Cerastes vipera

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Cerastes vipera

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Subfamily: Viperinae
Genus: Cerastes
Species: C. vipera
Binomial name
Cerastes vipera
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
  • [Coluber] vipera - Linnaeus, 1758
  • Aspis Cleopatrae - Laurenti, 1768
  • Vipera Aegyptia - Latreille In Sonnini & Latreille, 1801
  • Vipera aegyptiaca - Daudin, 1803
  • Aspis Cleopatra - Gray, 1842
  • Cerastes Richiei - Gray, 1842
  • Echidna atricauda - Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854
  • Vipera Avicennae - Jan, 1859
  • V[ipera]. (Echidna) Avicennae - Jan, 1863
  • Vipera avizennae - Strauch, 1869
  • Cerastes vipera - Boulenger, 1891
  • Cerastes vipera - Boulenger, 1896
  • Cerastes vipera inornatus - Werner, 1929
  • Aspis vipera - Kramer & Schnurrenberger, 1959
  • Cerastes vipera - Joger, 1984[1]
Common names: Sahara sand viper, Avicenna viper,[2] more.

Cerastes vipera is a venomous viper species found in the deserts of North Africa and the Sinai Peninsula. No subspecies are currently recognized.[3]

Contents

[edit] Description

C. vipera, neonate.
C. vipera, neonate.

Averages 20-35 cm in length, with a maximum of 50 cm. Females are larger than males.[2] 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. A true desert species.[2][4]

[edit] Common names

Sahara sand viper, Avicenna viper,[2] common sand viper,[5] Egyptian asp, Cleopatra's asp, sand viper,[6] Avicenna's sand viper, lesser cerastes.[7]

[edit] Geographic range

Found in arid North Africa: Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Mali, Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Chad and Egypt. Sinai Peninsula: Egypt and Israel. The type locality given is "AEgypto" (Egypt).[1]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  2. ^ a b c d Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
  3. ^ Cerastes vipera (TSN 634965). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 30 July 2006.
  4. ^ Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
  5. ^ Gotch AF. 1986. Reptiles -- Their Latin Names Explained. Poole, UK: Blandford Press. 176 pp. ISBN 0-7137-1704-1.
  6. ^ Brown JH. 1973. Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73-229. ISBN 0-398-02808-7.
  7. ^ U.S. Navy. 1991. Poisonous Snakes of the World. US Govt. New York: Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. ISBN 0-486-26629-X.

[edit] External links

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