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Common moth - the most common species of reptiles on our planet, belonging to the family of vipers. The name of this creeping reptile quite vividly describes the appearance of the snake - the upper part of the reptile's head is decorated with characteristic shields. Note that this type of snake is poisonous, respectively, is dangerous to humans. The bite of this snake is quite painful and, as a rule, cause heavy bleeding that is difficult to stop.
Description of the species
You can define the shtekomordnika as a rather dangerous kind of snake, by looking into the eyes of this creeping reptile. The latter have characteristic narrow and vertically arranged pupils. Representatives of this species have relatively small size - the maximum indicators of body length do not exceed 70 cm.The surface of the body of the mink is dotted with scales, located in several rows. The head of the reptile has a slightly oblate shape, this is especially noticeable when looking at the snake from above. Also, a characteristic “collar” separates the neck from the body. There are unobtrusive holes under the eye sockets of the reptiles, the main function of which is to capture thermal radiation.
The snake's upper body has a dark brown or brownish color, while the light color of the zigzag pattern contrasts with the main color. The belly of the shieldtail is light (more dirty yellow with small dark specks).
Habitat
Such a species of reptiles as a shield-mordant has a fairly wide range of habitats: Asia, the Far East, Northern Iran, North America, and the southeastern part of the United States. In our country, this type of reptile is most often found in the Primorsky Territory.
Lifestyle
Many natural birds of prey, as well as forest dwellers such as badgers and raccoon dogs, can be attributed to the natural enemies of these representatives of the viper family. Also, often, many hunters hunt for this type of snake, which is explained by the fact that the meat of a shtitomordnik is highly valued in Eastern cuisine, and is also used for pharmacological purposes (like venom of a snake, and previously dried meat).
I would like to draw attention to the fact that the activity of such a type of reptile as a shield-mord directly depends on its habitat, as well as time and season. Most often, these snakes show aggression in the spring and autumn (in the summer - only at night).
Often, this type of vipers finds shelter in burrows dug by rodents, in dense shrub vegetation, on wetlands. One of the favorite activities of this reptile is a rest under the warm sunshine, as well as swimming in a pond.
On a hunt in search of prey, the shield-mord is sent, as a rule, with the onset of dusk. In order to catch his victim, reptiles need only one bite, after which the animal tries to escape. The poison that has entered the body of paralyzes the latter, after which the shtekomordnik quickly finds its supper through thermal radiation.
Power Features
The diet of such a snake as a common moccasin is all inhabitants of the range, which by their size can fit this reptile as food. Each individual of this family of vipers has its own feeding territory, beyond which, as a rule, it does not go for hunting. To determine the desired production, the above-described thermal radiation catchers are used.
The very process of hunting itself is quite simple - at the beginning of the snake, it tracks down its prey, followed by a short, swift throw and the bite of the victim. The poison of the shchitomordnik almost immediately kills the victim, after which the reptile begins to eat. In most cases, the prey of snakes of this species is rodents.Also, the shield-mord often hunts birds that build their nests on the ground. A special delicacy for snakes are bird eggs, or recently hatched offspring of birds. Those representatives of the species that live in the immediate vicinity of reservoirs, eat frogs, lizards and even a small fish.
Breeding features
After the end of the mating season, the first serpent offspring is born, like most members of the viper family, the shtorkomordniki are viviparous reptiles. Young shchitomordnik are born in a translucent and rather thin shell that does not prevent the release of small snakes to the light. In one litter there may be more than a dozen babies. Newborn individuals have a color that fully coincides with the parent.
The average length of individuals born into the world does not exceed 20 cm, while the mass of the newborn shchitomordnik is only about 10 grams.
During the first days after birth, young snakes feed on extremely small insects and amphibians, and after some time they switch to nutrition inherent to this species of reptiles.Young individuals of the shchitomordnik reach maturity after reaching a sufficient body length of 400 mm, as a rule, this time corresponds to two or three winters. The average lifespan of snakes of this species is from 10 to 15 years. In conditions of detention in captivity - much more.
It is worth remembering that the communication of a person with this type of representatives of vipers can be absolutely safe, the main condition for this is the absence of situations hopeless for a snake.
Video: common shtetomordnik (Gloydius halys)
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