Horned Viper / Cerastes cerastes

During the day, the snake buries itself in the sand or hides in rodent burrows, and after dark it comes out to hunt for small rodents and birds. Juveniles feed on grasshoppers and lizards. The horned viper is oviparous; in its clutch there are 10-20 eggs. From the clutch of eggs incubated at 28-29°, the young hatched after 48 days. The horned viper moves in a “lateral move”, throwing the back half of the body forward and sideways and pulling the front part towards it. At the same time, not a single trace remains on the sand, but separate oblique strips at an angle of 40-60 ° to the direction of movement, since when “throwing” forward, the snake does not touch the ground with the middle of the body, relying only on the front and rear ends of the body. In the process of movement, the snake periodically changes the “working side” of the body, moving forward either with the left or with the right side. Thus, a uniform load on the muscles of the body is achieved with an asymmetric method of movement. Small keeled scales, sawtooth located on the sides of the body, bring a double benefit to the snake. First of all, they serve as the main burrowing mechanism when the snake is buried in the sand. The viper spreads the ribs to the sides, flattens the body and with a quick transverse vibration pushes the sand apart, “drowning” in it literally before our eyes. Keeled scales act like miniature plows. For 10-20 seconds, the horned viper disappears in the thickness of the sand. There remains only a trace of its immersion, bordered by two sandy rollers, but this trace soon disappears under a light breeze. Burrowing, the snake often sticks its head out of the sand just enough so that its eyes are flush with the surface. At the same time, a thin layer of sand remains on the upper side of the head, masking it. In addition, keeled scales are used by the viper to make a kind of frightening sound. Curled up into a half ring, the snake rubs one side of the body against the other, the sawtooth scales scrape against each other, making a loud continuous rustling. This sound is most similar to the hissing of water spilled on a hot stove. A disturbed viper can continuously "hiss" in this way for 1-2 minutes. This "hissing" is used by the snake to scare away enemies, similar to the vocal hissing of most snakes or the dry chirping of a rattle in rattlesnakes. The horned viper was well known to the ancient Egyptians. It was this type of snake that served as the basis for the Egyptian hieroglyph "phi". Probably, the choice of a snake for this hieroglyph is explained by onomatopoeic similarity. Snake charmers in Egypt both before and now willingly use in their performances, in addition to cobras, also horned vipers. The "horns" of vipers are undoubtedly the most spectacular attribute of their appearance, however, the supraorbital scales are sometimes very weakly expressed. Therefore, some spellcasters, not content with the natural size of the "horns", glue the sharp tips of porcupine needles over their eyes to their "artists" in order to ensure their success with a gullible public.

The North American Indians of the Huron tribe had a legend about a huge snake named Oniont. This snake had a horn that could pierce a stone. Anyone who was lucky enough to find even the slightest piece of this horn could cure any disease with its help.

Horned snakes often appear in Celtic art. Most often they are depicted with two ram's horns, and not with one. The Gundrestrup cauldron is engraved with Cernunnos (Lord of the Animals) holding a snake with ram's horns by the neck. The horned serpent was a very important element in Celtic beliefs. Sometimes he was depicted not only with ram's horns, but also with a ram's head.

Several Babylonian paintings show a serpent-dragon with the body and head of a serpent, lion's front and bird's hind legs, and a horn located in the center of the nose. This dragon-serpent was called "mushussu" (ferocious snake). The Babylonians singled out three more types of horned snakes, calling them “Musmahkhu”, “Usumgallu” and “Basmu”.

One who has learned to work with the energy of the chakras.

magical properties: cures any disease.

Lamia

In ancient texts, lamia is mentioned as a type of creature similar to sirens. These creatures prefer dry places and live in ruined cities, caves, and remote wilderness areas. The lamia had the body and head of a woman and Bottom part snakes. They combed their hair with a golden comb and loved to eat the meat of children. Lamia was swift, powerful and lured the victim into her nets with the help of spells.

In ancient Greek myths, several creatures were called lamia. In one legend, this name was given to a mortal maiden who gave birth to Zeus several children. In another legend, this is a creature with the face of a gorgon that ate children. Another legend tells how Hermes turned a snake with crimson, gold, green and blue spots into a beautiful girl. The happiness of this girl was destroyed by the philosopher Apollonius, she screamed and disappeared.

Catholic Bishop Martin of Braga wrote that lamias lived in rivers and forests and were devils. Johann Weir devoted an entire book to these creatures, De Lamiis Liber (On the Life of Lamia), published in 1577.

By the beginning of the 17th century, the lamia had changed its appearance and became a scaly four-legged creature. It had hooves on its hind legs and claws on its front legs. She had female face and breasts and male penis.

