Cerastes cerastes

Cerastes cerastes
Temporal range: Pleistocene-recent
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Cerastes
Species:
C. cerastes
Binomial name
Cerastes cerastes
Synonyms
List
    • [Coluber] Cerastes Linnaeus, 1758
    • Coluber cornutus
      Linnaeus In Hasselquist, 1762
    • Cerastes cornutus — Forskål, 1775
    • Vipera Cerastes
      — Sonnini & Latreille, 1801
    • Cerastes Hasselquistii Gray, 1842
    • Cerastes Aegyptiacus
      A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron &
      A.H.A. Duméril, 1854
    • Echidna atricaudata A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854
    • Vipera Avicennae Jan, 1859
    • V[ipera]. (Echidna) Avicennae
      — Jan, 1863
    • V[ipera]. (Cerastes) cerastes
      — Jan, 1863
    • Cerastes cornutus — Boulenger, 1891
    • Cerastes cerastes— J. Anderson, 1899
    • Cerastes cornutus var. mutila
      Doumergue, 1901
    • Aspis cerastes — Parker, 1938
    • Cerastes cerastes cerastes
      — Leviton & S.C. Anderson, 1967
    • Cerastes cerastes karlhartli Sochurek, 1974
    • Cerastes cerastes karlhartli
      — Tiedemann & Häupl, 1980
    • [Cerastes cerastes] mutila
      — Le Berre, 1989
    • Cerastes cerastes — Y. Werner,
      Le Verdier, Rosenman & Sivan, 1991

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

C. cerastes, with "horns".

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. Specific prey in the wild include 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.

sidewinder tracks in the sand

Reproduction

In captivity, mating of Cerastes cerastes 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. Each hatchlings measures 12–15 cm (about 5–6 inches) in total length (Tail included).

Venom

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. Venom yields vary, with ranges of 19–27 mg to 100 mg of dried venom being reported. The venom has LD50 toxicity values of 0.4 mg/kg IV and 3.0 mg/kg SC. An estimated lethal dose for humans is 40–50 mg.

Subspecies

The following subspecies of Cerastes cerastes are recognized as being valid.

Previously, C. gasperettii was also regarded as a subspecies of C. cerastes.

References

  1. ↑ Barros, Margarida Isabel Oliveira. "Reconstructing the evolutionary history of desert-adapted Cerastes vipers in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula" (PDF) (in Portuguese and English). Porto, Portugal: Universidade do Porto. xi + 81 pp. (Master's degree thesis).
  2. ↑ Wagner, P.; Wilms, T.; Niagate, B.; Joger, U.; Geniez, P.; Mateo, J.A.; El Mouden, E.H.; Slimani, T.; Nouira, M.S.; Baha El Din, S.; Busais, S.M.S.; Al Jumaily, M.M. (2021). "Cerastes cerastes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021 e.T197465A2486896. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T197465A2486896.en.
  3. 1 2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-01-4
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G (2003). True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
  5. 1 2 Mehrtens JM (1987). Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Spawls S, Branch B (1995). The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
  7. ↑ Werner YL, Verdier A, Rosenman D, Sivan N (1991). "Systematics and Zoogeography of Cerastes (Ophidia: Viperidae) in the Levant: 1. Distinguishing Arabian from African "Cerastes cerastes". The Snake 23: 90–100.
  8. ↑ Stevens, Austin (2005). SNAKEMASTER In Search of the Snake that Killed Cleopatra. [DVD] Michael Davies, USA: Discovery Communications, Inc.
  9. 1 2 Brown JH (1973). Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73–229. ISBN 0-398-02808-7.
  10. ↑ U.S. Navy. (1991). Poisonous Snakes of the World. New York: Dover Publications Inc. (United States Government Reprint). ISBN 0-486-26629-X.
  11. ↑ Ditmars RL (1933). Reptiles of the World. Revised Edition. New York: The MacMillan Company. 329 pp. + 89 plates.
  12. ↑ Gardiner, Alan Henderson (1994). Egyptian grammar: being an introduction to the study of hieroglyphs (3rd ed., rev ed.). Oxford: Griffith institute, Ashmoleum museum. p. 476. ISBN 978-0-900416-35-4.
  13. 1 2 3 "Cerastes cerastes (Desert Horned Viper)". Animal Diversity Web.
  14. ↑ Photo sequence of Cerastes cerastes feeding in the wild (Gilf Kebir, Egypt, 27 October 2004) at FJ Expeditions accessed 19 October 2013

Further reading