Common names: Saharan horned viper,[2] horned desert viper,[3] more. Cerastes cerastes is a venomous viper species native to the deserts of Northern Africa and parts of the Middle East. It often is easily recognised by the presence of a pair of supraocular horns, although hornless individuals do occur.[2] No subspecies are currently recognised.[4] Common names of this species include Desert sidewinding horned viper [7] Saharan horned viper,[2] horned desert viper,[3] Sahara horned viper,[5] desert horned viper, North African horned viper,[8] African desert horned viper, greater cerastes,[9] asp and horned viper.[10] In Egypt it is called el-ṭorîsha (حية الطريشة). It is found in arid North Africa (Morocco, Mauritania and Mali, eastward through Algeria, Tunisia, Niger, Libya and Chad to Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia) through Sinai to the northern Negev of Israel. In the Arabian Peninsula, it occurs in Yemen, Kuwait, extreme southwestern Saudi Arabia and parts of the country in Qatar where it is sympatric with C. gasperettii. A report of this species being found in Lebanon is unlikely, according to Joger (1984). Originally, the type locality was listed only as Oriente. However, Flower (1933) proposed Egypt by way of clarification.[1] Venom[edit] C. cerastes venom is not very toxic, although it is reported to be similar in action to Echis venom.[2] Envenomation usually causes swelling, haemorrhage, necrosis, nausea, vomiting, and haematuria. A high phospholipase A2 content may cause cardiotoxicity and myotoxicity.[5] Studies of venom from both C. cerastes and C. vipera list a total of eight venom fractions, the most powerful of which has haemorrhagic activity. Venom yields vary, with ranges of 19–27 mg to 100 mg of dried venom being reported.[2] For venom toxicity, Brown (1973) gives LD50 values of 0.4 mg/kg IV and 3.0 mg/kg SC.[8] An estimated lethal dose for humans is 40–50 mg.[5] Taxonomy[edit] A number of subspecies may be encountered in literature:[2] C. c. hoofieni Werner & Sivan, 1999 - Saudi Arabia. C. c. karlhartli Sochurek, 1974 - Egyptian horned viper - southeast Egypt and Sinai Peninsula. C. c. mutila Domergue, 1901 - Algerian horned viper - southwest Algeria, Morocco. Previously, C. gasperettii was also regarded as a subspecies of C. cerastes.[2]
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 10:27:08 +0000
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