Cerastes (genus)

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Cerastes
Temporal range: Pleistocene-recent [1]
Cerastes cerastes 1.jpg
Desert horned viper, C. cerastes
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Subfamily: Viperinae
Genus: Cerastes
Laurenti, 1768
Synonyms [2]
  • CerastesLaurenti, 1768
  • AspisLaurenti, 1768
  • Cerastes— Wagler, 1830
  • Gonyechis Fitzinger, 1843

Cerastes is a genus of small, venomous vipers found in the deserts and semi-deserts of northern North Africa eastward through Arabia and Iran. [2] [3] Three species are currently recognized by ITIS, [4] and an additional recently described species is recognized by the Reptile Database. [5] Common names for members the genus include horned vipers, [6] North African desert vipers, [3] and cerastes vipers. [7]

Contents

Description

C. cerastes, horned individual. Cerastes-cerastes head.jpg
C. cerastes, horned individual.

Cerastes are small snakes, averaging less than 50 cm (20 in) in total length (body + tail), but are relatively stout in appearance. The head is broad, flat and distinct from the neck. The head is covered with tubercularly keeled scales, which usually number 15 or more across, and a supraorbital horn may be present over each eye in some species. The snout is short and wide and the eyes, which are set well forward, are small to moderate in size. [6] [3] The body is short, stout and cylindrically depressed. The tail is short and tapers abruptly behind the vent. [6] The dorsal scales are small, keeled, in 23-35 rows at midbody, [3] with the keels of the oblique lateral row being serrated. [6]

Although Cerastes are often referred to as horned vipers, only the two larger species, C. cerastes and C. gasperettii, are known to have horns, and even these do not always have them. Individuals with and without horns occur within the same population and even within the same litter. [6]

When present, each horn consists of a single long, spine-like scale that can be folded back into an indentation in the postocular scale. They fold back in response to direct stimulation, thus streamlining the head and easing passage through burrows. Horns occur more often in individuals from sandy deserts as opposed to stony deserts. Specimens without horns have a prominent brow ridge instead. [6]

The purpose of the horns is the subject of much speculation. One theory is that they allow a buildup of sand above the eyes while keeping it out of the eyes themselves. [6] Another, more recent theory is simply that the horns serve to break up the outline of the head, making them harder for prey animals to spot. [3]

Geographic range

They are found in North Africa eastward through Arabia and Iran. [2] Mallow et al. (2003) describe the genus as being restricted to the deserts of North Africa and southwestern Asia, with the Negev desert acting as a filter zone between the three species mentioned in the table below. [6]

Habitat

Desert and semi-desert. [3]

Behavior

This genus is nocturnal and terrestrial (not known to climb into bushes), often hiding by burying themselves in the sand. Although often described as slow moving, these snakes are also capable of sidewinding. When doing so, they can move quickly across the sand. [3]

Cerastes species are not known to be particularly ill-tempered ("fairly placid"), but when threatened they will often stand their ground and form C-shaped coils that are rubbed together to produce a rasping or crackling sound, similar to Echis . This is called stridulation. With enough provocation, they will strike from this position. [6] [3]

These snakes are capable of "sinking" quickly down into loose sand, using their keeled, angled and serrated lateral scales in a rocking motion. This process begins at the tail and moves forward until the entire head is buried and only the eyes and nostrils are exposed. They can bury themselves this way whether in an outstretched or a coiled position. See video. [6]

Feeding behavior and diet

These are ambush predators that lie buried in the sand, waiting for prey to pass by. Their diet consists mainly of rodents, birds, and lizards. [6]

Reproduction

All three species lay eggs. However, those of C. vipera hatch within hours of deposition as opposed to many weeks, something not previously observed in other African snakes, most of which lay eggs that hatch weeks later or give birth to live young. [3]

Species

Species [2] Taxon author [2] Common nameGeographic range [2]
C. cerastes [lower-alpha 1] (Linnaeus, 1758)Desert horned viperArid north Africa (Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania and Mali, eastward through Algeria, Tunisia, Niger, Libya and Chad to Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia) through Sinai to the northern Negev of Israel. In the Arabian Peninsula, it occurs in Yemen and extreme southwestern Saudi Arabia.
C. gasperettii Leviton & Anderson, 1967Gasperetti Arabian horned viperFound in Arabian Peninsula especially the Nejd region and al-Hasa
C. vipera (Linnaeus, 1758)Sahara sand viperArid North Africa: Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Mali, Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Chad and Egypt. Sinai Peninsula: Egypt and Israel.

