The first is in cases of snake bites.. Identify the snake or the snake

Written By ندى ماهر عبدربه on 2024/06/26

This article was written originally in Arabic and is translated using a 3rd party automated service. ArabiaWeather is not responsible for any grammatical errors whatsoever.

Weather of Arabia - Snakes are similar to other reptiles in that they enter into a winter hibernation at the end of the fall season, which continues until the beginning of the spring season. During this period, the activities of some vital functions in their bodies decrease, such as temperature, heart rate, and breathing.

Snakes of various types are found all over the world, with the exception of very cold regions such as the North and South Poles, and some islands such as Ireland and New Zealand. Snakes often resort to hibernating collectively in burrows and holes in the ground in search of warmth, from late November until the beginning of April. The only exception is the Umm Junaib snake, which does not follow this pattern. So what is this snake and what pattern does it follow? Why do some people describe them as Qarana?

Snakes or snakes

Umm Junib (Arabic horned snake): It is called the horned snake due to the presence of two pairs of appendages on the top of the head that resemble two small horns. It is also known as “Umm Junib” in some regions; Due to its distinctive lateral movement, this poisonous snake is characterized by a broad, triangular head, a small neck, and a short, thick body, while the tail is short and delicate.

It has short horny appendages above the crown of the head, which may disappear in some individuals, and their usefulness is not precisely known. Females are longer than males, with the length of the male reaching more than 700 mm and the female reaching 800 mm, and the male has a relatively longer tail than the female.

The color of this snake is difficult to distinguish due to the great similarity between its color and the color of the environment in which it lives. Its color ranges from gray to reddish brown depending on the color of the sand. The upper jaw contains a pair of tubular needle fangs that move easily when biting. They emerge automatically when the mouth is opened, and settle next to the roof. The throat when closed.

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Characteristics of a snake or a snake

Degree of toxicity

It is considered a dangerous and highly venomous snake. Statistics indicate that this snake is responsible for most of the bites in the Kingdom due to its wide distribution compared to other snakes whose presence is limited to specific areas. The venom of this snake attacks the circulatory system and breaks down blood cells. The amount of venom needed to kill a 70-kg person is estimated at about 40-50 mg.

the size

The body is short and thick, and the length from the beginning of the snout to the end of the tail ranges between 60-80 cm, and the female is generally longer than the male.

the color

The color of this snake ranges between pale gray and reddish-brown or yellow, which resembles the color of the environment in which it lives. It is difficult to distinguish easily, and there are dark spots on the back that extend along the body.

Why was Umm Janib snake named after her?

It is also known as “Umm Janib” due to its lateral undulating movement in any direction. The head is approximately medium in size, broad on both sides of the back area, and is larger in males than in females. The snout is short and broad, and the neck is short and narrow. The eyes are large, round, and prominent. They are located on both sides of the head, and are larger in males, while the pupil is vertical. The tail is noticeably short and tapers towards the back, and in males it is longer than in females.

This snake has one pair of needle-shaped venom fangs, located in the upper jaw and connected to the venom gland located on the side of the head. The canines have the ability to protrude and recoil when opening and closing the mouth, as they bend to rest near the roof of the mouth. The head is covered by small, homogeneous, tuberous scales with clear bars. The ocular scales range from 15 to 21, and the rows of dorsal scales range from 27 to 35. As for the transverse ventral scales, they range from 146 to 162 in males, and from 153 to 172 in females, and the subcaudal scales. From 30 to 41 in males, and from 31 to 36 in females.

Living and nutrition

Umm Janib is considered nocturnal, but it may be seen in the early morning hours, or before sunset. They move long distances at night in search of food and shelter, and their food usually consists of small rodents, lizards, or small birds.

Reproduction

Females are oviparous and lay 10 to 20 eggs in moist places. The eggs hatch after 8 weeks, and the young reach sexual maturity or puberty after two years.

Spread

The Umm Junaib snake is one of the most widespread snakes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as it is found in all regions from north to south and from east to west, but it is not found in mountainous heights that exceed 1,500 meters in height.

Home

Umm Junaib inhabits sandy and rocky environments due to the ease of finding a hiding place for it. It usually buries itself under the sand with vibrating movements to avoid the heat of the sun, and keeps its eyes and nose outside the sand to monitor its prey. This snake is considered highly toxic and fatal to humans, as its venom breaks down blood cells, and it is responsible for Most of the bite cases are in the areas where they are found in the Kingdom. It enters a hibernation period in the winter, and returns to activity with the beginning of spring.