Desert Horned Viper

Cerastes cerastes, commonly known as the Saharan horned viper or the desert horned viper, is a species of viper native to the deserts of Northern Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula and Levant. It is often easily recognized by the presence of a pair of supraocular "horns", although hornless individuals do occur. Three subspecies have been described.

Description

The average total length (body and tail) of Cerastes cerastes is 30–60 cm (12–24 in), with a maximum total length of 85 cm (33 in). Females are larger than males.

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 (see genus Cerastes). 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 and there is a greater frequency of horned individuals (13% versus 48%, respectively).

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. The tail, which may have a black tip, is usually thin.

Common names

Common names of the species Cerastes cerastes include desert sidewinding horned viper, Saharan horned viper, horned s, Sahara horned viper, desert horned viper, North African horned viper, African desert horned viper, greater cerastes, asp and horned viper. In Egypt, it is called el-ṭorîsha (حية الطريشة); in Libya, it is called um-Goron (ام قرون).

In ancient Egyptian, a hieroglyph depicting horned viper is a phonogram for the letter f (𓆑), as derived through rebus principle from the species name, ft.

Geographic distribution

Cerastes cerastes is common in Iraq but is also found in Syria, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Yemen, Jordan, Israel, Qatar, Mauritania, Morocco and Kuwait. They can also be found in parts of North Africa including Libya, Egypt, and Sudan.

Originally, the type locality was listed only as "Oriente." However, Flower (1933) proposed "Egypt" by way of clarification.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of Cerastes cerastes is dry, sandy areas with sparse rock outcroppings, but it tends to avoid coarse sand. Occasionally it is found around oases, and up to an altitude of 1,500 metres (4,900 ft). Cooler temperatures, with annual averages of 20 °C (68 °F) or less, are preferred.

Behaviour and diet

Cerastes cerastes typically moves by sidewinding, during which it presses its weight into the sand or soil, leaving whole-body impressions. Often, it is even possible to use these impressions to make ventral scale counts. It has a reasonably placid temperament, but if threatened, may assume a C-shaped posture and rapidly rub its coils together. Because it has strongly keeled scales, this rubbing produces a rasping noise, similar to the sound produced by snakes of the genus Echis. In the wild, C. cerastes is typically an ambush predator, lying submerged in sand adjacent to rocks or under vegetation. The diet of this carnivorous species consists primarily of a variety of lizards, especially geckos, small rodents, and birds. It is also known to eat jerboas, yellow wagtails, and chiffchaffs. C. cerastes has been known to travel long distances at night in search of prey. When approached, it strikes very rapidly, holding on to the captured prey until the venom takes effect.

Reproduction