Psychological characteristics: one who intentionally lures victims and gains complete control over them.

Nagas

Indian naked are perhaps the most amazing magical snakes. They were demigods by nature, children of the goddess Kadru, and usually appeared in the form of a half-snake-half-man (cobra). However, they could take on a human form, and females did this much more often than males. Nagas were both water and earth spirits.


Apparently, there were several types of nagas, and each of them has its own characteristic external features and coloring. Nagas who live in ruins, places with an oppressive atmosphere, or underground are covered in black scales with crimson stripes. Their faces are similar to human ones, they have the same colors of skin, eyes and hair. However, this type of naga is hostile towards humans. They can enchant anyone who meets their eyes; they can spit venom, and their bite is also poisonous. Don't expect help from these nagas.

Other earth nagas are wise, friendly, and guard sacred sites or treasures, as well as controlling their black counterparts. These cobra people can also spit venom, although they only do so in self-defense. They have golden eyes and green-gold scales with silvery triangles along their backs.

Naga dwellings, which prefer to dwell in various bodies of water, are located deep under the clear, fresh water of ponds, lakes or rivers. They usually do not interfere in the affairs of people, although a sincere request can help enlist their help. They are curious about everything that happens to people. Water nagas are the most colorful of all species. Their scales range in color from emerald green to turquoise, and the patterns they often have can range from deep brown with pale jade to dark gray with olive. The shade of their eyes can vary from pale green to bright amber. Even though their bite and saliva are poisonous, these nagas prefer to use magical spells.

Nagas could cause or prevent rain, they had great power and wealth, as well as power over all water, including over rivers and seas. Myths claim that the nagas gained their semi-divine status when the gods and demons churned the seas to make soma, the divine drink. While the gods and demons were fighting for soma, a few drops of this drink fell to the ground. The Nagas drank them greedily, but it wasn't enough to give them the power they needed for the gods.

It is believed that nagas live in a country that is either under water or underground. The capital of their state and the main place of residence is in the underground kingdom of Bhagavati ("rich in treasures"), which is probably located deep under mountain system Himalayas. According to the legends, they live there in beautiful houses, decorated with precious stones and metals. The streets of their cities are paved with a mosaic of emeralds, rubies, sapphires and other bright gems. Nagas also keep books of great mystical knowledge. Each naga has a jewel of immeasurable value in its throat or forehead that gives them their supernatural powers.

The female nagas are called nagini. These snake women are very beautiful and wise. There are many stories about how they fell in love and married mortal princes. According to Cambodian legend, this country was formed through the union of a nagini and a prince. IN ancient city Angkor images of nagas are everywhere - in sculpture and home decoration. Pairs of nagas guarded the entrances to temples, palaces and tombs, and their seven-headed statues bowed over all who entered.

On the lands adjacent to the palace, as early as the 13th century, a golden tower towered. At the top of it was a special room where the king was believed to spend every night. The people of Cambodia believed that there lived a nine-headed nagini who ruled the country with the help of the king. If the nagini does not come, the king will die, and if he spends at least one night outside the tower, misfortune will fall upon the country.

In India, to this day, nagini is worshiped - this is Naga Kanya, the goddess of the three kingdoms. She is the guardian of underwater treasures and spiritual achievements. She has the upper body of a woman, and the lower part of a water snake. Above her head rises a dome in the shape of a five-headed cobra, symbolizing Kanya's spiritual powers. She has wings above her shoulder blades, and a precious stone sparkles in her forehead. Naga Kanya holds a clam shell in her hands, symbolizing her desire to shed blessings on those who seek her wisdom.

Although most nagas can combine both good and bad qualities, some of them have done great things and achieved enlightenment. Naga Sesha led such a righteous life that the god Brahma granted him immortality. It is believed that now Sesha supports the universe, and on the rings of his curled tail the god Vishnu sleeps in the shadow of his seven heads.

When the Buddha was born, the nagas sprinkled him with fragrant Naga Kanya water. After the Buddha attained enlightenment, he spent several weeks in a state of meditation. His great piety attracted Naga Muchalinda (sometimes referred to as Musilinda), a multi-headed cobra. Muchalinda surrounded the Buddha with the rings of his body and sheltered him from the storms with his huge hood so that the Buddha could meditate calmly and nothing disturbed him.

After the death of the Buddha, one of the tombs built to honor his memory ended up in the country of the Nagas.

At least one type of naga is not benevolent towards humans. The Naga-Sannia demon causes nightmares related to snakes.

Some tribes living in India consider themselves descendants of the Nagas and pay respect to their ancestors by leaving sacrifices on the banks of certain ponds and rivers. In Indian mythology, snakes are associated with the element of Water and the seas. It is also believed that people they like can be bestowed with the ability to become invisible when they enter any water.

