This snake has a short name, like an exhalation: efa. She is known everywhere in Central Asia, in the valleys and foothills, she met so often that it seemed to people that the efa was pursuing them.

In fact, this snake is most afraid of people, and when they approach, it makes sounds similar to those that we hear when sharpening knives on a grindstone. It is not for nothing that in Uzbekistan the efu is called "charh iyylon" - which means in literal translation - a noisy snake. With these actions, the efa resembles a cobra, which raises its head and stands up in a threatening stance to stop the ill-wisher.

The most incredible tales are told about efe, especially about its potent poison. Like, from her bite a person immediately dies, and if he doesn’t die, then he remains crippled forever. However, there is some truth in these stories. Indeed, the bite of an efa for a person can be fatal, and there were many cases that if a person did not die, then for a long time sick. That is why in the past, sending travelers to long way, advised to stay away from the formidable ef. However, those terrible times have long since sunk into oblivion, and the efu is now as difficult to meet as many other snakes, most of which are on the verge of extinction. Today, travelers travel more often by car, even getting to places where it is impossible to drive.

Efa is a medium-sized snake, its length can reach 70-76 centimeters. For comparison: a gyurza can be 150 cm, a slightly smaller cobra - up to 130. But unlike the gyurza and cobra, the efa is beautiful and spectacular. The side of the snake is decorated with a light zigzag stripe, its whole body is covered with white spots, and on the head there is a kind of cross-mark, which distinguishes the efu from its other brethren. I have often heard that evil people used efu to eliminate their enemies. But the ephs have long shunned people, and they never come close to buildings, they crawl away as soon as they hear a person. And then - the efa never attacks, it will certainly warn the uninvited traveler with its rustling, and it can bite only when a person steps on it.

Efa with her behavior, lifestyle is not like any other snake. I myself have had to deal with it more than once in a variety of circumstances.

In the Sumbar valley near the village of Gerkez, we were on an expedition, the purpose of which was to study reptiles during hibernation. So, on one of the warm January days - and here, in the Turkmen subtropics, they are not uncommon - a local boy came running and said that he had seen a snake wedding. We did not believe him: despite the warm weather, snakes, as a rule, do not wake up from hibernation. But I knew that efs were an exception. For the winter, they do not hide deep, but in warm weather they can crawl out. But for snakes to mate in January... Unlikely. Nevertheless, we hurried after the boy. And, indeed, we saw: a snake ball, like a kind of creature, moved among the dry stalks of grass. I was not mistaken: they were ephs, they did not pay any attention to us, at such moments almost all creatures lose their caution.

In India it is called "wound", in Afghanistan and Pakistan - "Pashto", in Uzbekistan - "boiling snake". But, regardless of the name, sand efa (lat. Echis carinatus ) causes fear wherever it appears. Its bite is fatal for one in five, and those who managed to survive cannot be called "lucky": efa's poison leads to kidney problems that bother the victim for the rest of his life.

This poisonous snake is found in Central Asia and North Africa. On the territory of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan lives the Central Asian efa (lat. Echis carinatus multisquamatus) - a subspecies of the sand efa, which is sometimes considered as separate view. Prefers hilly sands with thickets of saxaul, river cliffs and abandoned dwellings.

But he doesn’t like to get close to human habitation. Attacks only when the person himself disturbs her. Protecting himself and his offspring, he acts with lightning speed, putting all his strength and rage into the throw. By the way, she can jump to a height of up to half of her body, so it is not recommended to approach her closer than 2-3 meters.

The sand efa warns the enemy about its attack not with a hiss, but with a loud rustling sound that it makes when the jagged side scales are rubbed. The sound itself resembles the crackling of hot oil in a frying pan, for which it was nicknamed the "boiling" or "noisy" snake.

The method of movement of the sand efa is also interesting. It moves sideways, first throwing its head to the side, then moving the back of the body to the side and slightly forward, and finally pulling up the rest of the body. So it is much easier for her to find support on unstable sandy soil. After such a movement, separate oblique strips with hooked ends remain on the sand.

The sand efa moves quite quickly. In general, this is a nimble and agile reptile that does not like to lie on a stone for a long time, like its other relatives. It is because of this that her diet includes mobile and small inhabitants of the desert: small rodents, frogs, lizards, toads and small snakes of other species. Young people are content with scolopaedras, scorpions, locusts and very small lizards.

