12/11/2024
๐๐จ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ซ - ๐๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ซ
(Cerastes cerastes)
๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ
-๐๐๐ ๐๐ฏ, ๐ต๐ธ(๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐-๐๐ฌ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ)๐ฎ๐ฑ
๐๐ฒ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ต๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ:
Sahara horned vipers are among the most abundant and easily distinguishable of the venomous snakes of the North African and Middle Eastern deserts. Cerastes cerastes is generally distributed all across North Africa, including southwestern Arabia and southwestern Palestine-Israel.
Common in the Sahara desert, it is most frequently found between Egypt and Morocco. Its range extends to southward to northern Mali, Niger, northern Chad, Sudan, and Mauritania.
Although records are rare in the southern Saharan borderlands, this snake has been reported within the Sahel, the sub-steppe region of the Sahara. Interestingly, C. cerastes is also known to inhabit the deserts of the eastern Sinai, coexisting with the Arabian horned viper, Cerastes gasperettii.
๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐:
Found throughout the Sahara in Northern Africa, C. cerastes inhabits a variety of habitats within the desert, including rock hills, sandy deserts, and wadis. Members of this species can sometimes be found in dunes, and are rarely found on rock pavement and gravel plains.
It has been determined that there is a strong correlation between microclimate and the general distribution of this species. Saharan horned vipers generally prefer cooler temperatures, with annual averages of 20ยฐC or lower, and are usually found in altitudes of up to 1500m. Even humidity is important when considering the locality of these snakes. Temperatures must be high enough for the snake to bask and obtain heat, and humid enough to retain a maximum amount of water present in the body, as the only source of water is from prey.
๐ฃ๐ต๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป:
Sahara horned vipers are amongst the most distinct of the North African desert snakes. Compared to most snakes in the region, this species is short in length, averaging between 30 and 60 cm. Hatchlings are usually between 12 and 15 cm. Although females are larger, both sexes share the same general body structure and color patterns. The head is somewhat flat, broad, and triangular, with eyes on the side of the head, and the neck is thin.
Covered in approximately 25 to 35 rows of heavily keeled scales, C. cerastes is characterized by the presence of supraorbital โhornsโ, which consist of a single scale above each eye, from which a dark line extends towards the back of snake. This feature is what generally distinguishes Sahara horned vipers from other species of the genus Cerastes, as Cerastes gasperettii has horns that consist of multiple scales, and Cerastes vipera has its eyes on the top of the head. Prominent brow ridges typically ensue the lack or reduction of these horns.
The body is broad and appears flat, with a short tail which may have a black tip. This species is brownish-yellow and gray in color, perfectly blending into the sandy environment in which it lives. Dorsally, it also has rectangular brown patches that are darker in color than the rest of the body.
Sidewinding is the primary method of locomotion for C. cerastes and the majority of desert snakes. This type of movement allows the snake to move quickly across the desert sands by lifting a loop of the body and moving it forward, while the rest of the body follows the moving loop. This also assists in preventing the snake from overheating, as minimum contact between the belly and the ground is maintained throughout the movement.
๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐๐:
The diet of this carnivorous species consists primarily of small rodents, geckos, birds, and a variety of lizards. In captivity, a full grown specimen was observed to feed on weaver finches (Passer domesticus niloticus), lacertids (Mesalina olivieri), and dune geckos (Stenodactylus petrii). These vipers are also known to eat jerboas (Jaculus jaculus), yellow wagtails (Motacilla flava thunbergi), and chiffchaffs (Phylloscopus collybita). Cerastes cerastes has been known to travel long distances at night in search of prey.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป:
Sahara horned vipers are known to have only a few natural enemies, including honey badgers, monitor lizards, and a variety of wild and feral cat species. The snakes' colors provide optimum camouflage, working in their favor as both predators and prey. In addition, although C. cerastes burrows in order to stay cool during the day, as well as to attack unsuspecting prey, this behavior may also help hide it from potential predators.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
A venomous snake, Cerastes cerastes is capable of inflicting damage to its prey, but also bites when threatened. Common amongst all three species of Cerastes, the venom is cytotoxic, affecting the walls and contents of cells, yet is not very toxic when compared to most other snakes in the region.
Despite the widespread distribution of Sahara horned vipers, their relatively hostile habitats result in few humans bitten, and therefore little statistical data is available concerning C. cerastes bites. However, venomous bites have been known to cause swelling, nausea, hemorrhaging, vomiting, necrosis, and hematuria. Bites should be treated immediately with elevation, analgesics, and antibiotic cover. For more serious bites, supply of an appropriate antivenin is required.
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PC: Nir Avraham
SC: Animal Diversity Web
#๐ก๐ผ๐๐ฒ:-
Snakes play a vital role in our ecosystem by controlling pest populations and maintaining balance. By appreciating and understanding these incredible reptiles, we can reduce fear and promote coexistence.
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