Sahara Sand Viper

Cerastes vipera

Other names: Sahara sand viper, Avicenna viper, Common sand viper, Egyptian asp, Cleopatra's asp, Sand viper, Avicenna's sand viper, Lesser cerastes.

Geographic Locale

• A venomous viper species found in the deserts of North Africa and the Sinai Peninsula.

Appearance

• Averages 20-35 cm in length, with a maximum of 50 cm.
• 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.
• Usually very pale, with three rows of darker brown spots
• Females are larger than males.

Behaviour

• A very small desert dweller that can bury itself in the sand during the day's heat.
• Comes out at night to feed on lizards and small desert rodents.
• Has a short temper and will strike several times.

Bite & Venom

• It's venom is hemotoxic.

Lifecycle

• Eggs hatch within hours as opposed to many weeks with other African snakes.