Cerastes gasperettii

Cerastes gasperettii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Subfamily:	Viperinae
Genus:	Cerastes
Species:	C. gasperettii
Binomial name
Cerastes gasperettii Leviton & Anderson, 1967
Synonyms
Certastes cerastes gasperettii - Leviton & Anderson, 1967 Certastes cerastes gasperetti - Farag & Banaja, 1980 Cerastes gasperettii - Werner, 1987 Cerastes gasperettii - Werner, Le Verdier, Rosenman & Sivan, 1991 Cerastes gasperettii - Schätti & Gasperetti, 1994[1]

Common names: Arabian horned viper, desert horned viper,^[2] Middle Eastern horned viper.^[3]

Cerastes gasperettii is a venomous viper species found in the Middle East from Israel to Iran, and especially in the Arabian Peninsula.^[1] Very similar in appearance to C. cerastes, except that their ranges do not overlap.^[4] No subspecies are currently recognized.^[5]

Description

The average length is 30-60 cm, with a maximum of 85. Females are larger than males.^[2]

Geographic range

Found in the Arava valley, located on the border between southern Israel and Jordan, eastwards through Jordan and Iraq to Khuzistan Provence in southwestern Iran. In the Arabian Peninsula it has been found in Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The type-locality given is "Beda Azan [23°41'N., 53°28'E.], Abu Dhabi [Abu Zaby]" [United Arab Emirates].^[1]

See also

• List of viperine species and subspecies
• Viperinae by common name
• Viperinae by taxonomic synonyms
• Snakebite

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} 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} 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. ^ Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
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. ^ "Cerastes gasperettii". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634964. Retrieved 30 July 2006. 

Further reading

• Joger U. 1984. The Venomous Snakes of the Near and Middle East. Wiesbaden: Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag. 175 pp. ISBN 3-88226-199-4.

External links

• Cerastes gasperettii at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2 August 2007.