There are many snakes in the desert, but not all of them are poisonous. Both the sand boa and the silver arrow snake are harmless.
   Those to be avoided are the cobra and different kinds of vipers. True, there are people who search the deserts for these terrifying but much needed creatures. In recent years the snake hunters have been complaining that the number of snakes is dwindling. This is an alarming sign: snake poison cures a multitude of illnesses.
   Another inhabitant of the Kara Kum desert is the rattlesnake. Sometimes at night you can hear a strange, high-pitched ringing sound. And immediately all the desert creatures are on the alert - the rattlesnake is on the prowl!