The North American Indians of the Huron tribe had a legend about a huge snake named Oniont. This serpent 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 appear frequently in Celtic art. They are most often depicted with two ram horns rather than one. The cauldron from Gundrestrup is engraved with Cernunnos (Lord of Animals) holding a snake with ram's horns by the neck. The horned serpent was very important element Celtic beliefs. Sometimes he was depicted not only with ram's horns, but also with a ram's head.
Several Babylonian paintings depict a serpent-dragon with the body and head of a snake, lion-like front legs and bird-like hind legs, and a horn located in the center of the nose. This serpent-dragon was called "mushussu" ( ferocious snake). The Babylonians identified three more types of horned snakes, calling them “musmakhhu”, “usumgallu” and “basmu”.
The one who has learned to work with the energy of the chakras.
Magic properties: cures any ailment.
Lamia
In ancient texts, lamia are mentioned as a species of siren-like creatures. These creatures prefer dry places and live in ruined cities, caves and remote abandoned areas. The lamia had the body and head of a woman and the lower part of a snake. They combed their hair with a golden comb and loved to eat the meat of children. The lamia was swift, powerful and lured the victim into its networks with the help of spells.
In ancient Greek myths, lamia was the name given to several creatures. In one legend, this name was given to a mortal maiden who bore Zeus several children. In another legend, it is a creature with the face of a gorgon who feeds on children. Another legend tells how Hermes transformed a snake with crimson, gold, green and blue spots into beautiful girl. The happiness of this girl was destroyed by the philosopher Apolonius, she screamed and disappeared.
Catholic Bishop Martin of Braga wrote that lamias lived in rivers and forests and were devils. Johann Weir dedicated an entire book to these creatures, De Lamiis Liber (On the Life of the Lamies), published in 1577.
TO early XVII centuries, the lamia changed its appearance and became a scaly four-legged creature. Her hind legs had hooves and her front legs had claws. She had woman's face and breasts and male penis.
Psychological characteristics: one who deliberately lures victims and gains complete control over them.
Naga
Indian naked, perhaps, are the most amazing magical snakes. They were demigods in nature, children of the goddess Kadru, and usually appeared in the form of a half-snake, half-man (cobra). However, they could take on 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 had its own characteristic external features and coloring. The body of nagas living in ruins, places with a depressing atmosphere or underground is covered with black scales with crimson stripes. Their faces are similar to humans, they have the same colors of skin, eyes and hair. However, this type of naga is hostile towards humans. They can charm anyone who meets their gaze; They can spit poison, and their bite is also poisonous. You shouldn't expect any help from these nagas.
Other earth nagas are wise, friendly, and protective sacred places or treasures, and also control their black counterparts. These cobra people can also spit venom, although they do so only for self-defense. They have golden eyes and green and gold scales with silvery triangles along their backs.
The dwellings of the Nagas, who prefer to live in various bodies of water, are located deep under the clean, fresh water of ponds, lakes or rivers. They usually do not interfere in people's affairs, although a sincere request may help gain their help. They are curious about everything that happens to people. Water nagas are the most colorful of all species. The color of their scales ranges from emerald green to turquoise, and the patterns that are often found on them can range from deep brown combined with pale jade to dark gray and 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 resort to magical spells.
Nagas could cause or prevent rain, they had enormous power and wealth, as well as power over all water, including rivers and seas. Myths claim that nagas received their semi-divine status when gods and demons churned the seas to prepare soma, a 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 this was not enough to gain strength sufficient 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 habitat is in the underground kingdom of Bhagavati (“rich in treasures”), which is probably located deep under mountain system Himalayas. According to legends, they live there in beautiful houses, decorated with precious stones and metals. The streets of their cities are paved with mosaics of emeralds, rubies, sapphires and other brightly colored gemstones. Nagas also keep books of great mystical knowledge. In the throat or forehead of every naga sparkles gem immeasurable value that gives them their supernatural powers.
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, back in the 13th century, a golden tower stood. At the top there was a special room where, as it was believed, the king spent every night. The people of Cambodia believed that there lived a nine-headed nagini who ruled the country with the help of a king. If the nagini does not come, the king will die, and if he spends even one night not in the tower, misfortune will befall the country.
In India, nagini is still worshiped to this day - this is Naga Kanya, the goddess of the three kingdoms. She is the keeper of underwater treasures and spiritual achievements. She has top part the body is female, and the lower one is a water snake. Above her head rises a dome in the shape of a five-headed cobra, symbolizing the spiritual powers of Kanya. She has wings behind her back above her shoulder blades, and a jewel sparkles in her forehead. In her hands, Naga Kanya holds a clam shell, 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 accomplished great deeds and achieved enlightenment. Naga Sesha led such a righteous life that the god Brahma granted him immortality. It is believed that Sesha now supports the universe, and on the rings of his curled tail the god Vishnu sleeps in the shadow of his seven heads.