In addition, nagas protected doors and thresholds, and guarded treasures, both physical and spiritual. Doors, thresholds and physical and spiritual treasures are considered dangerous things for unprepared people. Nagas open these places and allow only those they deem worthy and ready to enter.

Psychological characteristics: positive- one who sincerely seeks to acquire spiritual treasure. Negative- a person who can make others do anything with the help of spells, but at the same time he has a bad habit of spewing poisonous gossip and rumors.

Magic properties: acquisition of spiritual wealth; a hidden treasure of spiritual quest, revealed only to sincere people. If you run into trouble or difficult problems, ask the Nagas to help you figure out exactly where you've gone astray. spiritual path. Helpful nagas can sometimes help you find hidden treasures, win contests and lotteries, or get unexpected money, but their help can only be won with sincerity.

horned viper can reach about 60-65 cm in length and it is immediately clear that she is a child of the desert, since her body has a color similar to the color of sand. The main color is brownish-yellow, on it you can see either almost quadrangular, or rounded, indistinctly protruding or clearly defined transverse spots of red-brown or dark brown color; they are arranged in six longitudinal rows and decrease from the middle to the sides. A dark brown stripe passes under the eyes of the viper, and in the middle of the head you can see a light yellowish-brown stripe, which is divided into two on the back of the head and connected to two other similar stripes that come from the chin. The scales surrounding the mouth are a light sandy yellow color, and the scutes of the lower body are white or light yellow. One belt around the body has 29 to 33 scales; on the back they are vertically arranged to each other, and on the sides they take an indirect direction; the anal shield is undivided, and the shields on the tail are divided into two.

The image of this viper can be seen in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, since its original name "phi" was further used to represent a similar letter. Herodotus mentioned this snake and says that she lives near Thebes, has two horns on her head and does not pose a danger to people; in addition, he noted that it was considered sacred, but he did not explain why. Other ancient writers only described its appearance.

horned viper is common throughout, except for, as well as on the territory of rocky Arabia; it can also be found south of the desert belt, for example, a horned viper was found in the East, and also, quite often in the steppes of Kordofan. Gesner talked about Africa being full of these vipers; especially a lot of these snakes in the barren and sandy Libyan desert. There is a legend according to which, before there were a lot of horned vipers; they occupied a significant part of the country's territory, and it was turned into a desert, since no one could live there.

Usually they live under the sand in sandy places or lie near the roads in minks, from where they can attack those who pass by without much difficulty, which others like to do. Although the horned viper is very provocative and poisonous, but only it and the common viper can remain alive for such a long time without water.

Horned vipers give birth to live young. They can crawl pretty well with the presence huge amount twists and turns, whistling and making a great noise, like a ship that is carried by the waves and tossed hither and thither by the wind.

The horned viper hunts birds quite diligently, lures birds with its horns sticking out above earth's surface, hiding the torso under the sand; after that, she quickly grabs her prey and kills it. These vipers do not cause absolutely no friendship and love among the inhabitants, but they wish harm and hate them. They do not harm the Psyllas, and the bites of these snakes are not dangerous for them, so these people can drive them away. with bare hands not only from myself, but also from other people. To test the fidelity of their wives, the psillas put their children under these snakes, just as they test gold with fire.

(Cerastes cerastes) — poisonous snake from the genus horned viper families vipers. Has 2 subspecies. Another name is "desert horned viper".

Description

The total length reaches 60-80 cm. The head is wide. One sharp vertical scale sticks out above the eyes. The length of these scales is very different. The body is thick, the tail is sharply narrowed, short. The scales on the sides of the body are smaller than the dorsal ones, strongly keeled and directed obliquely down, forming a kind of saw that runs along each side. The coloration is sandy-yellow with dark brown spots along the back and on both sides of the body.

Lifestyle

Likes deserts, dry savannahs, foothills. During the day, it burrows into the sand or hides in rodent burrows; after dark, it goes hunting.

It moves in a “lateral move”, throwing the back half of the body forward and to the side and pulling the front half towards it. At the same time, the only trace remains on the sand, and separate oblique strips at an angle of 40-60 ° to the direction of movement, since when “throwing” forward, the snake does not touch the ground with the middle of the body, relying only on the front and rear ends of the body. In the process of movement, periodically changes the “working side” of the body, moving forward either with the left or with the right side. Thus, a uniform load on the muscles of the body is achieved with an asymmetric method of movement.

