Water Snake, or as it is popularly known - "chess viper"
is often found in proximity to the common water snake and inhabits both flowing and stagnant water bodies.The snout of the water snake is more pointed compared to the common one, and there are no yellow-orange spots on the sides of its head. Due to this last feature, it is often confused with venomous snakes such as the common viper and the steppe viper. The pattern on the back of the water snake, which vaguely resembles the zigzag stripe of vipers, only adds to the confusion.
The upper part of the body is dark, almost black, with dark spots arranged in a checkerboard pattern. The underside of the body is pink-red, with elongated dark spots across it.
The water snake settles near water: along the banks of rivers and irrigation canals, in flood meadows, where it finds its food. It swims well and dives. Despite its peaceful nature, it is an active predator.
It is active during daylight hours, especially in the morning and evening. It spends most of its time in the water and comes ashore at night.
It feeds on fish, amphibians, and small rodents. It prefers various species of fish – perch, roach, loach, and can even hunt for pike. Therefore, scientists refer to it as an ichthyophage. The caught prey is dragged to the shore, where it is consumed. Much less frequently, its diet includes frogs and their tadpoles.
It goes into hibernation in September–October, wintering not far from water bodies, either alone or in groups, in burrows of rodents, deep cracks, crevices of rocky slopes, or old rotten stumps.
It emerges from hibernation at the end of April – beginning of May. During the mating season, water snakes form groups of several dozen individuals. The female lays from 4 to 15 eggs in late June – early July. Young snakes appear in mid-August – early September. Distribution: throughout the water bodies of Kyrgyzstan.
Red Book