When Buddha was born, the nagas sprinkled him with fragrant Naga Kanya water. After Buddha achieved enlightenment, he remained in a state of meditation for several weeks. His great piety attracted Naga Muchalinda (sometimes called Musilinda), a many-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 would disturb him.
After the death of Buddha, one of the tombs built to honor his memory ended up in the land of the nagas.
At least one type of naga is not kind to humans. The demon Naga-Sanniya causes nightmares associated with 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 they can bestow upon people they like the ability to become invisible when they enter any water.
In addition, nagas protected doors and thresholds, and also guarded treasures, both physical and spiritual. Doors, thresholds and physical and spiritual treasures are considered dangerous things for unprepared people. The nagas open these places and allow only those they deem worthy and ready to enter.
Psychological characteristics: positive- one who sincerely strives to acquire spiritual treasure. Negative- a person who can use charms to make others do anything, but also has a bad habit of spewing poisonous gossip and rumors.
Magic properties: acquisition of spiritual wealth; hidden treasure spiritual search, opening only to sincere people. If you encounter trouble or complex problems, ask the nagas to help you understand where exactly you have gone astray spiritual path. Helpful nagas can sometimes help you find hidden treasures, win contests and lotteries, or receive unexpected money, but their help can only be achieved with sincerity.
A land where there would be no representatives of the animal world. Animals live all over the world, even in deserts and uninhabited Antarctica. This article will focus on those creatures that were able to adapt to the harsh desert climate. Some of the animals presented below can be seen in other parts of the planet. Desert animals are hardy and hardworking!
Desert animals are hardy and hardworking
Horned viper
Desert Animals - Horned Viper
This type of viper belongs to poisonous species, so it is better for a person not to meet with this reptile. The venom of a horned viper can cause considerable damage to the skin and blood cells. The hemotoxins present in viper venom are especially harmful, because if they enter the human bloodstream, they can lead to fatal outcome. Currently, the horned viper is on the verge of extinction.
dromedary camel
Desert Animals - Dromedary Camel
If in the distant past dromedary camels roamed the deserts independently North Africa, today these animals are found only with people, since they have long been completely domesticated. Dromedary camels They have excellent endurance and are very strong, which is why people use them to transport heavy loads. In addition, camels are often used for riding. There is an opinion that camels have water in their humps, which helps them survive without drinking. for a long time. This is a myth, because in fact, camels have fat in their humps, thanks to which they are able to live for a long time without food.
Gazelle Dorcas
Desert Animals - Gazelle Dorax
This gazelle has a beautiful sandy coloration, which serves as an excellent camouflage for it in the desert. The gazelle eats water-saving plants and dew-bearing plants, which means it can never drink water at all. The Dorax gazelle grows up to 65 centimeters, and its weight rarely exceeds 25 kilograms. If the animal senses the approach of predators, it instantly jumps to the side, thereby letting other gazelles know that a predator is in ambush. If necessary, the Dorcas gazelle can reach speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour.
dung beetle
Desert Animals - Dung Beetle
More beautiful name this creature - sacred scarab. The beetle is famous for using the droppings of other animals for its own purposes. When he sees other people's excrement, he begins to roll it with his hind legs into a small ball, which he then rolls into his underground house. Naturally, the ball serves as food for the beetle. In autumn, the beetle rolls up larger balls, which serve not only as food, but also as a place to lay eggs.
Mendez antelope
Desert Animals - Mendez Antelope
Another name for the mendes antelope is addax. Previously meet this amazing creature It was possible only in the deserts of Egypt, Sudan, Mauritania and some other countries, but today the range of the antelope has decreased significantly. Today, addax lives only in Libya, Chile, Niger, Mali and Mauritania. Antelopes have unusual paws, the structure of which helps them move easily through heavy sandy terrain. And at the same time, this makes them too vulnerable to predators, from which it is very difficult for them to escape. Today there are fewer than 500 Mendes antelopes in the world.
yellow scorpion
Desert Animals - Yellow Scorpion
Scorpios are very fond of deserts, especially the yellow scorpion. This creature is very dangerous and at the same time incredibly tenacious. Outwardly, the scorpion does not look intimidating, but in fact it knows how to use its small claws perfectly if it is necessary to remove the enemy from the road. The yellow scorpion's main weapon is neurotoxins. While an adult is unlikely to die from one scorpion sting, a bite can be fatal for children and the elderly.
