Its unique natural and animal world, rich in endemic plants and birds, is due to its remoteness from other lands and long-term historical isolation for 60-80 million years.
2. About 1000 years ago, when there were no permanent inhabitants on the islands, mammals did not live on the territory of New Zealand, except for two species of bats, as well as whales, sea lions and seals that lived in coastal waters.
3. The active formation of European settlements in the 19th century provoked the emergence of new animal species. During the settlement of New Zealand lands, dogs and rats appeared on the islands, and later Europeans brought goats, cows, pigs, cats and mice to New Zealand.
4. This became a real test for the fauna of the islands. Rabbits, rats, stoats, ferrets and cats, which were brought in for hunting, reached large sizes because they had no natural enemies.
5. Currently, New Zealand's environmental authorities carefully monitor New Zealand's fauna, and some areas have been completely rid of animals that pose a threat to the country's fauna and flora.
New Zealand takahe bird
6. New Zealand is home to two types of endemic mammals, which are descended from rare species of bats. Animals of New Zealand, which can be called the most striking representatives of the fauna of this country: the kiwi bird, the world's largest owl parrot, the kakapo, one of the oldest reptiles, the tuatara, the only mountain parrot, the kea, the hatteria, and the European hedgehog.
7. New Zealand animals are also fresh aquatic species twenty-nine species of fish live here. Eight of them are now on the verge of extinction.
8.More than 40 species of ants also live in this country.
9. For a long period of time it was believed that snakes did not live in New Zealand. But in the 2000s, a group of researchers from Australia and New Zealand discovered the remains of these reptiles. This discovery was proof that snakes did live in New Zealand approximately 15-20 million years ago.
10. For what reason these animals became extinct is not known to this day. A number of scientists suggest that this happened due to the Ice Age. Snakes simply could not stand the cold, and since New Zealand is located at a fairly distant distance from civilization, new species of reptiles could not be brought here in time.
Kiwi bird
11. The symbol of New Zealand - the kiwi - is positioned as a bird, although it cannot even fly, it does not have full wings.
12. Representatives of this genus of wingless do not have feathers, instead they grow hair, and they also have very powerful paws, with the help of which these creatures walk and run.
13.Kiwi are nocturnal animals. They developed the ability to hide in forests or bushes and be nocturnal, which reduced the likelihood of being eaten by other animals. The main enemies of kiwi are birds - eagles and falcons.
14.They are very aggressive. By the way, kiwis do not defend themselves with their beaks, like birds, but use their sharp claws.
15.There are five types of kiwi in total.
Owl parrot kakapo
16. Kakapo is a single representative of the subfamily of owl parrots.
17. His facial plumage is very developed, so he is similar to owls.
18. The parrot's feathers are green with black stripes on the back. The kakapo has excellent wings, but due to the fact that the keel of the sternum is practically undeveloped and the muscles are very weak, it cannot fly.
19. These endemics used to be widespread in New Zealand, but now remain only in the southwestern part of the South Island. The parrot lives in forests and areas with high humidity.
20. Kakapo is the only parrot that leads a predominantly nocturnal or crepuscular lifestyle. During the daytime, it hides in burrows or rock crevices.
New Zealand tuatara
21. Tuatara is a unique animal of New Zealand, a descendant of dinosaurs.
22.It is protected at the legislative level, and the government is trying to prevent the extinction of the population, since there are only one hundred thousand reptiles left.
23.They have a lot of enemies, including themselves (male tuatara are considered cannibals and can eat eggs and young offspring). They are also attacked by birds and other predators.
24. Among tuatara, mortality exceeds birth rate. Reproduction of offspring requires a long period.
25.These reptiles live up to about a hundred years. Tuatara's favorite food is insects.
Ermine
26. An ermine is a predator animal; it has 34 sharp teeth and paws with tenacious claws. These animals are very agile and crawl well through trees. The stoat eats small rodents and birds.
27. The stoat was brought to New Zealand to control the rabbit population. But the animal successfully acclimatized and began to reproduce very intensively, which led to an increase in the population. So the ermine turned from a helper into a pest, which began to destroy the chicks and eggs of local birds.
