Prominent brow ridges typically ensue the lack or reduction of these horns. Norris, S. 2000. When they place their head on the ground again they raise their body, making these snakes move laterally in a 45° angle. Many desert ophidians bury themselves in the sand both to avoid sun exposure and to blend in and catch their prey unaware. (Branch and Spawls, 1995), As specialized semi-fossorial snakes, all members of the genus Cerastes exhibit predatory launch strikes from partially buried positions in the Saharan sands. The adult is only 18 to 28 inches (45 to 70 centimeters) long but has classic viperine features: broad, triangular head with vertical pupils, narrow neck, robust body, and coloration that blends with the surroundings—in this species a pale sand tone with shadowy spots or bands. Moreover, while it’s as hot as hot can be during summer, winters are quite bitter. When it feels threatened, it hides its real head between its legs and it exposes its neck protuberance as a decoy head. Amphibia-Reptilia, 7/4: 385-389. Also, C. cerastes makes use of vibrational stimuli and the ability to sense heat from other organisms in the environment from its pit organs in order to locate prey. The new hatchlings will average four to six inches in length. Cerastes cerastes is generally distributed all across North Africa, including southwestern Arabia and southwestern Israel. When disturbed, the snake produces a hissing and crackling sound from the shaking and rubbing of its coils, and does so as a warning before striking. Desert horned vipers tend to be found in cooler areas where the average annual temperature does not exceed 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and in areas of low elevation. Treasury of Snake Lore: From the Garden of Eden to Snakes of Today, in Mythology, Stories, Essays, Poetry, Drama, Religion, and Personal Adventures (Greenberg, 1956). Accessed October 19, 2020 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Cerastes_cerastes/. Sahara horned vipers are generally even-tempered snakes, but they are capable of administering toxic venom if threatened. Desert Horned Viper has managed to sustain its numbers. As we explained on an earlier entry, snakes do not have neither external ears nor eardrums. Flank, Lenny, Jr. Sahara horned vipers are amongst the most distinct of the North African desert snakes. worm.” She held one to her breast and a second to her arm, allowing each of them Bauchot, Roland, ed. As a species, it is not threatened. Sperm Storage in Viperids.”) Once she lays her eggs, they hatch after 50 to 80 Grants DRL 0089283, DRL 0628151, DUE 0633095, DRL 0918590, and DUE 1122742. Accessed If you are 13 years old when were you born? Sahara horned vipers are among the most abundant and easily distinguishable of the venomous snakes of the North African and Middle Eastern deserts. (Brodie Jr. and Campbell, 1992; Cox, et al., 2006; Johann, 1973), This species is a particularly successful predator throughout the Sahara. This material is based upon work supported by the Bites should be treated immediately with elevation, analgesics, and antibiotic cover. Contributor Galleries One of the most developed ophidian senses is smell. Morain, M., B. Snakes: A Natural History (Sterling, 1994). The Horned Desert Viper. Poisonous Snakes (Blandford, 1989). La gran enciclopedia de los Anfibios y Reptiles. How has the desert horned viper adapted to the desert? They habitually bury themselves in the sand to protect themselves from the Sun and heat and also to lie in ambush for their prey of lizards and small mammals. If threatened, the snake can produce a rasping warning sound, which it generates by rubbing together the obliquely-angled, saw-toothed scales along its flanks. Issac Anderson (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Phil Myers (editor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Rachelle Sterling (editor), Special Projects. This species is brownish-yellow and gray in color, perfectly blending into the sandy environment in which it lives. The snake’s icon stands for the phonetic sound “f” Also, when they are caught, they inflate their bodies to make the task even more difficult. ), The Desert Environment Ophidians have suffered so many bodily modifications that their senses have had to adapt to their lifestyle. reproduction in which eggs are released by the female; development of offspring occurs outside the mother's body. Ludwig, D., D. Mallow, G. Nilson. Pit vipers and some pythonomorphs (pythons and boas) can detect infrared radiation, being able to see the thermic signature around them. 2004. at http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2006-027.pdf. February 20, 2010 Snakes and Snake Hunting (Krieger, 1995). This not only provides them with certain protection against predators, but is also helps them blend in in a habitat with plenty of thorny plants. The absence of an external ear caused that for a long time it was believed that snakes were deaf. Structure, function and behaviour of the world’s snakes. Although females are larger, both sexes share the same general body structure and color patterns. Accessed However, venomous bites have been known to cause swelling, nausea, hemorrhaging, vomiting, necrosis, and hematuria. Even with their limitations to hear aerial waves, what snakes do best is to detect vibrations coming from the ground or the water. Generally, in a desert, it rains less than 250 mm of water a year. Its unconventional method of locomotion notwithstanding, Some native snake charmers use C. cerastes because of their horns, and large numbers of the species have been observed for sale at tourist resorts. Mehrtens, J.M. Compared to most snakes in the region, this species is short in length, averaging between 30 and 60 cm. In some areas, local people consider the snake to be of no particular danger, and the species is even tolerated around some villages. During the day, it may hide in burrows or holes made by other animals, under wood or rocks, or even in bushes. Most desert reptiles extract the water they need from their food and some drink water from the dew.

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