The Saharan Horned viper (Cerastes cerastes) is a small species of viper inhabiting northern Africa. It is typically little more than 2 feet long, though relatively heavy bodied. They typically move by sidewinding or rectilinear locomotion, but can burrow, and often lay submerged in the sand with little more than their eyes poking out, waiting for prey. Usually a light sandy color, this species has distinct horns over each eye, though the size varies between populations. The side-scales are strongly keeled, and when threatened, they rapidly rub their coils together, producing a suprisingly loud rasping noise, much like the Saw-scaled Viper.