The sand efa hunts both during the day and at night. In the heat, it hides, crawling out of shelters only at sunset. During the rest of the year, it prefers to search for prey during daylight hours. It may not hibernate if the winters are warm enough. In this case, mating begins in January, and in March, young snakes are born. If the winters are cold, then the breeding season shifts by a couple of months.

It is curious that this snake does not lay eggs, but immediately gives birth to from 3 to 16 snakes, 10-16 cm long. The sandy efa shows itself to be a caring mother, therefore it will bite anyone who dares to approach her brood.

Young snakes grow rapidly, reaching a length of 50-60 cm (maximum 75 cm) by adulthood. At the same time, males are slightly larger than females. The body of adult snakes of both sexes is golden-sandy in color with large white spots along the entire length. A zigzag pattern is clearly visible on the side of the body. The bottom is light yellow, and the head is decorated with a kind of cross. Probably to remind: stay away from me!

We present you the top 10 most poisonous snakes on the planet. Snakes can be found anywhere, from the forests and steppes of Russia to Australian deserts and African tropics. According to statistics, snake bites cause about 125,000 deaths per year worldwide.

The good news is that the chances of dying from a snakebite are minuscule compared to the risk of dying from cancer, heart disease, or a car accident. Bad news: Being bitten by a snake is a very painful way to die. Those who were lucky enough to survive described various eerie symptoms, such as the inability to breathe normally, numbness of the limbs, and failure of various organs. And although doctors have developed many antidotes, the cure still needs to be obtained. However, even the most poisonous snake in the world does not sleep at all and sees how to bite a person. Usually these creatures want to be left alone. And it is better to fulfill this desire if you value your life.

10. Kaisaka, she is a labarium (Bothrops atrox) - a lethal dose of poison 50 mg

For the yellow coloration of the chin of this representative pit snakes from the family of vipers is also called the "yellow beard". Kaisaka is an aggressive creature that often crawls into human habitation. Found in Central America and tropical South America. The poison of this snake acts very quickly, a fatal outcome occurs within a few minutes. Often the victims of labaria are coffee and banana plantation workers.

9. Black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) - 10-15 mg

The snake, which is sometimes called the "black mouth", it is also a black mamba inhabits the savannas and woodlands of tropical Africa and can often be found near termite mounds. The body color varies from gray to dark brown, and the name of the reptile comes from the black cavity of the mouth, this can be seen in the photo with the attacking mamba. The black mamba is a fast snake that has an extremely potent venom containing a toxic mixture of neurotoxin and cardiotoxin. It kills most victims, including a human, in 20 minutes. Despite its aggressive reputation, the mamba does not attack a person first and only attacks when it is cornered or taken by surprise. And mamba is the most long view venomous snake in Africa and the second longest in the world.

8. Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) - lethal dose 10-12 mg

The most beautiful snake from the already-shaped family lives in Sub-Saharan Africa and hunts by expanding the front of its body. Usually it hangs motionless on a tree or bush, imitating a branch with its shape. For this, the Dutch settlers called it the "tree snake" (boom - tree, slang - snake). Boomslang injects poison while chewing its prey, because its teeth are located almost in the middle of the mouth, and not at its beginning, like other representatives of the ranking of the most poisonous snakes in the world. Its venom is dominated not by a neurotoxin, but by a hemotoxin, which causes the destruction of red blood cells. Boomslang is a very shy snake and, thanks to its good eyesight, is able to avoid meeting a person in a timely manner. However, if you grab her, a bite is inevitable. So from the boomslang in 1957, the famous herpentologist and zoologist Carl Paterson Schmidt died.

7. King Cobra (Ophiophagus Hannah) - 7mg

It is the longest venomous snake on Earth. Most individuals reach a length of 3-4 meters, and there are also 5.6-meter giants. The poison of the queen snake is so dangerous that it can kill an elephant in just a few hours. 15 minutes is enough for a person. Fortunately for humans, the cobra prefers not to waste its main weapon and does not bite without warning. She can bite and “idle”, without injecting poison or releasing a minimal amount of it.

lives King Cobra V tropical forests South and South-East Asia, and prefers to hunt rat snakes. She does not disdain poisonous "colleagues".

6. Taipan (Oxyuranus) - 5 mg

On the sixth place of the snake hit parade is the most dangerous snake in Australia and one of the most poisonous creatures on Earth. If you've ever heard the expression "careful, you're dealing with a sensitive, excitable bastard," then it fits perfectly to characterize the taipan. Any movement near this nervous reptile is likely to provoke an attack. Taipan venom contains a neurotoxin that works by paralyzing the victim's muscles, which in turn leads to respiratory arrest. Without an antidote, a taipan bite always ends in death. The bitten person has approximately 30 minutes to get to the hospital.