28. In New Zealand, they found the remains of flightless giant moi birds, exterminated more than five hundred years ago, whose height was three and a half meters.
New Zealand Kangaroo
29. There are also kangaroos here. These New Zealand animals prefer to be nocturnal and live in groups of several individuals. Many kangaroo species are on the verge of extinction.
30. New Zealand animals that cannot survive on their own live in 14 national parks and hundreds of small reserves under the constant supervision of specialists. Almost all animal species in this country are under state protection.
New Zealand giant skink
31. New Zealand lizards are skinks. There are three types of skinks: otago, sutera and greater skink.
32.They can often be seen on the rocks, where they bask in the sun. The number of large skinks alone, according to the Ministry of Nature Conservation, is 2-3 thousand individuals.
33. Otago is a giant among endemic lizards and reaches 30 cm in length.
34. Skinks breed every year. The offspring are usually 3–6 young. Lizards feed on insects and plant fruits.
35. Skinks have greenish-yellow skin with stripes that provide excellent camouflage in rocky, lichen-covered environments.
New Zealand fur seal
36. The New Zealand fur seal belongs to the species of eared seals. Their fur is grayish-brown in color. Males have a luxurious black mane.
37.These animals of New Zealand live throughout the ocean, primarily on Macquarie Island. It is inhabited year-round by young males who are not yet able to conquer their own territories.
38. At the end of the 19th century, large populations of fur seals were almost completely exterminated. Currently, the animals are listed in the Red Book; there are approximately 35 thousand of them.
39. Why aren’t snakes brought to New Zealand today? Of course, if there was such a need, snakes could be brought here, at least from neighboring Australia, but the fact is that snakes are outlawed in New Zealand.
40. Breeding or keeping this reptile at home in New Zealand is strictly prohibited! Also, those who accidentally saw a snake but did not report it to the relevant authorities will also face a fine.
New Zealand sea lions
41.The New Zealand sea lion is brown and black in color. Males have a mane that covers their shoulders, which makes them appear larger and more powerful. Females are much smaller than males, their fur is light gray.
42.95% of the fur seal population is found on Auckland Island. Each male defends its own territory from other males. In battles, the most resilient and strongest representative wins. There are approximately 10-15 thousand individuals of this species.
43.But still, there are snakes in New Zealand, only not terrestrial, but sea snakes - the already visible sea krait and the yellow-bellied bonito. These reptiles were left alive only because they do not crawl onto land and are practically not found near the coast of New Zealand.
44.So why are the authorities so sensitive and categorical about preventing snakes from appearing in New Zealand? And the answer is simple - the snakes would immediately destroy the main symbol of the country - the kiwi bird.
45.The most dangerous representative of the animal world of New Zealand is the feral boar.
New Zealand insect - weta
46.Weta lives here. This huge insect, weighing more than a sparrow, resembles a huge cockroach.
47.But there are no mosquitoes in New Zealand.
48. The carnivorous snail Powelliphanta, listed in the Red Book, is also found in the country. She is capable of devouring worms that are not inferior to her in size.
49.The smallest species of dolphin, Hector’s dolphin, lives off the coast of New Zealand. An adult reaches 1.4 m in length, which is smaller than the average adult.
50.However, despite strict control, there is still a certain advantage in the absence of snakes in New Zealand - the country is considered one of the safest countries in the world for outdoor travel.
photo from the Internet
If you hate snakes and want to avoid encountering them at all costs, you should definitely go to New Zealand. After all, snakes are simply prohibited there (so much so that even their very existence is illegal).
This not only means that you will never find a snake in New Zealand wildlife(even if you succeed, it will soon be mercilessly destroyed). You can't keep snakes as pets there either. They are prohibited from being kept in zoos, research institutions or anywhere else. However, the owner of the snake will not get off with a small fine - just ask Nathan Bush.
In 2011, Bush purchased a pet snake. When she was discovered, he was brought to trial and sentenced to four months in prison. That's how serious New Zealand is about snakes. Essentially, if a New Zealander simply becomes aware of the existence of a snake in their country, they are legally obligated to report it to the authorities to help keep the country completely free of these reptiles.
