Figure (3)   Cerastes gasperettii gasperettii Leviton & Anderson, 1967          

Common name: Desert Sand Viper, Arabian Horned Viper.

Diagnosis. Head triangular and broad, wide flattened and clearly distinct from neck: head covered with small irregular tubercularly keeled scales. C. g. gasperettii is characterized by a thick body and short tail. Pupil elliptical. Eyes separated from labials by rows of small scale; absence of the cluster of enlarged scales at midocciptal region of head between the eyes. A pair of superocular horn-like spiny scales above the eye can be either present or absent. If horns are present they point externally; four to five superalabials scale rows, the first supralabial relatively small. Upper labials, 12-15. Lower labials, 13-15. Number of scales in ocular ring, 12-14. More than four to five rows of scales between the eyes. Dorsal scales heavily keeled with apical pits. Lateral scales are smaller laterally keeled serrated and arranged in an oblique series. Scale rows at midbody, 31-35; ventrals, 152­164; subcaudals divided and vary from 33-37. Anal scale undivided. The Sand Horned Viper exhibits sexual dimorphism as follows: head of males larger including length, depth and width; higher number of subcaudal and fewer dorsal scale rows; longer tail length and fewer ventrals (over 153 in males and more than 155 in females) and wider eye diameter. Maximum length 85 cm (most specimens are about half that size). Females grow larger than males. Colouration: The colour varies regionally and can be reddish, yellowish or grey, depending upon the actual colour of the sand where a population lives. The pattern consists of indistinct brown spots in four to six longitudinal series, a dark streak on the tail and a variable head pattern. The head pattern is accentuated in some populations of C. g. gasperettii, in which case the dark band between the eye and the angle of mouth is accompanied dorsally by a light band.

Habitats and ecology. The Arabian Horned Viper is a true psamophile species.  It was seen and collected from sand dunes in Wadi Ramm and Al Hazim. Also, they inhabit sandy soil where vegetation or rocky outcrops provide shelters. In Al Hazīm, the area is dominated by Haloxylon persicum and Nitraria retusa. It is adapted to these habitats through its morphology, physiology and behavior. During the daytime it hides in rodent borrows, and specimens have been seen buried in the sand with eyes protruding from the ground surface. It starts its activity after sunset and is active at night, moving across the sand searching for food, especially rodents. Side-winding trails are very characteristic for this viper.  It was collected near roads in Wadi Ramm (Amr and Disi, 2011).

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