It ambushes its prey, mostly lizards, by jumping out and striking with its venomous fangs. When disturbed, it warns of its presence by throwing its body into U-shaped loops and rubbing its scales against each other to produce a rasping sound. If pursued by a predator, it disappears into the sand with great speed.
What are the interesting facts about horned desert vipers?
Saharan horned vipers are solitary and nocturnal creatures. They spend their days resting burrowed in the sand, hiding in holes, under rocks, or in abandoned burrows. They typically move about by sidewinding, during which they press their weight into the sand or soil, leaving whole-body impressions.
What are some fun facts about viper?
Vipers have long fangs compared to other snakes. When a viper closes its jaw, its fangs fold up against the roof of its mouth. Vipers do not really hunt for food. Instead they wait for small animals to come to them.
Is Horned Viper poisonous?
The desert horned vipers (genus Cerastes) are the best known, most distinctive and most abundant venomous snakes of the great deserts of North Africa and the Middle East; from Morocco in the west, east to Iraq and western Iran, and south to the Sudan.
What are the characteristics of a horned viper?
Description. The average total length (body and tail) is 30–60 cm (12–24 in), with a maximum total length of 85 cm (33 in). Females are larger than males. One of the most distinctive characteristics of this species is the presence of supraorbital "horns", one over each eye.
How big do horned vipers get?
Compared to most snakes in the region, this species is short in length, averaging between 30 and 60 cm. Hatchlings are usually between 12 and 15 cm. Although females are larger, both sexes share the same general body structure and color patterns.
What is the deadliest viper?
The saw-scaled viper, Echis carinatus, is considered the deadliest snake in the world, according to Britannica. This type of snake is said to be responsible for "more human deaths than all other snake species combined." The venom of the saw-scaled viper is not as lethal as other snakes, but it is far more aggressive.
What to do if bitten by horned viper?
If a snake bite is suspected, it is always important to call your local emergency helpline number (or dial 911 in the US) without any delay, and provide as much information as possible, even if the individual does not have any symptoms.
Do vipers give birth?
Vipers are characterized by widespread viviparity which means that vipers give birth to live young unlike most snakes that are oviparous and lay eggs that develop and hatch outside of the mother body.
Does the horned viper lay eggs?
Reproduction. In captivity, mating was observed in April and always occurred while the animals were buried in the sand. This species is oviparous, laying 8–23 eggs that hatch after 50 to 80 days of incubation. The eggs are laid under rocks and in abandoned rodent burrows.
Why is it called the horned viper?
The horned viper is also known as the horned sand viper and the desert horned viper. The term “horned” is applied because of the scales above the eyes and nose. The features help protect the eyes from sand.
Why does a horned viper have horns?
The small horns that stud the heads of many viper species may play a role in camouflage, suggesting they evolved as a result of the varying environments the snakes inhabit.
Do horned vipers have fangs?
The family Viperidae includes adders, pit vipers (like rattlesnakes, cottonmouths and copperheads), the Gaboon viper, green vipers and horned vipers. All vipers are venomous and have long, hinged fangs.
How do horned vipers protect themselves?
They habitually bury themselves in the sand to protect themselves from the Sun and heat and also to lie in ambush for their prey of lizards and small mammals. Like certain other desert snakes, they travel by sidewinding—i.e., by moving obliquely across the sand.
How much do horned vipers weigh?
Adults average between 40 and 70 cm (16 and 28 in) in total length (body + tail), with a maximum total length of 108 cm (43 in) being reported. Females are usually larger than males. These snakes can attain a considerable weight relative to their size, with specimens sometimes exceeding 500 g (1.1 lb).
What is a spider like horned viper?
The spider-tailed horned viper (Pseudocerastes urarachnoides) is a species of viper, a venomous snake, in the family Viperidae and genus Pseudocerastes. The genus is commonly known as "false-horned vipers". The species is endemic to western Iran and over the border region with Iraq.
Do horned vipers hibernate?
Nose-horned vipers are solitary and depending on location can be active both during the day and night. They hibernate in the winter for a period of 2 to 6 months depending on environmental conditions. Despite their reputation, Nose-horned vipers are not aggressive and tend not to bite without considerable provocation.
Is the Horned Viper nocturnal?
Horned viper is a nocturnal true desert snake and prefers sandy soil with some vegetation as shelters.
Does the horned viper have any predators?
But wait, there's still more on the Saharan horned viper!
Believe it or not, these vipers do have predators. Those brave enough to go after one are honey badgers, monitor lizards, and wild feral cats. 12.) If threatened, they take up a “C” shape and rapidly rub their keeled scales together, making a rasping noise.
Believe it or not, these vipers do have predators. Those brave enough to go after one are honey badgers, monitor lizards, and wild feral cats. 12.) If threatened, they take up a “C” shape and rapidly rub their keeled scales together, making a rasping noise.
How long do vipers sleep?
The viper sleeps its winter sleep (hibernation) that it normally gets out of by the beginning of March. The males get out of the hibernation first and, ten days after, females do, too.
What is the 1 deadliest snake in the world?
The saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) may be the deadliest of all snakes, since scientists believe it to be responsible for more human deaths than all other snake species combined.
Can you survive a viper bite?
Only a fraction of these bites are fatal, but toxins in snake venom can trigger serious medical emergencies that occur within hours; they can cause organ failure, uncontrollable bleeding, severe tissue destruction and paralysis that may restrict breathing, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Has anyone survived a viper bite?
Marlin Perkins, who was the host of television's ''Wild Kingdom'' program for many years and who died in 1986, was one person who survived a bite by a Gaboon viper. The adult viper is typically only four feet long, a stumpy creature with a beautiful tapestry pattern on its skin.
Do viper bites hurt?
They leave one, two, or three puncture marks on the skin, but you won't always see any marks. Symptoms of a pit viper snakebite usually appear within a few minutes to a few hours after a bite and may include: Severe, immediate pain with rapid swelling.
How bad is a viper bite?
Severe pain and tenderness at the site of the bite. Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Labored breathing (in extreme cases, breathing may stop altogether) Rapid heart rate, weak pulse, low blood pressure.
Can viper bite cause bleeding?
Bleeding following bites by the Malayan Pit Viper can either be local or systemic. Bleeding at the site of the bite is due to the local action of the venom as a vasculotoxin.
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Los dos ríos más importantes de La Paz han sido el Choqueyapu, que dio su nombre a la ciudad y el otro el Orkojawira.¿Qué tiene de especial el hecho de ser persona?
Ser persona es ser único, irrepetible, distinto de los demás. Ser persona es ser solidario en la construcción del futuro de los demás, tanto los que viven ahora como los que vivirán después de nosotros. Ser persona es saberse, con los otros, el centro y el protagonista principal de la vida social, económica y política.¿Qué se debe hacer en caso de un incidente?
En caso de accidente- Reconocer los signos vitales de consciencia y respiración.
- No mover a la persona accidentada, salvo peligro inminente.
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