Snakes are completely absent, at least on land in New Zealand. Fighting their sea counterparts, as you understand, is a little more difficult. Land snake species are not allowed into the country because none of them are native to the New Zealand islands.
New Zealand is famous for many things, including as the “land of the hobbits” (it was in this country that the film “The Lord of the Rings” was filmed). And, as it turns out, you can find a hissing Gollum there rather than a real snake. This is simply surprising given its proximity to southern Australia, home to some of the world's most dangerous snakes.
New Zealand is one of the few areas in the world where there are no snakes at all. Besides it, these are Greenland, Antarctica and partly the Hawaiian Islands. So if you are afraid of creepy crawlies, now you know where to go on holiday!
New Zealand is a country with unique flora and fauna and beautifully varied landscapes, including dense subtropical forests, magnificent mountain ranges, numerous fiords, many kilometers wild beaches, volcanoes, geothermal valleys, geysers, internationally recognized tourist cities and much more.
Here are some short answers to simple but important questions you may have.
What clothes and other things should I take with me?
In most cases, New Zealanders dress quite simply. Evening dresses and suits with ties are acceptable in most restaurants and nightclubs, but are not required. Men generally do not wear suits, except in a few of the more formal restaurants in major cities.
- Jacket with a hood for protection from wind and rain. It is best for the jacket to have a GORETEX membrane or similar. Umbrellas in New Zealand are not particularly helpful due to the possibility of breakage due to sudden gusts of wind. Lack of a quality jacket can ruin your vacation.
- Sports shoes or sneakers
- Warm sweater or fleece jacket
- Trousers with a protective layer against wind and rain
- Quality sunglasses
- Headgear (cap) from exposure to sunlight
- Sunscreen
Even in summer, a jacket and sweater should be included in your luggage, especially if you're heading to the South Island, where there are many mountainous areas. It can often rain and wind, so the jacket should be windproof and waterproof.
Typical clothing in summer, except in some mountainous areas, may be the following set: sandals, shorts, T-shirt, a light jacket and a warm jacket for colder areas, a baseball cap and a jacket for rain and wind. Sneakers are also required for walking tours.
If you are traveling from March to October, then you need a set of warm clothes, such as a light knitted hat, gloves, warm socks, padding polyester or down jacket, thermal underwear, water and windproof jacket and trousers, sneakers.
You may not need this clothing, but with the South Antarctic winds it can get quite cold even in summer, especially on the South Island. Therefore, you need to take it with you.
What is the best time to visit New Zealand?
You can visit New Zealand at any time of the year. Summer and winter temperatures differ by only about 10ºC across most of the country, making New Zealand ideal for holidays all year round.
New Zealand has four seasons spring (September November), summer (December February), autumn (March May) and winter (June August).
In summer the water warms up to 25 degrees Celsius, so many aquatic species are possible active rest, such as snorkeling, surfing, windsurfing and others.
In winter you can find excellent skiing and snowboarding in the mountains. There are also many opportunities for free riding and heliskiing.
Away from the mountains, winter is very mild and temperatures are usually above zero everywhere.
Most excursions and active and adventure holidays operate year-round.
What is the climate in New Zealand?
The seasons are in direct opposition to the seasons in the Northern Hemisphere. January is the warmest month of the year: July is the coldest. Temperatures are generally higher in the north of the country, where they reach subtropical levels in summer. Winters are accompanied by heavy snowfalls in the Southern Alps and the mountains in the center North Island. Sometimes snow falls and melts in low-lying areas of the country, mainly in the south of the South Island. In summer, all parts of the country are exposed to intense solar radiation. In this sun, fair-skinned people burn easily and should avoid direct sunlight from 11am to 4pm, from late October to early April. In general, the climate is mild maritime, subtropical in the north, temperate in the central part, alpine in the mountains of the Southern Alps and sub-arctic in the south. The average temperature in January is 20-23 °C, in July 10-12 °C. The winter period is characterized by more rain and winds. Although it rains throughout the year. There is no rainy season in the country. Precipitation occurs all year round.
