How does the desert horned viper survive?

How does the desert horned viper survive?

The Desert Horned Viper lives in the desert. They usually bury themselves in the sand in order to keep cool in the desert heat. They overwinter in the borrowed burrows of rodents or burrowing lizards.

How does the horned viper camouflage?

Upper parts of horned viper are usually sandy, yellowish, pale brown or grayish, covered with light brown crossbars or blotches. Belly is white colored. Horns above eyes are the most recognizable feature of horned vipers. These structures are actually modified scales which protect eyes from sand and aid in camouflage.

How do vipers adapt to the desert?

Snakes adapt to the desert by using light brown or grey camouflage to blend in with their surroundings. They’ve adapted to the temperature by learning to burrow in dens to shelter from hot temperatures. They also brumate (hibernate) during the harsh and cold winter months.

Why does the horned desert viper have horns?

The horns have an uncertain biological function, although according to some naturalists, they may help protect the snake’s eyes in its sandy environment. The horns might also give the snake’s head an irregular silhouette, providing some measure of camouflage in the desert sand.

How does the horned viper get water?

The desert horned viper can be found in the SAHARA desert. It is the most commonly found snake in North Africa. The horned viper is able to acquire a sufficient amount of freshwater in the desert, where water is not easily accessible. They can trap morning dew in their scales, which is crucial to their survival.

Does the horned viper lay eggs?

Mating Habits In captivity Saharan horned vipers mate in April. These snakes are oviparous, laying 8-23 eggs that hatch after 50 to 80 days of incubation. Females usually lay their eggs under rocks and in abandoned rodent burrows.

What is the habitat of horned viper?

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.

Where do horned desert vipers live?

North Africa
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 Israel.

What are the adaptations of reptiles?

To survive, reptiles have adapted a number of defensive tactics to keep predators away, such as:

• Camouflage so they are more difficult to spot in their environment.
• Bright colors to warn predators they are poisonous.
• Disposable tails that grow back so the tail can distract predators while the reptile escapes.