There are 15 pairs of subcaudal scales, and the scales on the sides of the tail are elongated and appear like appendages of an arthropod. In 2006, Anderson and his colleagues published evidence that this was indeed a new snake species. Horned viper swallows its prey in one piece. They called it Pseudocerastes urarachnoides, meaning "fake horned with a spider-like tail.". Source: https://bit.ly/2udpcIj Photographer: Omid Mozaffari Public Domain Image Spider Tailed Viper Facts First of all, the descriptive term Spider Tailed Viper serves as the common name for a truly astonishing species of reptile. Even humidity is important when considering the locality of these snakes. It's a sidewinder, which means it travels in a sideways manner. Over each eye is a long "horn" that looks like an upended nail. Cerastes cerastes (Saharan Horned Viper) is a species of snakes in the family vipers. Many Horned Viper. The spider-tailed horned viper (Pseudocerastes urarachnoides) and known as persian horned viper is a species . The spider-tailed horned viper is a unique snake from the Viperidae family. Gratis Vokabeltrainer, Verbtabellen, Aussprachefunktion. This fascinating creature also possesses one of the most remarkable and resourceful evolutionary adaptations ever seen in the entire animal kingdom. Each snake will typically have 21 rows of keeled dorsal scales throughout their midbody region. Found from Cape Province to Moeb Bay. Group name They have sexual reproduction. The Saharan Horned Viper is a small snake of around 30 cm with a maximum size of around 50 cm. (It's actually a scale and can be folded down for swift travel) Its appearance is truly demonic. These special adaptations help camels to go more than a week without water. The thick fur of camels also . Habitat: Mountainous and rocky areas of the Namib desert and to the mountains south of the desert. Though the Saharan horned viper prefers cold temperatures, it adjusts its body temperature as per the surrounding environment and hot, dry areas. These snakes are often referred to as false-horned vipers . These snakes live in burrows made by small rodents such as voles or mice in which they also hibernate during cold winter months. They prey on lizards, rodents, and small birds. During the day this snake hides under bushes or buried in the sand. The tip of the tail is inflated into a bulb-like shape. View this species on GBIF. If threatened, they take up a "C" shape and rapidly rub their keeled scales together, making a rasping noise. It moves by sliding sideways. This snake has many Horned viper adaptations. Horned viper is a carnivore (meat-eater). The Desert Horned Viper - like all snakes, a meat eater - preys primarily on lizards but also on mammals and birds that inhabit its arid environment. The horned viper is also known as the horned sand viper and a desert horned viper. Their trademark "horns" which consist of raised scales above the eyes, are believed to be an adaptation that provides visual shade and helps prevent sand from getting in their eyes. Both species are small (seldom more than 60 cm [about 2 feet] long), stocky, and broad-headed and are found Read More The Horned Desert Viper. Asp vipers are calm and cautious in their nature. 14.) . Behavior and Life Cycle They are nocturnal and actively hunt at night. Their horns are flexible, not rigid, and will fold flush against their head as they nestle into the sand. The term "horned" is applied because of scales above the eyes and nose. The features help protect the eyes from sand. All of these snakes are endemic to Asia and the Middle East, including the spider-tailed viper. Saharan horned vipers are solitary and nocturnal creatures. The Scarab Beetle is perhaps the most unusual insect in the desert. This movement is an adaptation to move fast over the desert sand. They are native to the Palearctic and Ethiopia. Horned Viper is a large, venomous snake that found in desert habitats of Northern and Eastern Africa. Mimicry and behaviour The Horned Desert Viper eats rodents, lizards and other small animals How has the horned viper adapted to its environment? Geographical Range: Western coast of the southern tip of Africa. They spend their days resting burrowed in the sand, hiding in holes, under rocks, or in abandoned burrows. 32. It is a member of the Pseudocerastes genus, which is relatively small and includes only two other snake species. They are solitary, nocturnal carnivores. Now a Short Saharan Horned Viper Video! The desert horned viper is primarily found in the Sahara desert in North Africa. No - it is a reptile ! It is active from dusk until dawn. aka Many Horned Adder. It often lies in ambush, just beneath the sand with only its horns and eyes exposed, poised to explode from its cover and strike its victim with stunning swiftness. Females have up to 144 ventral scales while males have 141 or less. The large prominent horns above the eyes are characteristic for the species. Horned viper wriggles side to side to hide itself in the sand. The Sidewinder is one of the most unique snakes in the desert. They are not aggressive and when disturbed prefer to flee and hide in cover. yes Is a desert horned viper a mammal? Diet in the Wild:Carnivorous, including lizards, rodents, birds, and . It's scales are ridged and make a scary sawing sound when the snake rubs its coils together when threatened. There are about 16 to 17 scales between the horns, and the scales on the body above are rougher than on other species in the genus. Because the newer snake had a half-digested bird in its stomach, they believed that the viper might use the weird spider-shaped bulge on its tail as a . Cerastes cerastes, commonly known as the Saharan horned viper or the desert horned viper, is a venomous species of viper native to the deserts of northern Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula and Levant.It often is easily recognized by the presence of a pair of supraocular "horns", although hornless individuals do occur. Three subspecies have been described. They can also drink up to 46 liters of water in less than 15 minutes. 13.) characteristics In Cerastes There are two species, the horned viper ( C. cerastes ), which usually has a spinelike scale above each eye, and the common, or Sahara, sand viper ( C. vipera ), which lacks these scales. Its diet consists of rodents, birds and lizards. A small adder, averaging 25 - 40 cm with a maximum length of nearly 60 cm and usually has two prominent horns - one above each eye. Found mostly in the Sahara desert, this horned viper is renowned for its legendary sideways movements. During the hot weather, they become more active in the evenings. They are active at night times are commonly found burrowing themselves in the sand with eyes and nostrils outside. Though the Saharan horned viper prefers cold temperatures, it adjusts its body temperature as per the surrounding environment and hot, dry areas. They are easily identified by the two horns above their eyes. 33. This type of movement is known as "sidewinding". They are active at night times are commonly found burrowing themselves in the sand with eyes and nostrils outside. This snake has many Horned viper adaptations. The average lifespan of desert horned vipers is 10 to 15 years. They typically move about by sidewinding, during which they press their weight into the sand or soil, leaving whole-body impressions. Desert horned vipers move their bodies by "sidewinding," which means that they slide sideways. The snake has a unique locomotive nature. Where does. Saharan horned vipers generally prefer cooler temperatures, with annual averages of 20C or lower, and are usually found in altitudes of up to 1500m. Horned viper is nocturnal creature. Behavioural Adaptations of Desert Animals. Scientific Name: Bitis cornuta. It is widespread occurring from the Eastern Cape to the Western Cape, Northern Cape, North West, Gauteng and Limpopo, as well as further north. Known occurrences, collected specimens and observations of Saharan horned viper.