Cerastes gasperettii gasperettii
A species of Horned vipers Scientific name : Cerastes gasperettii gasperettii Genus : Horned vipers
Cerastes gasperettii gasperettii, A species of Horned vipers
Scientific name: Cerastes gasperettii gasperettii
Genus: Horned vipers
Content
Description General Info
Description
Notoriously elusive, the cerastes gasperettii gasperettii—an adept desert dweller—thrives in arid environments due to its nocturnal and fossorial lifestyle, evading daytime heat and predators. Its primary hunting method involves ambush predation, capitalizing on the element of surprise to incapacitate prey. The serpentine species has a fascinatingly unique survival mechanism: aural auto-hemorrhaging, enabling it to feign death by oozing blood from its own eye sockets when threatened.
General Info
Lifespan
5-10 years
Diet
Cerastes gasperettii gasperettii is primarily an insectivorous species, feeding extensively on ants and termites. It also consumes other arthropods, regularly supplementing its diet with beetles, spiders, and scorpions.
Appearance
Cerastes gasperettii gasperettii is a medium-sized, robust snake with smooth and shiny scales. Its body is primarily sandy-beige with distinctive dark brown or black cross bars, blending seamlessly into its desert habitat. A significant feature of this snake is its small, horn-like structures above the eyes, adding to its distinctive look. There are no notable differences in appearance due to age, gender, or subspecies.
Behavior
Cerastes gasperettii gasperettii are largely nocturnal, employing sit-and-wait hunting strategies at night while remaining hidden in the sand during the day to escape high temperatures. They display distinguished sidewinding locomotion, a technique adapted for moving efficiently on loose desert sand. This solitary species employs a unique predatory tactic; tail tip flagging, luring its prey by wiggling the tip of its tail as if it were a worm. Males engage in combative behaviors during mating season.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Reptiles Order
Lizards and snakes Family
Vipers Genus
Horned vipers Species
Cerastes gasperettii gasperettii 
AI animal expert in your pocket
Scan QR code to download
