Persian Horned Viper / Pseudocerastes persicus **

Venomous (medically significant) 

  • “Horns”: not true horns—raised/elongated scales above each eye, typically noticeable but not giant spikes.

  • Texture: strongly keeled scales (rough-looking).

  • Size: commonly reported around 40–70 cm, with a maximum record ~108 cm; females often larger.

  • Color/pattern: usually sandy-grey to brown/grey-tan with darker blotches/bands for camouflage in rocky desert terrain (varies by location).

  • As a viper, its venom is typically dominated by toxin families common in Old World vipers (often associated with tissue-damaging and bleeding/vascular effects).

  • Studies on P. persicus venom show strong biological activity and variation between venoms/fractions (research interest includes cytotoxic effects in lab studies).

  • Safety note: any suspected bite is a medical emergency—treat as urgent and get professional care immediately.

  • Globally, Persian Horned Vipers are specialists of arid, rocky landscapes, not open sand deserts.

  • Across their range (Iran, eastern Arabia, parts of Pakistan), they are most strongly associated with: (Rocky deserts and semi-deserts, Stony plateaus and gravel plains, Mountain foothills and rugged slopes, Dry wadis with scattered rocks and boulders, Areas with broken terrain, cracks, and crevices)

  • They tend to avoid: (Deep, loose sand dunes (preferred by Cerastes), Densely vegetated habitats, Agricultural or heavily altered landscapes)

  • What matters most is structure, not elevation: (Rocks for camouflage, Crevices for shelter, Stable ground temperatures, Prey availability (mainly small rodents and lizards))

  • Although often considered a “mountain viper,” globally it can occur from low elevations up to high plateaus, provided the terrain is rocky and dry.

In the UAE, the species reaches the edge of its global range, which is one reason it’s so rarely encountered.

  • In the UAE, Pseudocerastes persicus is most closely associated with: (Rocky environments of the Hajar Mountains, Mountain slopes and ridgelines, Stony wadis and rock-strewn valleys, Gravelly desert–mountain transition zones)

Unlike the Arabian Horned Viper (Cerastes gasperettii), it is not a sand-dwelling species.

  • A key and often misunderstood point:

While most records come from mountainous terrain, it is not strictly confined to high altitude in the UAE.

There are confirmed low-elevation records (around 200m), showing that: Elevation alone does not define suitability and that rock cover, substrate type, and microclimate are more important than height.

  • Hunting strategy: This species is a classic ambush predator, chooses a concealed position near: (rodent runways, rock edges, wadi margins, remains stationary for long periods, strikes quickly when prey comes within range)

Unlike more active foraging snakes, it conserves energy by waiting rather than searching.

  • Defensive behaviour: When threatened, the Persian Horned Viper may display a graduated defensive response: (stillness and camouflage, coiling into a defensive posture, hissing or body inflation)

Striking only if contact seems imminent

It does not produce the rasping “sawing” sound typical of Echis species.

Strikes are usually defensive, not pursuit-based, and occur at very close range.

  • Movement and posture: Generally slow-moving and deliberate, rarely travels long distances in a single night, uses rocks, shadows, and uneven terrain to remain concealed, often adopts a partially coiled posture, ready to strike if needed.

Its movement style reflects its reliance on ambush and concealment rather than speed.Description

NOT EVALUATED DATA DEFICIENT LEAST CONCERN** NEAR THREATENED VULNERABLE ENDANGERED CRITICALLY ENDANGERED EXTINCT IN THE WILD EXTINCT
NE DD LC NT VU EN CR EW EX