Cerastes vipera
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Scientific classification
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Kingdom:
| Animalia
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Phylum:
| Chordata
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Subphylum:
| Vertebrata
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Class:
| Reptilia
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Order:
| Squamata
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Suborder:
| Serpentes
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Family:
| Viperidae
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Subfamily:
| Viperinae
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Genus:
| Cerastes
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Species:
| C. vipera
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Binomial name
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Cerastes vipera (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Synonyms
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- [Coluber] vipera - Linnaeus, 1758
- Aspis Cleopatrae - Laurenti, 1768
- Vipera Aegyptia - Latreille In Sonnini & Latreille, 1801
- Vipera aegyptiaca - Daudin, 1803
- Aspis Cleopatra - Gray, 1842
- Cerastes Richiei - Gray, 1842
- Echidna atricauda - Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854
- Vipera Avicennae - Jan, 1859
- V[ipera]. (Echidna) Avicennae - Jan, 1863
- Vipera avizennae - Strauch, 1869
- Cerastes vipera - Boulenger, 1891
- Cerastes vipera - Boulenger, 1896
- Cerastes vipera inornatus - Werner, 1929
- Aspis vipera - Kramer & Schnurrenberger, 1959
- Cerastes vipera - Joger, 1984[1]
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- Common names: Sahara sand viper, Avicenna viper,[2] more.
Cerastes vipera is a venomous viper species found in the deserts of North Africa and the Sinai Peninsula. No subspecies are currently recognized.[3]
Additional recommended knowledge
Description
Averages 20-35 cm in length, with a maximum of 50 cm. Females are larger than males.[2] Small and stout, it has a broad, triangular head with small eyes set well forward and situated on the junction of the side and the top of the head. A true desert species.[2][4]
Common names
Sahara sand viper, Avicenna viper,[2] common sand viper,[5] Egyptian asp, Cleopatra's asp, sand viper,[6] Avicenna's sand viper, lesser cerastes.[7]
Geographic range
Found in arid North Africa: Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Mali, Tunisia, Libya, Niger, Chad and Egypt. Sinai Peninsula: Egypt and Israel. The type locality given is "AEgypto" (Egypt).[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b 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).
- ^ a b c d 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.
- ^ Cerastes vipera (TSN 634965). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 30 July 2006.
- ^ Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Ralph Curtis Books. Dubai: Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
- ^ Gotch AF. 1986. Reptiles -- Their Latin Names Explained. Poole, UK: Blandford Press. 176 pp. ISBN 0-7137-1704-1.
- ^ Brown JH. 1973. Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73-229. ISBN 0-398-02808-7.
- ^ U.S. Navy. 1991. Poisonous Snakes of the World. US Govt. New York: Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. ISBN 0-486-26629-X.
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