5. Sand efa (Echis carinatus) - 5 mg

About 5 mg of poison is enough to kill a person. This is perhaps the most dangerous and deadly snake on our list, as scientists believe that in its habitat, the sand epha has killed more people than other snake species combined. The poisonous reptile is so mobile and aggressive that it bites several times. Efs are not afraid of people, they often crawl into dwellings, basements and utility rooms in search of food. Those who survived an efa attack may develop kidney problems due to defects in blood coagulation.

4. Harlequin Asp (Micrurus fulvius) - 4 mg

The brightly colored Mother Nature snake is found in the southeastern United States and northeastern Mexico. This is the only snake in North America, which lays eggs, but does not give birth to cubs. This poisonous handsome man prefers not to attack people, but if he really had to, he attacks with lightning speed and without help the death of the victim occurs within 20 hours. Therefore, it is better to admire them on video and never meet in life.

3. Indian krait (Bungarus caeruleus) - 2.5 mg

These small reptiles and their relative the banded krait (Bungarus multicinctus) are responsible for thousands of deaths each year across South Asia. In their range from Pakistan to India to Sri Lanka, kraits often crawl into houses to prey on rodents and often bite people while they sleep. The bite of this snake causes paralysis of the facial muscles, and sometimes the entire body. Death from respiratory failure can occur after 1-6 hours if antivenom is not given.

2. Tiger snake (Notechis scutatus) - fatal dose of 1.5 mg

It lives on the southern outskirts of Australia and the nearby islands of the region. As this vicious, venomous predator prepares to strike, it arches its head and neck in the manner of Asian and African cobras. Tiger snakes are very aggressive and kill more people in Australia than any other snake on this continent.

1. Nasal enhydrin (Enhydrina schistosa) - 1.5 mg

Although the question of which snake is the most venomous is controversial, enhydrina is often regarded as the deadliest of all.

This reptile is known not only as extremely poisonous, but also as very aggressive. This type of sea snake is responsible for more than 50% of the attacks of all sea ​​snakes per person and is responsible for about 90% of all deaths caused by sea snake bites.

Most sea snakes are venomous, so if you see one in the water, swim away!

Fortunately, none of the top 10 most venomous snakes are found in the Russian Federation. The most poisonous snake in Russia is the Viper, which is also one of the most common. Guaranteed poisonous dose - 40-50 mg. The number of deaths is so small that scientists have not yet been able to determine a more accurate dosage.

Sand ephs are venomous snakes that are among the most dangerous reptiles on the planet. Efa's bite is fatal to humans. Also, one of the features of this type of snake is that they are not at all afraid to use their sharp and poisonous teeth against opponents that are many times larger.

The sandy efa belongs to the order of scaly snakes (viper family). The optimal conditions for this reptile to live is a rather arid climate, which is confirmed by its distribution area ( African deserts and wastelands southern regions Asia).

Appearance

The climate features in the area in which the sandy efa lives influenced not only its behavior, but also appearance. The main body colors of this very dangerous reptile- light, often with a characteristic golden hue. An intricate zigzag dark pattern stretches along the entire length of the snake, contrasting quite strongly with the light coloring of the snake. It should also be noted that the entire surface of the snake skin is covered with scales, with a characteristic ribbed structure that helps this poisonous snake to regulate temperature, which is important in living conditions in arid climates.

Although the efa is a dangerous sandy predator, this snake has a rather modest size, for example, the length indicators of even the largest individuals do not exceed 800 mm. Nevertheless, such small sizes are quite justified, which is explained by the fact that representatives of this species exist in conditions with rather limited natural resources.

Habitat

Efs are quite active snakes, rarely staying in one place for a long time, therefore these reptiles are often found both in the open desert and in areas characterized by a predominance of a stone or steppe landscape. However, the favorite habitat of this snake species is dense vegetation and shrubs, which allows the reptile to quickly hide from prying eyes. In addition, an area characterized by an abundance of vegetation is more attractive for the efa as a feeding area.

Who is the snake preying on?

Like most species of the viper family, the sand efa, in fact, is a born hunter, deftly extracting the prey necessary for food. The main diet of this reptile is insects, which are easiest to catch. The larger inhabitants of the animal world are not so attractive to the efa as prey, the main reason for this is the too modest size of the snake. However, this does not mean that the efa is not capable of killing them - the poison of this creeping predator can almost instantly kill an adult horse. Therefore, if the efa hunts animals, then in this case various small rodents become its prey.

