhan and Volgograd regions, and indeed along all the shores of the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea, a slightly smaller and lighter in color steppe viper (Vipera ursinii) lives.

Gyurza

Vipera lebetina, or gyurza, is one of the largest and dangerous vipers. The length of some individuals reaches 1.6 meters. The coloration is the most varied, mainly with a predominantly brown background, along which darker spots run.

Distributed on the Mediterranean coast of Africa, in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Northwest India, in the Caucasus and in the southern regions of Central Asia. It lives in dry foothills, in reeds, along cliffs and in river valleys.

Willingly grazes along irrigation canals, on cultivated lands and on the outskirts of villages. Able to climb trees for birds. When a person approaches, it calms down and harbors anger, with a further approach, it attacks and tries to devour it with a growl. Without assistance, the mortality rate is about 10 percent.

sand efa

Among the desert vipers, the sand efa is perhaps the most common ( Echis carinatus). A small snake 56-60 cm long with a very peculiar way of moving. She lives in the deserts and semi-deserts of North Africa and South Asia from Tunisia to India and Sri Lanka. Does not occur in Russia, lives on the territory of the former Soviet Union on the southern coast Aral Sea, as well as on east coast Caspian up to the famous Kara-Bogaz-Gol.

In the most typical cases, it is painted in a gray-sandy color, lighter zigzags run along the border of the back and sides, trimmed with a dark one below. On the head is a cross. Well, or something close to it.

It moves along the sand with a very unusual and very fast “lateral” move. Able to "sink" in the sand, that is, instantly dig in, pushing the grains of sand with almost imperceptible transverse movements of the body. Quite toxic, lethality in the absence of care reaches 6 percent.

Chain viper, or daboia (Vipera russelli). Large and dangerous snake. Distributed throughout South and Southeast Asia, Taiwan, East Java, Sri Lanka and many other islands in the region. The length is up to 1.5 meters, the color is spotty, the main background is brownish or gray. There is something like an arrow on the head, light stripes go from the eyes to the corners of the mouth. In general, painted like an Indian before a fight.

One of the few vipers that hisses very loudly when approached. If the warning was not heeded, it is capable of throwing off the ground and flying a distance equal to the length of its body, that is, up to one and a half meters. The poison is highly toxic to humans, and the daboia introduces it quite a lot when bitten. Therefore, mortality without treatment reaches 15 percent. It is believed that it is this beast that accounts for most of all snake bites recorded in India and Indochina.

Noisy viper (Bitis arietans). A representative of the beautiful, but, stsuko, dangerous genus Bitis, which lives throughout Africa, excluding the northern coast.

Up to one and a half meters long, with a bright spotted color, feature- yellow crescent stripes all over the back. Two wide light stripes run from the eyes to the temples, connected by a light transverse line.

It lives in all landscapes, except for frank tropics and frank deserts. It leads a nocturnal lifestyle, during the day it is lethargic and phlegmatic. If she is awakened, she becomes indignant, inflates her body and hisses loudly. For which they were called noisy.

It bites not weakly, however, for this you need to anger it in order, for example, unwind it, holding it by the tail. The teeth reach a length of 3 cm, so that the poison is injected deep enough into the tissues. Mortality without assistance ranges between 15 and 50 percent.

Tree vipers of the genus Atheris also deserve special mention. Small, agile, agile snakes adapted to life in trees. They live in Central Africa. They are painted in various shades of green with yellow spots, thanks to which they are well camouflaged in the foliage.

They bite without getting off the branches, respectively, they fall into the upper body, and such poisonings are always difficult and with many complications.

Serum

In the Russian Federation, it is still produced, at least by NPO Microgen, which produces it, there is a license until October 2010. Hope it continues further.

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