Cerastes cerastes

Encyclopedia : C : CE : CER : Cerastes cerastes

Cerastes cerastes is a venomous viper species. Common names: desert horned viper, Sahara horned viper,Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8. Saharan horned viper.Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company. ISBN 0-89464-877-2. These are relatively small snakes native to the deserts of Northern Africa and parts of the Middle East. Four subspecies are currently recognized, including the typical form described here.

Contents

1 Description
2 Behavior
3 Reproduction
4 Venom
5 Subspecies
6 Cited references
7 External links
8 See also

Description

C. cerastes, with horns.

The average length is 30-60 cm, with a maximum of 85 cm. Females are larger than males.Joger U. 1984. The Venomous Snakes of the Near and Middle East. Wiesbaden: Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag. 175 pp.

One of most distinctive characteristics of this species are the supraorbital horns, one over each eye. However, these are either present, reduced in size or absent (see Cerastes). The eyes are prominent and set on the side of the head. There is significant sexual dimorphism, with males having larger heads and larger eyes than females. Compared to C. gasperetti, the relative head size of C. cerastes is larger and there is a greater frequency of horned individuals (13% versus 48% respectively).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.

The color pattern consists of a yellowish, pale gray, pinkish or pale brown ground color that almost always matches the substrate color where the animal is found. Dorsally, a series of dark, semi-rectangular blotches run the length of the body. These may or may not be fused into crossbars. The belly is whitish and the tail may have a black tip.U.S. Navy. 1991. Poisonous Snakes of the World. New York: Dover Books. (Reprint of US Govt. Printing Office, Washington D.C.) 133 pp. ISBN 048626629X.

Behavior

They typically move by sidewinding or rectilinear locomotion. They are ambush predators, often burrowing into loose sand and laying submerged with little more than their eyes (and horns) poking out, waiting for a prey item, like a lizard or small rodent to happen by. C. cerastes is not a very aggressive species. When disturbed, it will either lie still or attempt a retreat. If threatened, they may assume a C-shaped posture rapidly rub their coils together. Having strongly keeled scales, this produces a rasping noise, similar to saw-scaled vipers, Echis. They can strike quickly.

Reproduction

In captivity, mating was observed in April and always occurred while the animals were buried in the sand Schnurrenburger H. 1959. Observations on behavior in two Libyan species of viperine snake. Herpetologica 15:70-2.. 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. The hatchlings measure 12-15 cm in length.Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp.

Venom

C. cerastes venom is not very toxic, although it is reported to be similar in action to Echis venomMohamed AH, Kamel A, Ayobe MH. 1969. Studies of phospholipase A and B activities of Egyptian snake venoms and a scorpion venom. Toxicon 6:293-8.. Envenomation usually causes swelling, hemorrhage, necrosis, nausea, vomiting and hematuria. 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 hemorrhagic activityLabib RS, Malim HY, Farag NW. 1979. Fractionation of Cerastes cerastes and Cerastes vipera snake venoms by gel filtration and identification of some enzymatic and biological activities. Toxicon 17:337-45.Labib RS, Azab MH, Farag NW. 1981. Effects of Cerastes cerastes (Egyptian sand viper) snake venoms on blood coagulation: separation of coagulant and anticoagulant factors and their correlation with arginineesterase protease activities. Toxicon 19:85-94.Labib RS, Azab ER, Farag NW. 1981. Proteases of Cerastes cerastes and Cerastes vipera snake venoms. Toxicon 19:73-83.. Venom yields vary, with anything from 19-27 mg dried venomCalmette A. 1907. Les venins, les animaux venimeux et la serotherapie antivenimeuse. In: Bucherl W. editor. 1967. Venomous Animals and Their Venoms. Vol. I. Paris: Masson. pp 233. to 100 mg being reported. An estimated lethal dose for humans is 40-50 mg.

Subspecies

Subspecies	Authority	Geographic range
C. c. cerastes	Linnaeus, 1758	Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Israel, Sudan, Oman
C. c. hoofieni	Werner & Sivan, 1999	Saudi Arabia
C. c. karlhartli	Sochurek, 1974	South-east Egypt and Sinai Peninsula
C. c. mutila	Domergue, 1901	South-west Algeria, Morocco

Cited references

External links

Integrated Taxonomic Information System - [Cerastes cerastes]
Plumed Serpent - [Sand Viper Page]