Behavioral Features


Efa, as mentioned above, is a rather active snake that can hunt both day and night, which, in fact, distinguishes this reptile from related species who prefer to divide the daily cycle into periods involving rest and hunting. At the same time, efa does not lose its activity even after a hearty meal.

Another feature of the efa is that this reptile does not hibernate, this is mainly due to climatic conditions the area in which this reptile lives and which do not actually affect the metabolism of the creeping reptile. However, if a severe enough drop in temperature occurs, the snake will usually stop traveling and take refuge in some small crevice among the rocks.

reproduction

One of the notable features of such a reptile as the sand efa is that this species snakes produce live offspring. Start mating season from mid-winter to early spring. The duration of gestation of future offspring is about 30 days, so young efa individuals are born by the middle of spring. More than a dozen serpents are born at a time, which immediately after birth can not only move independently, but also look for food necessary for nutrition.

Human danger

Efa is one of the most dangerous snakes on earth and, accordingly, its bite poses a huge threat to human life. Professional medical care not provided in a timely manner, as a rule, leads to death. At the same time, the victim often experiences quite severe pain and anguish after being bitten by a reptile, which is explained by the presence of toxins in the venom that destroy blood cells.

Video: sand efa (Echis carinatus)

Where they live: Northeast Australia

Length: 3.5 meters

The strength of the poison is such that one bite can kill about 100 adults or 250,000 mice. The maximum dose (per bite) is 100 mg.

The history of the study of taipan is associated with many dramatic events. For a very long time, people could not get this snake, and all the information of scientists was based only on the legends of local residents about it.

The taipan was first described from a single specimen in 1867. In the next 56 years, no new information about this snake has been added. However, at that time there was an urgent need to develop an antidote. After all, more than 80 people died every year in Australia from the poison of the taipan.

Finally, on June 28, 1950, a young hunter from Sydney, Kevin Baden, set off in search of this snake. He found a taipan, but when the catcher took the snake in his hands, she was able to dodge and bite his finger. Baden died, but the snake was nevertheless taken to the research center.

Mulga (Pseudechis australis) - Brown king

Location: Australia

Length: 2.5 - 3 meters

Mulgi poison is considered very poisonous and is produced in large quantities. In one bite, an average mulga snake can release 150 mg of venom.

Mulga is found throughout almost the entire territory of Australia - the entire northern and most of the western territory of the mainland. They can be found in all states except Victoria and Tasmania. Mulga habitats are forests, meadows, pastures, deserts, deep cracks and abandoned burrows. They do not live in tropical forests.

Mulga feeds on other reptiles: snakes (including poisonous ones), lizards, frogs, as well as birds and mammals. Their body is well adapted to digest other poisonous snakes, their poison is not dangerous for the mulga.

Habitat: Australia, South Asia, islands of the Malay Archipelago

Length: 1.5-2m

One dose is enough to kill 10 people.

Prefers dry places, rich in shelters (burrows, bushes, fallen trees). Very often it crawls onto cultivated lands, into yards, into people's houses. Therefore, there are so many cases of snake attacks on people.

The most common species is the pama or ribbon krait, found in India, southern China, and Burma. Its one and a half meter body is covered with wide alternating yellow and black rings. Its poison is very strong, even a viper dies from the bite of this snake, although vipers are considered susceptible to many types of poison. If you meet a krait during the day, then there is little chance that he will attack. At this time, the snake is extremely lethargic, avoids the sun, seeks shade and moves slowly. If you disturb her, then she usually does not rush, but crawls to the side and curls up into a ring. But at night, kraits are extremely unfriendly, they can attack, even if they are not threatened.

Their poison is very strong. A bitten chicken dies after 15 minutes, and one dose is enough to kill 10 people. The scientist Roussel conducted experiments to find out how the poison of the krait works. A dog bitten by a snake, 10 minutes after the bite, began to twitch the wounded limb and lift it up, but could still stand. After 5 minutes she lay down and began to bark. 25 minutes after the bite, both hind legs were paralyzed. During the second hour, the paralysis worsened: the dog began to breathe heavily and died by the end of that hour.

Since kraits can lead a diurnal lifestyle, and, moreover, they are quite numerous, there are constant meetings of a snake with a person. More often than any other snake, the krait crosses the path of a traveler, penetrates not only into open huts, but even into locked houses, curling up on the threshold of a door, in a corner of a room, in a closet, slips into bedrooms and bathrooms.