African ostrich
Desert Animals - African Ostrich
Everyone knows the bird that cannot fly. Nature decided not to deprive the ostriches, so it rewarded them with very fast running. If necessary, the giant bird can accelerate at a speed of 70 kilometers per hour. Of course, this is not all that the ostrich can boast of. Ostriches are very hardy birds, capable of covering vast distances. Ostriches have very good hearing, sharp eyesight, and powerful legs that allow the birds to fight off their enemies. The main diet of ostriches is grass, but occasionally ostriches can also feed on small animals.
Desert Animals - Monitor Lizard
Externally, monitor lizards are very similar to giant lizards, however, unlike them, they pose a serious threat to people. And yet, these animals rarely attack people, preferring to use their poison to hunt small animals and insects. In fact, monitor lizards are cold-blooded animals, but they have managed to adapt to hot climates. If the temperature becomes unbearably high, monitor lizards begin to show aggression. It is known that predators do not tolerate life well in captivity.
Desert Animals - Fennec fox
Little fox leads night image life. You can meet the animal in the deserts of northern Africa. A special feature of the fennec is big ears, which help the animal survive even very high temperature. The fennec's diet consists of all small desert inhabitants, as well as various plants.
Jerboa
Desert Animals – Jerboa
This funny rodent lives in deserts, semi-deserts and steppes. The jerboa can adapt to even the harshest conditions climatic conditions. The jerboa is a nocturnal animal, distinguished by its jumps, which help it evade predators. The animal grows to only 25 centimeters in length, but this does not prevent it from accelerating at a speed of 25 kilometers per hour. Interestingly, jerboas never drink pure water, preferring to get water from the food they eat. The basis of the jerboa's diet consists of plants, seeds and some insects.
Up to 70 cm long, brownish-yellow in color, with more or less clear transverse spots of dark brown color, the entire color of the snake is extremely harmonious with the color sandy desert. The number of scales in each belt is 29-33; the anal scute is undivided, and the caudal scutes are divided into two.
Spreading
A widespread species, found throughout North Africa (except Morocco) and the Arabian Peninsula.
Reproduction
Gives birth to live young.
Lifestyle and nutrition
A nocturnal animal that easily adapts to captivity and easily endures hunger for months. Feeds small mammals and birds.
Horned viper in culture
It was already distinguished by the ancient Egyptians in their hieroglyphs, from which the Greek φ (phi) was subsequently derived.
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Literature
- Yakobson G. G.// Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
Excerpt characterizing the Horned Viper
He stopped and rubbed his face and eyes with his hands.“Well, here,” he continued, apparently making an effort on himself to speak coherently. “I don’t know since when I love her.” But I have loved only her, only one, all my life and love her so much that I cannot imagine life without her. Now I don’t dare ask her hand; but the thought that maybe she could be mine and that I would miss this opportunity... opportunity... is terrible. Tell me, can I have hope? Tell me what should I do? “Dear princess,” he said, after being silent for a while and touching her hand, since she did not answer.
“I’m thinking about what you told me,” answered Princess Marya. - I'll tell you what. You’re right, what should I tell her about love now... - The princess stopped. She wanted to say: it is now impossible to talk to her about love; but she stopped because for the third day she saw from Natasha’s sudden change that not only would Natasha not be offended if Pierre expressed his love to her, but that this was all she wanted.
“It’s impossible to tell her now...,” Princess Marya still said.
- But what should I do?
“Entrust this to me,” said Princess Marya. - I know…
Pierre looked into Princess Marya's eyes.
“Well, well...” he said.
“I know that she loves... will love you,” Princess Marya corrected herself.
Before she had time to say these words, Pierre jumped up and, with a frightened face, grabbed Princess Marya by the hand.
- Why do you think so? Do you think I can hope? You think?!
“Yes, I think so,” said Princess Marya, smiling. - Write to your parents. And instruct me. I'll tell her when it's possible. I wish this. And my heart feels that this will happen.
A flat head, a pair of sharp horns above almost cat-like eyes, an unusual manner of movement - the owner of such a memorable appearance could not help but leave her mark on history. And indeed, the horned viper (lat. Cerastes cerastes) has long been well known in its homeland - in the arid savannas and foothills of North Africa, in the shifting sands of the Sahara Desert and on the Arabian Peninsula.
According to the testimony of the Greek historian Herodotus, the ancient Egyptians treated horned vipers with great respect and even embalmed the bodies of dead snakes. Their mummies were discovered during excavations in Thebes, which suggests an 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 using their lateral scales.
In general, the role that these scales, similar to pointed blades, play in the life of horned snakes is difficult to overestimate. They are much smaller than the dorsal scales, extend along the entire lateral surface of the body and are directed at an angle downwards, forming something like a long sharp saw.
