Cerastes vipera

Last updated

Cerastes vipera
Temporal range: Pleistocene-recent [1]
Cerastes vipera.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Cerastes
Species:
C. vipera
Binomial name
Cerastes vipera
Cerastes vipera distribution.png
Synonyms [3]

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. [4] Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

Contents

Description

C. vipera, neonate. My cerastes vipera cropped.jpg
C. vipera, neonate.

Adults average 20–35 cm (8-14 inches) in total length (body + tail), with a maximum total length of 50 cm (1.6 ft). Females are larger than males. [5] Small and stout, it has a broad, triangular head with small eyes set well forward and situated on the junction of the side and the top of the head.

Their hunting strategy is unique when compared to that of other viperids because they use a combination of both sit-and-wait ambushing and active hunting. Active hunting is predominantly used in the months right before hibernation to increase energy intake before the long dormant period. [6]

Common names

Common names include Sahara sand viper, Avicenna viper, [5] common sand viper, [7] Egyptian asp, Cleopatra's asp, sand viper, [8] Avicenna's sand viper, and lesser cerastes. [9]

Geographic range

In arid North Africa, it is found in Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Mali, Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Chad and Egypt. In the Sinai Peninsula, it is found in Egypt, [10] Sudan and Israel.

The type locality given is "Ægypto" (Egypt). [3]

Related Research Articles

Asp may refer to:

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asp (snake)</span> Venomous snake found in the Nile region

"Asp" is the modern anglicisation of the word "aspis", which in antiquity referred to any one of several venomous snake species found in the Nile region. The specific epithet, aspis, is a Greek word that means "viper". It is believed that aspis referred to what is now known as the Egyptian cobra.

<i>Macrovipera lebetinus</i> Species of snake

Macrovipera lebetinus, known as the blunt-nosed viper, Lebetine viper, Levant viper, and by other common names, is a viper species found in North Africa, much of the Middle East, and as far east as Kashmir. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. Five subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate race described here.

<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>Cerastes</i> (genus) Genus of snakes

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

<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 ammodytes</i> Species of snake

Vipera ammodytes, commonly known as horned viper, long-nosed viper, nose-horned viper, and sand viper, poskok is a species of viper found in southern Europe, mainly northern Italy, the Balkans, and parts of Asia Minor. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. It is reputed to be the most dangerous of the European vipers due to its large size, long fangs and high venom toxicity. The specific name, ammodytes, is derived from the Greek words ammos, meaning "sand", and dutes, meaning "burrower" or "diver", despite its preference for rocky habitats. Five subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

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

Vipera aspis is a viper species found in southwestern Europe. Its common names include asp, asp viper, European asp, and aspic viper, among others. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. Bites from this species can be more severe than from the European adder, V. berus; not only can they be very painful, but approximately 4% of all untreated bites are fatal. The specific epithet, aspis, is a Greek word that means "viper." Five subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

Sand viper may refer to:

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

Bitis peringueyi, also known as the Peringuey's adder, Peringuey's desert adder or desert sidewinding adder, is a venomous viper species found in Namibia and southern Angola. No subspecies are currently recognized.

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

The Moorish viper is a venomous viper species found in northwestern Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vipera aspis atra</span> Subspecies of snake

Vipera aspis atra is a venomous viper subspecies endemic to France, Switzerland and Italy.

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

Vipera aspis francisciredi is a venomous subspecies of the European asp endemic to northern and central Italy and adjacent Croatia, Slovenia, and Switzerland.

Vipera aspis hugyi is a venomous viper subspecies endemic to southern Italy.

Vipera berus sachalinensis is a viper subspecies endemic to Asia. Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

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

Vipera latastei, known as Lataste's viper, the snub-nosed viper, and the snub-nosed adder, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula and northwestern Maghreb. Three extant subspecies and one extinct subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

<i>Montivipera raddei</i> Species of snake

Montivipera raddei, also known as the Armenian viper and by many other common names, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, and possibly also Iraq. Two subspecies are currently recognized.

<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.

References

  1. Wilms, T.; Wagner, P.; Joger, U.; Geniez, P.; Crochet, P.-A.; El Mouden, E.H.; Mateo, J.A. (2013). "Cerastes vipera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T178210A15636436. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T178210A15636436.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN   1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN   1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. "Cerastes vipera". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 30 July 2006.
  4. 1 2 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. Horesh, Sefi; Sivan, Jaim; Rosenstrauch, Avi; Tesler, Itay; Degan, A; Kam, Michael (February 2017). "Seasonal biotic and abiotic factors affecting hunting strategy in free-living Saharan sand vipers, Cerastes vipera". Behavioural Processes. 135: 40–44. doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2016.11.013. PMID   27899311. S2CID   2651713.
  6. Gotch AF. 1986. Reptiles — Their Latin Names Explained. Poole, UK: Blandford Press. 176 pp. ISBN   0-7137-1704-1.
  7. 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.
  8. U.S. Navy. 1991. Poisonous Snakes of the World. United States Government Publication. New York: Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. ISBN   0-486-26629-X.
  9. Abukashawa, S.M.A., Papenfuss, T.J. & Alkhedir, I.S. 2018. Geographic Distribution: Cerastes vipera (Sahara Sand Viper). Herpetological Review 49 (1): 75.

Further reading