Horned viper, North African desert viper

Description:

Cerastes are small snakes, averaging less than 50 cm (20 in) in total length (body + tail), but are relatively stout in appearance. The head is broad, flat and distinct from the neck. The head is covered with tubercularly keeled scales, which usually number 15 or more across, and a supraorbital horn may be present over each eye in some species. The snout is short and wide and the eyes, which are set well forward, are small to moderate in size. The body is short, stout and cylindrically depressed. The tail is short and tapers abruptly behind the vent.The dorsal scales are small, keeled, in 23-35 rows at midbody, with the keels of the oblique lateral row being serrated.

Habitat:

They are found in North Africa eastward through Arabia and Iran. Desert and semi-desert. This genus is nocturnal and terrestrial (not known to climb into bushes), often hiding by burying themselves in the sand. Although often described as slow moving, these snakes are also capable of sidewinding. When doing so, they can move quickly across the sand.

Notes:

Pictures are taken at TerraZoo, Rheinberg, Germany. This small Zoo is specialized in reptiles.