New Zealand has a partly subtropical and largely maritime temperate climate. Many visitors expect a tropical, hot climate. However, temperatures are very moderate, both in summer and winter. There are generally no extremely hot or cold temperatures here.
However, thanks to the humidity and maritime climate, many Russians feel cold, especially without the necessary clothing.
There is no reason to be afraid of the New Zealand winter, because... it is usually short and usually quite soft.
One of the features of the local climate is the rapid variability of weather. The weather may change several times during the day. Therefore, you should always have a sweater and jacket on hand, even if it’s quite hot outside.
When is the best time to come?
This is one of the most important and correct questions. As practice shows, many travelers underestimate the size of the country and the number of attractions and excursions for which New Zealand is famous throughout the world. We highly recommend that you plan at least 12 days to visit both the South and North Islands. But even during such a period of time it is quite difficult to visit even the most accessible attractions. The optimal period of time for travel is from 14 to 20 days. During this time, you will quietly see the beauty of the country, take part in the most interesting and unique excursions and be able to truly enjoy the trip.
No matter how logical it may seem, we strongly do not recommend that you combine a trip to Australia and New Zealand. These are two completely different and very beautiful countries, both are worthy independent travel no rush.
What is the best season for hiking and outdoor activities in New Zealand?
Such walking routes, like Abel Tasman, Heaphy and Queen Charlotte, located on the northern part of the South Island are accessible all year round. However, higher altitude destinations such as the world famous Milford Track, Routeburn, Kepler are closed for the winter due to snow.
Routes such as Milford and Routeburn are open between October and April and must be booked in advance due to their huge popularity around the world.
Most routes can be completed independently. However, if you prefer comfort and service, we recommend booking an organized tour with guides and a more comfortable level of accommodation.
Do I need a visa to enter New Zealand?
All visitors to New Zealand must have a passport valid for at least three months after the date you intend to leave the country.
For citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other countries former USSR In addition to the Baltic republics, you must obtain a tourist visa to travel to New Zealand.
It is issued by the Moscow Embassy of New Zealand.
All necessary information about the requirements for obtaining a visa to New Zealand is on the official website of the country's Immigration Service www.immigration.govt.nz
If you wish, we can help you obtain a New Zealand visa.
Can I bring food, wood products or other items into New Zealand?
The New Zealand ecosystem has evolved independently for over 80 million years and is highly vulnerable to alien invasion. This means that when entering the country you will be forced to go through the biological security service.
We strongly recommend that you do not import any fresh products - fruits and vegetables - into the country. You can import processed and packaged food products such as chocolate, nuts, etc. However, YOU MUST CHECK THE CHECK OUT OF FOOD PRODUCTS AND SHOW THEM TO THE INSPECTOR.
Please read the arrival card you receive carefully. If you have other items made of wood, bee products, etc., be sure to declare them on the arrival card.
THE FINE FOR PRESENCE OF UNDECLARED ITEMS ISNZD400.
Can I drive my rental car myself in New Zealand?
Yes, you can do this. To do this, you must have a valid driver's license from your country and a translation into English language both sides, certified by an official translation agency. If you have an international driving license, no translation is required.
Can I use credit cards/ATMs in New Zealand?
All major international credit cards can be used in New Zealand in most shops, restaurants, etc. Traveler's checks are accepted in hotels, banks and some shops. If your credit card encoded using a PIN number, you can withdraw cash from any of the ATMs located in banks and shopping centers countrywide.
Are there any poisonous animals in New Zealand?
New Zealand has no snakes, large predators or other dangerous animals or insects, making it one of the safest countries in the world, especially for outdoor travel. The biggest nuisance is the midge on West coast South Island. However, using standard repellents easily solves this problem.
Is the water safe to drink in New Zealand?
New Zealand cities and towns have excellent water supplies and in all cases, tap water fresh and safe to drink. Water from rivers and lakes must be boiled or chemically treated, and filtered to drinking water level to avoid digestive disorders.
What is the power supply voltage in New Zealand? Do I need to use a converter?
