Desert Horned Viper

The average total length (body and tail) of Cerastes cerastes 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. However, these may be reduced in size or absent (see genus Cerastes). The eyes are prominent and set on the sides of the head. There is significant sexual dimorphism, with males having larger heads and larger eyes than females. Compared to C. gasperettii, the relative head size of C. cerastes is larger and there is a greater frequency of horned individuals (13% versus 48%, respectively). The colour pattern consists of a yellowish, pale grey, pinkish, reddish or pale brown ground colour, which almost always matches the substrate colour where the animal is found. Dorsally, a series of dark, semi-rectangular blotches runs the length of the body. These blotches may or may not be fused into crossbars. The belly is white. The tail, which may have a black tip, is usually thin.

Cerastes cerastes is common in Iraq but is also found in Syria, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Yemen, Jordan, Israel, Qatar, Mauritania, Morocco and Kuwait. They can also be found in parts of North Africa including Libya, Egypt, and Sudan. Originally, the type locality was listed only as "Oriente." However, Flower (1933) proposed "Egypt" by way of clarification.

Cerastes cerastes typically moves by sidewinding, during which it presses its weight into the sand or soil, leaving whole-body impressions. Often, it is even possible to use these impressions to make ventral scale counts. It has a reasonably placid temperament, but if threatened, may assume a C-shaped posture and rapidly rub its coils together. Because it has strongly keeled scales, this rubbing produces a rasping noise, similar to the sound produced by snakes of the genus Echis. In the wild, C. cerastes is typically an ambush predator, lying submerged in sand adjacent to rocks or under vegetation. The diet of this carnivorous species consists primarily of a variety of lizards, especially geckos, small rodents, and birds. Specific prey in the wild include jerboas, yellow wagtails, and chiffchaffs. C. cerastes has been known to travel long distances at night in search of prey. When approached, it strikes very rapidly, holding on to the captured prey until the venom takes effect.