In addition to the three above species recognized by "ITIS", the Reptile Database also recognizes Cerastes boehmei Wagner & Wilms, 2010. [5] [8]

Taxonomy

Although it would seem that Laurenti changed his mind in 1768 and decided to name this genus Aspis, instead of Cerastes as he did earlier, this was eventually rejected. The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) later placed the name Cerastes on the Official List of Generic Names in Zoology (name no. 1539), while the name Aspis was placed on the Official Index of Invalid Generic Names in Zoology (name no. 1630). [2]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Cerastes cerastes</i> Species of reptile

Cerastes cerastes, commonly known as the Saharan horned viper or the desert horned viper, is a venomous 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.

<i>Bitis</i> Genus of snakes

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<i>Hypnale</i> Genus of snakes

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Field's horned viper</span> Species of snake

Field's horned viper is a species of snake in the family Viperidae. The species is native to the deserts of the Middle East. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. It was previously considered a subspecies of the Persian horned viper. The main differences between this species and the Persian horned viper are in scalation and venom composition.

<i>Echis</i> Genus of snakes

Echis is a genus of vipers found in the dry regions of Africa, the Middle East, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. They have a characteristic threat display, rubbing sections of their body together to produce a "sizzling" warning sound. The name Echis is the Latin transliteration of the Greek word for "viper" (ἔχις). Like all vipers, they are venomous. Their common name is "saw-scaled vipers" and they include some of the species responsible for causing the most snakebite cases and deaths in the world. Twelve species are currently recognized.

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<i>Pseudocerastes</i> Genus of snakes

Pseudocerastes is a genus of vipers endemic to the Middle East and Asia. It was originally created as a monotypic genus in 1896 by Boulenger for the species Pseudocerastes persicus, but three species are now recognised: the spider-tailed horned viper ; Persian horned viper and Field's horned viper. Like all other vipers, the members of this genus are venomous.

<i>Vipera</i> Genus of snakes

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<i>Vipera ammodytes</i> Species of snake

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horned adder</span> Species of snake

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Many-horned adder</span> Species of snake

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<i>Bitis peringueyi</i> Species of snake

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<i>Cerastes gasperettii</i> Species of snake

Cerastes gasperettii, also known commonly as the Arabian horned viper and Gasperetti's horned viper, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to the Arabian Peninsula and north to Palestine (region), Iraq, and Iran. It is very similar in appearance to C. cerastes, but the geographic ranges of these two species do not overlap. No subspecies of C. gasperettii are recognized.

<i>Cerastes vipera</i> Species of snake

Cerastes vipera, common names Sahara sand viper and Avicenna viper, is a viper species endemic to the deserts of North Africa and the Sinai Peninsula. No subspecies are currently recognized. Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

<i>Vipera aspis francisciredi</i> Subspecies of snake

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiery flying serpent</span> Biblical creature

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Persian horned viper</span> Species of snake

The Persian horned viper, known as the Persian horned viper, false horned viper, and by other common names, is a species of vipers endemic to the Middle East and Asia. Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spider-tailed horned viper</span> Species of snake

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References

  1. ↑
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN   1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN   1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Dubai: Ralph Curtis Books. Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN   0-88359-029-8.
  4. ↑ "Cerastes". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 30 July 2006.
  5. 1 2 The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 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.
  7. ↑ Parker HW, Grandison AGC. 1977. Snakes – a natural history. Second Edition. London and Ithaca: British Museum (Natural History) and Cornell University Press. 108 pp. + 16 plates. LCCCN 76-54625. ISBN   0-8014-1095-9 (cloth), ISBN   0-8014-9164-9 (paper).
  8. ↑ Wagner P, Wilms TM. 2010. A crowned devil: new species of Cerastes Laurenti, 1768 (Ophidia, Viperidae) from Tunisia, with two nomenclatural notes. Bonn Zool. Bull.57 (2): 297-306.

Further reading

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