Electricity is supplied throughout New Zealand at 230/240 volts (50 Hz), although most hotels and motels also provide 110 volt AC outlets (20 watt capacity) for electric shavers only.
All other equipment that has a different plug configuration requires adapters, which are available in many stores and are also loaned to most hotels for temporary use.
What types of accommodation are available in New Zealand?
New Zealand offers a wide range of accommodation options, ranging from luxury hotels, exclusive boutique hotels and lodges, to budget motels, guest houses and farmsteads, as well as homestays, holiday parks and hostels.
The country has such international networks like: Hilton, ACCOR (Novotel, Mercure, St Moritz, Grand Mercure, Pullman, Sofitel), Millenium, Rydges, Holiday Inn, Westin and others.
You might also enjoy the freedom of traveling around New Zealand in your caravan or campervan. They sleep from two to six people and offer every comfort including shower, equipped kitchen, refrigerator and microwave.
Do I need to pre-book my stay?
It's a good idea to book your stay in advance, at least for the first few nights, especially during the most popular summer period, December to February inclusive. To obtain a visa, you must also make a reservation along the entire travel itinerary.
What is Farmstay?
Farm stays are the perfect way to see real New Zealanders and experience New Zealand rural life.
Where is the capital of New Zealand?
Wellington is the political and financial center of New Zealand. The Parliament building is known as "The Beehive" and is one of the city's largest landmarks.
The National Archives, the National Library and the Old Government Building (the second largest wooden building in the world) are nearby and are open to all visitors free of charge.
What is Kiwi?
The kiwi, one of New Zealand's national emblems, is a flightless bird with long hair-like feathers and a thin beak that it uses to catch worms and insects underground. Found only in New Zealand, it is active at night in desert areas of the country. Don't forget to visit one of the many Kiwi houses where you can watch them under special 'night' lighting.
New Zealanders often refer to themselves as kiwis, and the term is also used in a short form for the famous kiwi fruit. On the stock exchange, New Zealand dollar also called "kiwi".
What is night life in New Zealand?
Many bars and nightclubs feature live bands, especially in larger cities, adding new dynamism to nightlife. You'll find a range of nightclubs, cabarets, bars, concerts to choose from. There are also four casinos in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown.
What types of recreation are available for children?
If you're planning a visit with your family, you can be sure that New Zealand has a wide range of activities for children of all ages.
There are many different parks with children's attractions, animals and birds, and playgrounds. Horse riding, skiing in winter, watching whales, penguins, dolphins, seals, zoos in most cities.
If you are visiting major centers You'll find a range of themed attractions including Rainbow's End (Auckland), Planet Splash (Hastings), Sealand (Napier) and the International Antarctic Center (Chryscat). Te Papa, interactive National Museum, has a range of activities for the whole family, including young children.
Most family restaurants have a children's menu and high chairs. Many cafes also have high chairs, as well as baskets of toys, strollers for babies and toddlers.
Most public parks are well equipped playgrounds for younger children, like many holiday parks.
What are the conditions for smokers in New Zealand?
To protect people from the health effects of second-hand smoke, smoking in all public places, including bars, restaurants, cafes, and casinos, is prohibited in New Zealand. If you smoke, please do so in designated areas or outside.
New Zealand is considered one of the most beautiful and safest countries on Earth. Here a large number of green hills, beautiful fields without edges, clean rivers and clear lakes, clean air, excellent ecology.
On the territory of this country, snakes are not found both in nature and in entertainment and scientific centers. In this state, such reptiles are prohibited by law. It is prohibited to keep them or breed them for any purpose. And if you find a snake somewhere and do not inform the authorities, you face a fine.
The Ministry of Industry provided the authorities with data according to which there are no snakes in the country at all. We are talking specifically about terrestrial species, while there are still marine species in the waters of this state. These reptiles do not appear on land and are extremely rare near the New Zealand coast. Their bites are poisonous, but these animals are very small in size and when bitten, their poison cannot penetrate human skin, so they are not at all dangerous to people.
