Common name: Arabian Horned Viper
Scientific name:Cerastes gasperettii
Family: Viperidae

Size:
Total length: 50–85 cm

Identification:
A stout, heavy-bodied desert viper with a broad triangular head. Most individuals have distinctive horn-like scales above the eyes, though these may be reduced or absent in some. Coloration ranges from pale sandy to reddish or gray, closely matching desert substrates. Dark blotches or zigzag patterns provide excellent camouflage.

Habitat:
Desert and semi-desert environments including sand dunes, gravel plains, rocky deserts, and arid wadis. Often found in loose sand where it partially buries itself.

Status in the UAE:
Native and widespread in suitable desert habitats.

Diet:
Carnivorous — primarily feeds on small rodents, lizards, and occasionally birds.

Behavior:
Mostly nocturnal, especially during hot periods. An ambush predator that relies on camouflage. When threatened, may coil and produce a rasping warning sound by rubbing its keeled scales together.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)