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Horned Desert Viper

Horned desert viper is a poisonous viper species native to North Africa and parts of the Middle East. Currently, there are no recognized subspecies of this species. It is mainly active at night, spending the day in seclusion in the sand, abandoned burrows or under rocky outcrops. The species is known to possess a quiet and calm temperament.

Scientific Classification
Quick Information

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Subphylum	Vertebrata
Class	Reptilia
Order	Squamata
Suborder	Serpentes
Family	Viperidae
Subfamily	Viperinae
Genus	Cerastes
Scientific Name	Cerastes cerastes

Other Names	Desert Sidewinding Horned Viper, Saharan Horned Viper, Desert Horned Viper, African Desert Horned Viper, North African Horned Viper, Greater Cerastes, asp and Horned Viper
Length	30 to 60 cm; largest recorded specimen measures 85 cm
Color	Ground color ranges from yellowish to pale grey to reddish, pinkish, or pale brown; upper surface consists of a series of dark, semi-rectangular uneven patches running along the length of the body, the patches may or may not blend into crossbars; white belly while the tail may have a black tip
Distribution	Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria, Mali, Niger, Libya, Chad, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia (North Africa); Sinai peninsula; southern Israel, Yemen, Kuwait, extreme southwestern Saudi Arabia, parts of Qatar (Middle East)
Habitat	Dry, sandy areas with scanty rock outcroppings
Diet	Mainly lizards, also feed on mammals and birds
Predators	Honey badgers, monitor lizards
Venom Fact	Not highly toxic
Breeding Season	April – June
Mode of Reproduction	Oviparous (egg laying)
Clutch Size	8 to 23 eggs
Incubation Period	50 – 80 days
Reproductive Age	2 years of age
Average Lifespan	Up to 18 years in captivity