Perhaps in New Zealand, snakes are banned by the authorities because they would definitely exterminate the main state symbol - a wingless bird called “kiwi”. This would ultimately lead to the complete extinction of the species, because these birds live only here and you will not find them anywhere else. By the way, the word kiwi is also used to describe the inhabitants of the country, which is not at all offensive to them.
Precisely because there are no snakes here, large predators, mosquitoes and dangerous spiders, this state is considered the most favorable and safe for tourists.
What is the reason for the lack of snakes in New Zealand?
Previously it was assumed that these reptiles did not exist in this state at all. But in the 2000s, researchers and archaeologists discovered the remains of snakes. Thanks to this discovery, it was proven that 20-23 million years ago these reptiles still lived here, but for some reason they still became extinct.
One of the reasons for the complete extinction of snakes is considered to be the ice age in the country. It is believed that the land snakes died out due to the extreme cold during this time and did not re-introduce themselves due to the fact that the islands are geographically isolated from each other.
However, they could well have appeared, for example, from Australia, where they are found in large numbers. But thanks to the harsh attitude of New Zealand policy towards these reptiles, they have little chance of resuming their habitat here.
Almost everyone fears or dislikes snakes. There are three types of people: 1% love snakes (they pick them up, play with them, have them at home), 94% would like to stay away from them. And there are 5% who are afraid of snakes more than anything else. Everyone has a friend like this: nod at any string - oh, snake! And that’s it, he already squeals and runs away in horror. It's easier for them to die than to stay in a room with snakes. But how much do we know about snakes? The majority knows almost nothing - let's fix that.
Actually, snakes kill people all the time.
Do you think it is very rare and exotic to die from a snake bite? It depends where you live. If you live in India, bad news: more than 80 thousand people are bitten by vipers and cobras every year, and 10 thousand of them die. This is the most dangerous region in terms of snake activity and aggressiveness. Obviously, somewhere in Vermont the chances of encountering a snake are much less, but we implore you - watch your step, wherever you are.Is there a place on Earth completely without snakes?
The general rule is: the colder it is, the fewer snakes there are. It’s almost safe in the Arctic Circle and Antarctica, but you can’t go there on vacation. Few snakes in Iceland, Ireland and New Zealand. Some countries are full of snakes, but generally most are non-venomous. It is important for you to know that the snakes themselves do not want to meet you at all; they avoid people with all their might. Actually, there's another great way to avoid snakes: stay home.
Vessey's Snake, Maine's Favorite
One of the places where there are no poisonous snakes is the American state of Maine. But they have a snake known as Vessie (similar to Nessie, the Loch Ness monster). They say she is as long as a huge truck and has a head the size of a football. Fear, of course, has big eyes. The press reported: "A snake was seen in the park area feasting on a large mammal - probably a beaver." What a great place, right in the park, next to the playgrounds, snakes the size of trucks eating beavers! This is where you should go on vacation - adventures are guaranteed.
Don't mess with the black Mamba
If you've ever seen Tarantino's Kill Bill, you probably remember the mention of the black mamba as the most dangerous snake. Most herpentological experts agree: the black mamba is the most dangerous of all snakes in the world. Why is the mamba a symbol of horror? What's so scary about it? In addition to its strong poison, the black mamba is damn fast and fast, reaching speeds of over 11 km/h over short distances. But that's not the main thing. Its open mouth is black on the inside and to many it seems like a coffin, which instantly makes it creepy. The mamba lives in Africa, so walk there with double caution.
Does the snake eye have no eyelids?
The unblinking gaze of a cold-blooded killer...fear has big eyes, what people can’t come up with! So why don't snakes blink? It turns out that it’s not because they don’t have eyelids. Snakes have eyelids, you just can’t see them - they are transparent and fused. The thin skin that protects the eyes comes off together with the snake's skin in one "stocking" when molting. So the hypnotizing gaze of a snake is a pure myth.
Lebanese commandos are so tough they eat live snakes
During the annual ceremony, Lebanese commandos tear live snakes with their teeth. The senseless cruelty is intended to confirm their willingness to defeat the enemy with their bare hands. Yeah, that's probably true: if you can tear apart and eat a live snake, then you can probably do a whole bunch of super-tough stuff on the battlefield. There's no time for jokes here, poor snakes.
