The Saharan horned viper (Cerastes cerastes), also known as the desert horned viper, is a venomous snake species native to the deserts of Northern Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula and Levant.
This snake is famous for its distinctive horns above its eyes, which give it a unique and somewhat menacing look. Its body is thick and covered in rough scales, which help it blend in with the sandy environment. The term "horned" is applied because of the scales above the eyes and nose.
Spider-tailed horned viper
Physical Characteristics
The average total length (body and tail) is 30-60 cm (12-24 in), with a maximum total length of 85 cm (33 in). One of the most distinctive characteristics of this species is the presence of supraorbital "horns", one over each eye. However, these may be reduced in size or absent. The eyes are prominent and set on the sides of the head.
There is significant sexual dimorphism, with males having larger heads and larger eyes than females. Compared to C. gasperettii, the relative head size of C. cerastes is larger, both sexes share the same general body structure and color patterns.
The colour pattern consists of a yellowish, pale grey, pinkish, reddish or pale brown ground colour, which almost always matches the substrate colour where the animal is found. Dorsally, a series of dark, semi-rectangular blotches runs the length of the body. These blotches may or may not be fused into crossbars. The belly is white.
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Habitat and Distribution
This viper thrives in the harsh conditions of the desert. It prefers sandy and rocky areas where it can easily camouflage itself. The Saharan horned viper is accurately named in that it’s found throughout North Africa‘s Sahara Desert, but that’s not the only location where these reptiles can be found.
Primarily snaking along locations in the Middle East and North African deserts, this snake is typically distributed across southwestern Israel and southwestern Arabia. The snake is common in Iraq but is also found in Syria, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Yemen, Jordan, Israel, Qatar, Mauritania, Morocco and Kuwait.
You may find them in dunes and, on the rare occasion, on grave plains and rock pavements. These snakes favor dry, sandy areas with sparse rock outcroppings, and tend to avoid coarse sand. Occasionally they are found around oases, and up to an altitude of 1,500 metres (4,900 ft).
Behavior and Diet
During the day, the Saharan horned viper hides under rocks or buries itself in the sand to escape the scorching heat. Saharan horned vipers are solitary and nocturnal creatures. They spend their days resting burrowed in the sand, hiding in holes, under rocks, or in abandoned burrows.
The viper’s sidewinding motion is one of its most remarkable behaviors. They typically move by sidewinding, during which they press their weight into the sand or soil, leaving whole-body impressions. Often, it is even possible to use these impressions to make ventral scale counts. This unique way of moving allows the snake to travel quickly across loose sand without sinking.
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They have a reasonably placid temperament, but if threatened, they may assume a C-shaped posture and rapidly rub their coils together. Because they have strongly keeled scales, this rubbing produces a rasping noise, similar to the sound produced by snakes of the genus Echis.
Saharan horned vipers are ambush predators; they hunt their prey laying submerged in sand adjacent to rocks or under vegetation. The diet of this carnivorous species consists primarily of small rodents, geckos, birds, and a variety of lizards. These vipers are also known to eat jerboas, yellow wagtails, and chiffchaffs.
Venom and its Effects
While the Saharan horned viper’s venom is potent, it is not usually deadly to humans. The venom contains toxins that can cause pain, swelling, and tissue damage. However, bites are rare since these snakes are not aggressive and tend to avoid human contact.
Cerastes cerastes venom is reported to be similar in action to Echis venom. Envenomation usually causes swelling, haemorrhage, necrosis, nausea, vomiting, and haematuria. A high phospholipase A2 content may cause cardiotoxicity and myotoxicity. Studies of venom from both C. cerastes and C. vipera list a total of eight venom fractions, the most powerful of which has haemorrhagic activity.
Reproduction
In captivity, mating was observed in April and always occurred while the animals were buried in the sand. This species is oviparous, laying 8-23 eggs that hatch after 50 to 80 days of incubation. The eggs are laid under rocks and in abandoned rodent burrows.
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## Conservation StatusThe IUCN has assessed the horned viper as of Least Concern. The species isn’t considered at risk, especially as its adaptations include inhabiting and surviving some of the plant’s harshest ecosystems. The relatively wide geographic distribution of the common sand viper and the ability of the Cerastes genus to sustain four different species throughout that range is a good sign for the continued conservation of the sand viper.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cerastes cerastes |
| Common Names | Saharan Horned Viper, Desert Horned Viper |
| Habitat | Deserts of Northern Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula and Levant |
| Diet | Small rodents, geckos, birds, lizards, jerboas, yellow wagtails, and chiffchaffs |
| Venom | Causes swelling, haemorrhage, necrosis, nausea, vomiting, and haematuria |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
