HORNED VIPER
(Cerastes cerastes)
The horned viper lives in the Sahara desert and can grow from 1.2 to 1.5 meters long. They have and wide triangular head, with two horns which stick out just above each of their eyes. They are a tan colour with dark spots spread across their bodies. To keep cool in the hot desert sun, they bury themselves into the sand and abandoned burrows. They also travel with their body in front of their head, to block the bright sun while they are moving around. The horned viper lay around 12-20 eggs in damp soil. Their mating starts in April and ends in June, and the eggs are incubated for 8 weeks. The Horned Viper is widely distributed and is not in danger of becoming extinct.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Horned Vipers diet mainly consists of small mammals, birds and lizards.To sneak up on it's prey, the viper burrows itself into the sand, with its eyes and horns showing, then it quickly and swiftly attacks its prey.
The bite of a Horned Viper is not very fatal, but it can cause swelling, nausea, sweating and exhaustion.
The bite of a Horned Viper is not very fatal, but it can cause swelling, nausea, sweating and exhaustion.