Desert horned viper

Desert horned viper

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The desert horned viper(Cerastes cerastes) is a medium-sized species of the viper family (Viperidae) with a body length of up to 80 cm. It is found throughout the Sahara region as far as the Arabian Peninsula.

The colour of the scales of the desert horned viper ranges from grey to yellow to reddish brown. It has a short, pointed tail and a rather stocky build. The large, triangular head is clearly set off from the rest of the body. The most striking feature of this snake is certainly its two horns above the eyes, which gave the horned viper its name. However, these may be missing in some populations.

The habitat of the desert horned viper is, as its name suggests, mainly deserts, rocky landscapes and other dry areas. It is important for them to find plant clusters nearby. Due to its sidewinding locomotion, it is well adapted to life on the hot desert sand. The prey spectrum of the desert horned viper includes small birds, lizards, rodents and insects. As a stalker, it lies in wait for its prey in order to poison it with a lightning-fast attack. Their teeth contain a powerful tissue-destroying poison that can also be dangerous to humans.

The desert horned viper mates between April and June. After a gestation period of 45 to 60 days, the female lays her eggs under rocks or in an abandoned burrow. A clutch typically consists of around 20 eggs, from which the young snakes hatch after around 60 days.

The population of the desert horned viper is currently not endangered. In fact, it is one of the most common snakes in North Africa.