Where it lives: Australia, except for the northernmost regions, Tasmania and a number of islands off the southern coast

Length: 1.5-2m

Among all the snakes inhabiting our planet, tiger snakes have the strongest poison. bitten tiger snake small animals die instantly, not even a few seconds pass. And all the poison contained in the glands of one snake is enough to kill 400 people! The venom of the snake affects nervous system victims and paralyzes them. When the poison reaches the nerve centers that control breathing and heartbeat, the victim dies.

Encounter with a tiger snake is very dangerous, although locals reassure tourists. They say that despite the fact that the tiger snake is the most poisonous, it is the most cowardly: it never crawls into houses, does not deliberately throw itself at people and generally tries to stay away from them. Attacks only when defending.

The egg is viviparous and brings abundant offspring - usually up to 72 kites. (There is a known case when 109 embryos were found in a large female at autopsy.

In an excited state, the tiger snake raises the front of the body high, greatly flattening the head and neck. Small animals bitten by a tiger snake die instantly, literally on the spot.

Location: India, South part China, Burma, Siam, Afghanistan, and southern regions Turkmenistan to the Caspian Sea

Length: 1.4-1.81 m

“When the Buddha once wandered the earth and fell asleep under the rays of the midday sun, a cobra appeared, expanded his shield and shielded the face of God from the sun. Satisfied with this, the god promised her extraordinary mercy, but forgot about his promise, and the snake was forced to remind him of this, since the vultures made terrible devastation among them at that time. In defense of these birds of prey Buddha gave glasses to the cobra, which kites are still afraid of."

Until it is disturbed, the snake lies lazily in front of the entrance to its dwelling, usually basking in the sun, and when a person appears, as a rule, it hides hastily. Only brought to the extreme, she rushes at the attacker.

Cobra venom of neurotoxic action. A minute later, complete paralysis sets in. I spectacled cobra so toxic that a chicken bite dies after 4 minutes, and a laboratory mouse after 2 minutes.

But a cobra never bites a person without special need, and even if it makes a throw towards the enemy, it often does not open its mouth (fake throw). Never anger a cobra. Even if she is nearby, you should not beat the snake with a stick or throw any objects at it. This will only anger the reptile, and it will attack in self-defense.

Length: 70-80 cm

Habitat: found in the foothills and valleys of Central Asia, throughout northern Africa to Algeria

Lives in hilly sands overgrown with saxaul, in clay deserts, thickets of bushes, on river cliffs and in ruins. In favorable conditions, efa can be very numerous. For example, in the valley of the Murgab River, on an area of ​​​​about 1.5 km2, over 5 years, snake catchers mined more than 2 thousand ef.

Efa is an amazing snake. In many ways, it differs from its cold-blooded counterparts. For example, ephs may not hibernate if the winter is not cold. They may mate in January. And by March, small serpents appear, while in other snakes they appear not earlier than June. Surprisingly, the efa does not lay eggs either, it gives birth to live snakes. The female brings from 3 to 16 young reptiles 10-16 cm long.

Despite the fact that efa is one of the most poisonous snakes, it rarely attacks living creatures that are larger than voles. Most often, centipedes, spiders, grasshoppers, midges become its prey. Maybe this is due to the fact that the efa is quite nimble, cannot, like many snakes, just lie in the sun. But in order to digest big booty need to be at rest for a long time.

Efa is characterized by movement sideways. She throws her head to the side, then brings the back of the body forward and pulls the front of the body. This method creates a better body support on a loose substrate. Because of this method of movement, a characteristic trace remains on the sand - separate oblique strips with hooked endings.

Efa very rarely crawls into people's houses, but still this sometimes happens. Similar cases have been recorded in Egypt. You have to be especially careful with ruins or abandoned houses. In 1987, three children died in Cairo after finding a nest in an abandoned house where no one had lived for many years. The children went into this house out of curiosity and accidentally disturbed the ef family hiding there. The snake, protecting its newly born offspring, attacked the children. They could not be saved, as the poison acted very quickly.

The first aid measure for a bite is the immediate suction of the poison from the wounds, so that a significant part of the poison can be removed from the body. Squeezing out the poison with your fingers and suction should be done within 7-10 minutes after the bite. Suction is perfectly safe for the people who perform it. A tourniquet should not be applied. It practically does not delay the process of absorption of poisons.

