Horned Viper

 Vipers:

Horned Viper – Cerastes cerastes (Linnaeus)

General Description

This horned viper is also called the “Saharan horned viper” or the “desert horned viper”. The average total length (body and tail) is 30–60 cm, with a maximum total length of 85 cm. Females are larger than males. It is easily recognized by the presence of a pair of supraocular “horns” (one over each eye), although hornless individuals do occur. 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.

Credit: Jwinius Credit: Holger Krisp

• 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 run 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.

Life Cycle and Common Characteristics

• These snakes favor dry, sandy areas with sparse rockoutcroppings, and tend to avoid coarse sand. They are found around oases and up to an altitude of 1,500 metres.
• 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 eggsthat hatch after 50 to 80 days of incubation. Females lay eggs under rocks and in abandoned rodent burrows.
• The hatchlingsmeasure 12–15 cm in length.

Damages and Medical Implication

• The venom of this horned viber causes swelling, necrosis, haemorrhage, nausea, vomiting, and haematuria.
• Venom yields vary, with ranges of 19–27 mg to 100 mg of dried venom being reported.