Shrenka's Shore (Cupid's Skid)

The Amur slip, or else Shrenka is a snake of the family of the same, it is widespread in the Far East. This reptile perfectly adapts to the habitat in a number of natural areas: from steppes to coniferous forests. In the territory The Russian Federation Amur Pass is most often found in Primorye and Khabarovsk Territory. And the places of his residence can vary significantly: a dry forest zone, wetlands near water bodies, flood meadows, an attic of a dwelling house or a farmer's garden. This species is found even in the mountains at an altitude of 1 km above sea level.

An adult Amur skid can grow a little over 2 meters. The male, as a rule, is much larger than the female. The back of a snake can have all shades - from dark brown to black. Figure of the transverse bands may be absent from such a snake as an Amur skid. The photo shows that the abdomen of the reptile is always light - of different shades. Shrenka has two subspecies. Russian skid and Chinese skid. Subspecies differ mainly in size - the second, as the inhabitant of warmer climatic zones - is larger. Amurskogo skid leads a daily life. At night, sleeping, climbing into a shelter, which can serve as a hollow tree, haystacks, burrows Animals, crevices in the stones. In the cold season shrenka hibernates in October, and wakes up in April. At this time, individuals gather in groups, sometimes up to 35 pieces.

The Amurskoe runner climbs beautifully through the trees. He can climb to a height of 10 meters. Sexual maturity reptiles of this species reach in the third year of life. In spring, after wintering, adults gather in a certain place, which remains unchanged from year to year. Males pick up a pair and achieve its location by stroking the head of the torso of the female. When the mating season is over, the snakes creep through their territories, and the females carry eggs. Pregnancy lasts a little over a month. In mid-July, females lay small eggs, they can be up to 30 pieces. Nest can serve as a sheltered place with loose and damp litter. There are also collective nests. In one of these nests scientists have found more than a hundred eggs.

Young cuckolds are born fairly large. Many of them die during the first wintering, as there are not so many suitable shelters. The Amur shoe feeds on small mammalian animals and their young, birds and chicks, frogs and eggs. Smaller victims of the snake swallow immediately, more large - initially suffocating, squeezing rings around the trunk or pressing down to the surface of the earth. If the skid falls into a dangerous situation, then first tries to retire. But if flight is impossible - hisses and attacks. A large individual can cope with a small hare or rat. The Chinese keep snakes of this species as pets instead of cats, as they perfectly cope with the destruction of rats and mice.

The idle talk about the poisonous Amur shoe is far from being harmless, as people, without hesitation, exterminate these reptiles. The number of the stance is steadily decreasing.