When a reptile needs to burrow into the sand, it spreads its ribs to the sides, thereby flattening its body, and with rapid vibrating movements, using sawtooth scales as a digging mechanism, it sinks into the sand in a matter of seconds. It is unlikely that you will be able to see the trace of a viper hidden in the sand: the very first breath of wind carries away barely noticeable sandy tubercles left over from the dive.
The horned viper spends the entire daylight hours in abandoned rodent burrows or buried in the sand, leaving only its eyes on the surface. It is almost impossible to notice it in this position: the sandy-yellow coloring of the body, diluted with brown spots, does an excellent job as 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 it is necessary to scare away the uninvited guest, 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 come to the rescue again: clinging to each other, they produce a loud hissing sound that can continuously last for almost two minutes.
And, of course, the most convincing argument in defense is poison. They say that after being bitten by a horned viper, you feel as if your heart is being squeezed by an invisible fist. But in general, the venom of this snake is not fatal, and the same Egyptians learned to neutralize it more than two thousand years ago.
Another interesting feature of this reptile is its way of moving. The horned viper moves along the sand using the so-called “sideways move.” She alternately throws forward and to the side back torso, and only then pulls up the front one. Since the viper does not touch the sand when moving middle part body, then its trace 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.
And while the horned viper crawls, its scales protruding from the sides collect the morning dew, storing invaluable moisture to survive another long hot day.
The Persian horned viper belongs to the viper family, the genus of false-horned vipers. The reptile got its name due to the presence of a pair of prominent “horns” above the eyes. The snake is also called the horned viper or horned field viper.
External signs of the Persian horned viper
The Persian horned viper is a medium-sized snake. The length of the thick, cylindrical body reaches 0.89 - 1.16 m. The tail is short, 8-8.5 cm long.
The head is wide, flat, pear-shaped when viewed from above and separates from the neck. The anterior end of the body is blunt. The eyes are medium in size with a vertical elliptical pupil. The nostrils are directed upward and outward. The Persian horned viper has a rough skin texture. The horn is formed by several scales. The middle of the dorsal scales is strongly keeled, almost smooth.
Coloring skin sandy, with large brown, round spots located along the middle of the back. They alternate with small lateral dark spots. A dark stripe stretches from the eye to the corner of the mouth. The tail has a black tip, except in newborn snakes. The bottom is without patterns, just white.
The Persian horned viper comes in a variety of colors.
Known individuals are pale brown, gray, bronze, bluish-gray in the upper part of the body, with dark brown rectangular spots or stripes.
There are specimens with a dark brown line along the side of the head and faint brown spots on the throat and sides of the body. Some false-horned vipers have no markings on their body at all.
The Persian horned viper resembles the Arabian horned viper (Gasperettii) in appearance, but its “horns” consist of many small scales, rather than elongated single outgrowths. This feature allowed scientists to give the Persian horned vipers the name “false-horned” vipers, that is, “false horned vipers.”
Distribution of the Persian horned viper
The Persian horned viper is found throughout the Arabian Peninsula. Lives in Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United United Arab Emirates. Distributed in northern Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan. Inhabits Armenia, Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan.
Habitats of the Persian horned viper
The Persian horned viper inhabits areas located up to 2200 meters above sea level. Inhabits open landscapes of sandy or hilly deserts overgrown with sparse shrubs.
Diet of the Persian horned viper
The Persian horned viper is usually active at night and preys on a variety of rodents. It feeds on lizards, birds, small mammals, and sometimes eats arthropods.
Reproduction of the Persian horned viper
Relatively little is known about the reproduction of the Persian horned viper in nature. The breeding season is from March to July. Like many other viper species, it may give birth to young snakes, but other sources say the horned viper lays eggs. The maximum life expectancy in captivity is 17.1 years.
Features of the behavior of the Persian horned viper
The Persian horned viper is nocturnal. Moves slowly across the surface of the earth. Sometimes it climbs small bushes. Finds refuge in rodent burrows, cracks or under boulders. A relatively non-aggressive snake.
When a predator approaches, it whistles loudly, but usually requires several provocative movements to force the horned Persian viper to attack first.
The Persian horned viper moves through terrain by bending its body in S-shaped curves.
Persian horned vipers commit seasonal migrations in search of food.
IN winter time this species of snake moves to a more suitable habitat.
Persian horned viper is a poisonous snake
The Persian horned viper, like all related species, is a venomous reptile. She has a pair of long, hollow teeth that fold and hide in oral cavity when the snake is not hunting.
Viperid bites cause significant local reactions to the venom. The antivenom is uncertain, and is unlikely to be necessary for people who have been bitten. Local pain, swelling, and slight paralysis do not pose a serious threat to life.
Persian horned viper - poisonous snake. Conservation status of the Persian horned viper
The Persian horned viper is not a species listed as endangered. False-horned vipers are among the least threatened species due to their wide distribution.
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