Horned Viper

“The desert horned viper … 13 different toxins … a witch’s brew of poisons.”

The horned viper is also known as the horned sand viper and a desert horned viper. The term “horned” is applied because of scales above the eyes and nose. The features help protect the eyes from sand.

The snake has a unique locomotive nature. It’s a sidewinder, which means it travels in a sideways manner. If threatened, the reptile emits a rattling sound. It’s the first line of defense as the viper cannot hiss.

Like all vipers, the snake’s bite can be dangerous. Its venom effects include, among other things, creating blood clots and straining the heart. In a rare case, humans have ended up as fatalities resulting from this snake’s venom.

What follows is a comprehensive look at these predators, identification features, their habitat, prey, and more.

6 Incredible Horned Viper Facts!

Here are six incredible and interesting things about the horned sand viper.

• Cleopatra committed suicide in 31 B.C. It’s theorized she used this type of snake to end her life.
• The snakes’ diet is instrumental in controlling the rodent population.
• This snake fills its scales with morning dew and uses the reserves as a water resource.
• In Egyptian hieroglyphs, the horned viper is a symbol that represents the phonic alphabet sound of “f.”
• The spider-tailed horn viper resembles the horned viper but has a distinct identification bulb-like tail that’s more arachnid than anything.
• Archaeologists have found mummies of sand vipers on the Nile banks.

Where to Find the Horned Viper

Primarily snaking along locations in the Middle East and North African deserts, this snake is typically distributed across southwestern Israel and southwestern Arabia. It also frequents the Sahara Desert. The range goes southward to Mali, Niger, Sudan, Chad, and Mauritania.

The reptile prefers sandy deserts and rocky hills. They like wadis, a ravine, valley, or channel that is extremely dry outside of the region’s rainy season.

Records are rare, but there are reports of the reptile in a region of the Sahara called the Sahel. You may find them in dunes and, on the rare occasion, on grave plains and rock pavements. The horned viper, though a solitary creature, has among its adaptations coexisting with the Arabian horned viper in eastern Sinai.

Types of Horned Vipers

There are two species of horned viper. The horned viper and the Sahara viper. Both are usually referred to as simply sand vipers. Both horned viper species are relatively small, growing to only about two feet.

Scientific Name

Cerastes cerastes is a venomous reptile native to the Middle East and North Africa. They inhabit stony deserts and semi-arid ecosystems.

Often, the horned viper’s common name gets applied to completely unrelated species. This includes the horned puff adder (Bitis caudalis) and the sand viper (Vipera ammodytes).

Outside of the two recognized species (the Sahara sand viper and the Arabian horned viper), there are no subspecies of the horned viper on record.

Population & Conservation Status

The IUCN has not assessed the horned viper. Apparently, the species isn’t considered at risk, especially as its adaptations include inhabiting and surviving some of the plant’s harshest ecosystems. In other words, its population numbers remain stable.

Like many reptiles, over-collection (in this case, for venom extraction), habitat destruction, and the introduction of invasive species into the population are harming the horned viper.

How to Identify the Horned Viper: Appearance and Description

Vipers can reach up to 33 inches, but the facts are their average size is between 12 and 24 inches. They have a robust frame with a thick mid-body, tapering tail, and a narrow neck. Females have smaller heads and eyes and tend to be larger in size.

The lifespan of this creature is up to 18 years.

How to Identify a Horned Viper

• The most distinctive identification, of course, is the supraorbital “horn” over the eyes
• Horns can be smaller in size or there may none at all
• Scales protect the viper’s eyes from eyes and help with camouflage
• Colors vary: yellowish, brownish, reddish, grayish
• Colors usually match the soil of snake habitats
• Blotches can fuse into crossbars

Pictures

Venom: How Dangerous Are They?

The venom of this snake isn’t as toxic as other snakes but there is the rare fatality from the bite. The toxicity is also influenced by the location. The horned viper works with hinged hollow fangs. They unfold into a bite position as the reptile’s mouth opens. That allows the animal to effectively deliver its venom.

The venom has 13 toxins and the composition varies by location and the viper’s range. One powerful blend quickly results in hemorrhagic aftereffects.

Bites can cause the following:

• Massive local swelling
• Excessive clotting or bleeding
• Acute pain
• Nausea
• Necrosis
• Profuse sweating
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Exhaustion
• Kidney failure
• Hematuria
• Irregularities in the heart

The venom’s yield is in a range of 20 to 100 milligrams of dried venom. A dose of 40 to 50 mg is a lethal risk for humans.

Behavior and Humans

This snake primarily feeds on lizards but also takes the occasional mammal (like rodents) or birds.

Horned vipers are ambush predators. The creatures hide in the sand near rocks or under vegetation. When prey comes along, the reptiles strike with scary speed, taking a bite and holding it while the venom effects take place.

While humans do keep these snakes as pets, it’s wisely advised we keep our distance. The creatures are predators and unpredictable. They are of the wild and aren’t meant to be a captive species. Capable of living in harsh conditions, their adaptations do not include enclosures and handling.

Similar Animals

• Spider tailed horned vipers don’t have true horns, but it looks pretty similar!
• Saw-scaled vipers are one of the big four in India.
• A Russel’s viper is small but its venom is mighty.