Habitat: Australia, northern Africa, Brazil, Argentina, West Indies

Length: 60 cm to 2.5 m

The most common species are the Egyptian Asp, Coral and Common. The Egyptian asp is the most venomous snake of its kind. A person from her bite dies after 5 minutes. Its average size is about two meters. It resembles in color spectacle snake. It is believed that the asp can cause harm not only when bitten, it can spit out poisonous saliva at a distance of almost one and a half meters.

The common asp is found in Australia and New Guinea. Its length is up to 1.5 meters. It has a very unfriendly disposition, as it attacks everyone who meets it on the way, be it a pet or a person. From her bite, they die quickly and in terrible agony.

If the asp is advancing, then there is very little chance of escaping. Traveler Anderson told the following story: “One day my friend was picking herbs. Suddenly, a snake that he had not noticed earlier pounced and tried to bite his hand. Anderson, without hesitation, rushed to his heels. The snake would have been able to catch up with him, but this story ended unexpectedly - the runner did not notice the anthill, stumbled and fell into the nearest ditch. The snake, apparently blinded by rage, swept past, not noticing that the man fell ... "

There is a vaccine against asp venom. But the fact is that the poison acts with lightning speed. A person dies in 7 minutes, so there is simply no time to administer the antidote. 8 out of 10 bitten people die.

Habitat: South and Southwest Africa

Length: from 50 cm to 3 meters

The poison of the African boomslang is 2 times more dangerous than the poison of the viper or the Indian cobra.

The anterior teeth on the upper jaw are grooved. Poison flows here during a bite. The poison itself is highly toxic. As soon as it enters the bloodstream, it immediately begins to destroy cells. Experiments were carried out, as a result of which ducks bitten by a boomslang died from poison in 15 minutes, and paralysis occurred in a minute. The venom of the African boomslang is twice as dangerous as that of the viper or the Indian cobra.

A tragic incident in 1957 is known. At this time, the well-known American zoologist, reptile specialist, Carl Paterson Schmidt, who tried to catch the African boomslang and study it, died from the bite of a boomslang, who grabbed the snake, and she managed to dodge and bite the zoologist by the hand. Dying, the scientist until the last moment kept records in which he noted his condition.

Over the past 5 years, 23 people have died from the bite of an African boomslang. True, there are 2 times more deaths due to the viper, and almost 3 times more from the cobra.

With a boomslang, as with any other snake, you must be very careful: do not come close, do not anger the snake, do not make sudden movements.

It is only through the fault of a person that the boomslang becomes aggressive and attacks. In 9 out of 10 cases, when meeting a person, the snake simply tries to hide. Don't touch the snake, then the snake won't touch you.

Location: South Africa

Length: up to 150 cm

The poison of the green mamba is very strong, it is even more toxic than the poison of some cobras. green mamba may attack for no apparent reason.

Mamba is a very beautiful snake. Her scales shimmer emerald in green, with shades of blue and yellow. If a mamba attacks, then there is very little chance of escape. The snake attacks without warning, and its poison acts so quickly that the doctors do not even have time to administer the antidote on the spot, let alone bring it to the nearest hospital.

Of course, it is very difficult to notice this green snake in dense foliage. But anyway, if you are in places where green mambas can live, try to carefully monitor not only living creatures in the grass, but also look at the trees. If you notice a mamba in the leaves, do not risk it, but bypass it.

Habitat: Dagestan, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya. Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Northwest India.

Length: up to 1.5 m

This is a gyurza, a local deadly snake. Despite the fact that a vaccine against its poison has now been invented, often they simply do not have time to administer it to the victim, and 20% of all those bitten die. Once in the blood, the poison begins to destroy red blood cells, causing blood clotting. There are numerous internal hemorrhages, severe edema in the bite area, blockage of blood vessels. All this is accompanied by severe pain, dizziness, vomiting. If you do not provide prompt assistance, a person dies in 2-3 hours.

The number of these snakes is large. Up to 5 individuals live on one hectare. Moreover, sometimes gyurzes are assembled by a whole team. Often there were cases when up to 20 snakes were found under one small stone at once.

If nothing threatens the gyurze, she is very slow and prefers to lie in the sun or under some kind of stone. She does not even track down prey, but waits, being in one place. But such sluggishness and sluggishness is visible. The snake is slow when nothing and no one bothers her, but if necessary, she is able to move very quickly, including through trees. When danger appears, it quickly crawls away to the nearest shelter. If she blocks the way, then the gyurza emits a loud threatening hiss and makes a sharp throw with her whole body towards the enemy.