Small keeled scales, which are sawtooth located on the sides of the body, serve as the main mechanism for burrowing the snake in the sand. The viper spreads the ribs to the sides, flattening the body and with a quick transverse vibration pushes the sand apart, “drowning” in it literally before our eyes. Kilevati scales act like miniature plows. In 10-20 seconds it disappears in the thickness of the sand. There remains only a trace of her dive, bordered by 2 sandy rollers, this trace soon disappears under a light breeze. Burrowing, the snake often sticks its head out of the sand just enough so that its eyes are flush with the surface. At the same time, a thin layer of sand remains on the upper side of the head, masking it. Keelwati scales are also used by the viper to create a peculiar scaring sound. Curled into a half ring, the snake rubs one side of the body against the other, the sawtooth scales scrape against each other, making a loud continuous rustle. This sound is most similar to the hissing of water poured onto a red-hot stove. Excited by danger, the viper can continuously "hiss" in this way for 1-2 minutes. This "hissing" is used by the snake to scare off enemies, similar to the vocal hissing of most snakes or the dry chirping of a rattle in rattlesnakes.

Feeds on small rodents and birds. Juveniles feed on grasshoppers and lizards.

This is an oviparous snake. The female lays 10-20 eggs. The pups hatch after 48 days.

Man and horned viper

It was well known to the ancient Egyptians. It was this type of snake that served as the basis for the Egyptian hieroglyph "phi". The choice of a snake for this character is explained by the sound similarity.

Snake charmers in Egypt used to and now willingly use in their performances. The "horns" of vipers are undoubtedly the most spectacular attribute of their appearance, however, the supraorbital scales are sometimes very weakly expressed. Therefore, some spellcasters, not content with the natural size of the "horns", glue sharp tips of porcupine needles over their eyes to their "artists" in order to ensure their success with a gullible public.

Spreading

This snake inhabits the Sahara desert (Africa), as well as the Arabian Peninsula.

Horned viper. June 31st, 2013

A flat head, a pair of sharp horns over almost cat-like eyes, an unusual manner of movement - the owner of such a memorable appearance could not but leave her mark on history. Indeed, the horned viper (lat.Cerastes cerastes) has long been well known in its homeland - in the arid savannahs and foothills of North Africa, in the quicksands of the Sahara desert and on the Arabian Peninsula.


According to the Greek historian Herodotus, the ancient Egyptians treated horned vipers with great reverence and even embalmed their bodies. dead snakes. Their mummies were discovered during excavations in Thebes, which suggests the important and even mystical role of horned snakes in the life of the ancient inhabitants of Egypt. It was this reptile that served the Egyptians as the basis for one of the letters of the alphabet - the hieroglyph "phi". It is believed that the reason for this was the ability of horned vipers to make hissing sounds with the help of lateral scales.


In general, the role that these scales, similar to pointed blades, play in the life of horned snakes can hardly be overestimated. They are much smaller than the dorsal scales, run along the entire lateral surface of the body and are directed downward at an angle, forming something like a long sharp saw.


When the reptile needs to burrow into the sand, it spreads its ribs to the sides, thereby flattening the body, and with quick vibrating movements, using sawtooth scales as a burrowing mechanism, sinks into the sand in a matter of seconds. It is unlikely that you will be able to see a trace of a viper hiding in the sand: the very first breath of the breeze takes away the barely noticeable sandy hillocks left over from the dive.


The horned viper spends the entire bright part of the day in abandoned rodent burrows or buried in the sand, leaving only its eyes on the surface. It is almost impossible to notice her in this position: the sandy-yellow color of the body, diluted with brown spots, does an excellent job of camouflage. Under the cover of night, horned predators go hunting: moving silently through the night desert, they catch small rodents, birds and lizards.


If the camouflage coloring is not enough, and you need to scare away the intruder, the horned snake stands on its tail in the shape of the letter "C" and begins to vigorously rub one part of the body against the other. And here the lateral scales again come to the rescue: clinging to each other, they produce a loud hissing sound that can continuously last almost two minutes.

And, of course, the most convincing argument in the defense is poison. It is said that after the bite of a horned viper, there is a feeling that the heart is clenching an invisible fist. But in general, the poison of this snake is not fatal, and the same Egyptians learned to neutralize it more than two thousand years ago.


Another one interesting feature of this reptile is its manner of moving. The horned viper moves along the sand with the so-called "side passage". She alternately throws forward and to the side back torso, and only then pulls the front. Since, when moving, the viper does not touch the sand with the middle part of the body, its footprint is not a continuous line, but a series of oblique parallel strips located at an angle of approximately 60 degrees to the direction of movement.zoopicture.ru/rogataya-gadyuka/


And while the horned viper crawls, its scales protruding from the sides collect morning dew, storing precious moisture to get through another long, hot day.