It was no coincidence that Voldemort called Nagini that way
Nagini is a huge poisonous one that belongs to Lord Voldemort. In Sanskrit and North Indian languages, naga means "king cobra" and naginii is feminine, female cobra. In "Harry Potter" there is a clear reference to the character of Kipling's fairy tale "Riki-tiki-tavi", where the king cobra was called Nagana (actually that cobra was called "Naked", because Kipling almost all the names of animals are just their names in Hindi) . The transliteration “Nagaina” has taken root in the Russian translation, and it was this that was included in “Riki-Tiki-Tavi” and in “Harry Potter”.
What do rattlesnakes rattle?
Something, a rattle, of course! And not just like that, the rattlesnake seems to say: I’m here, don’t step on it, stay away from me! When a rattlesnake is excited, its tail vibrates and rattles the rings at the end of the tail hitting each other. The result is a sharp buzzing sound. It can be heard at a distance of 20 meters and can be avoided by the snake.
Fairytale boomslangs exist
The boomslang snake, whose skin someone was always trying to steal from Snape's laboratory in Harry Potter, actually exists (boomslang skin is an important ingredient in witchcraft potions, for example, it is part of Polyjuice Potion). Its name comes from the African boomslang and means "tree snake". The boomeslang's green eyes have excellent vision, and the snakes almost always manage to avoid encounters with humans. But if they are caught, they sting. There are even several deaths reported as a result of a boomslang bite.
Titanoboa were the largest snakes on Earth
Those who are afraid of snakes probably don’t need to imagine what titanoboa mastodons looked like (although they would be better off not reading this post at all). Titanoboa snakes are long extinct; they lived on Earth approximately 58 million years ago. They were huge: the length reached 15 meters, the girth of the body was about a meter, and the weight was more than a ton. Unfortunately, we are not destined to meet such beauty in reality, but there are models of giants in several museums.
Snake with a coin
The Barbados narrow-mouthed snake or "Charles' snake" is the smallest in the world. An adult baby snake is no longer than 10 centimeters. They live only on the island of Barbados in the Caribbean Sea. They are completely harmless, they don’t even have teeth. Apparently this is why the snake is on the verge of extinction (or because the forests where they lived were all cut down). And it was named by the American biologist Hedge in honor of his wife, herpentologist Carla Ann Hass, about whose character history is silent.
Taipans are the most poisonous
Australian inland taipan, also called the "fierce snake". If you want to look at taipans, they live in the central part of Australia. This is the most poisonous of land snakes; the venom in one bite is enough to kill a hundred people. So, it’s probably better not to meet with them, they are very fast: when they see danger, they raise their heads and sting with lightning speed several times in a row. Before the invention of the antidote in 1955, 90% of their victims died from the bite of taipans.
The snake's heart is mobile inside its body
The snake's heart is not fixed: due to the lack of a diaphragm, the snake's heart is mobile and is able to move inside its body, dodging damage when something large goes down the esophagus. So if a snake eats something really huge, its heart will just roll away and then come back. The cardiovascular system of snakes has a unique system where blood from the snake's tail passes through the kidneys before returning to the heart. Isn’t it true how wisely nature arranged everything?
The unique arrangement of internal organs is not at all human
This is exactly what you didn’t know: unlike the paired human organs, which are located symmetrically, the internal organs of a snake have an elongated shape, are completely asymmetrical and single. Some of the snake organs used to have a pair, but during the process of evolution they lost their significance and became unpaired. Most snakes have only one lung, the second is usually rudimentarily developed.
Deadly poisonous or slightly toxic - it is better not to experiment
The venom of a viper and a cobra, of course, is different from what a girlfriend might pour into your glass. Eaten poison and a poisonous snake bite somewhere in the neck are two different things, and in the second case the action occurs many times faster. Whether it is toxic or deadly is never known for sure, and individual reactions to a poison can be unpredictable. We hope you never have to find out about this in real life. And remember that the snake cannot harm you if it is at a distance. Watch your step, stay away from snakes and take care of yourself!
