Cerastes (genus)

Cerastes
Temporal range: Pleistocene-recent[1]
Desert horned viper, C. cerastes
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Subfamily: Viperinae
Genus: Cerastes
Laurenti, 1768
Synonyms[2]
  • Cerastes Laurenti, 1768
  • Aspis Laurenti, 1768
  • Cerastes — Wagler, 1830
  • Gonyechis Fitzinger, 1843

Cerastes is a genus of small, venomous vipers found in the deserts and semi-deserts of northern North Africa eastward through Arabia and Iran.[2][3] Three species are currently recognized by ITIS,[4] and an additional recently described species is recognized by the Reptile Database.[5] Common names for members the genus include horned vipers,[6] North African desert vipers,[3] and cerastes vipers.[7]

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ a b McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. ^ a b Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Dubai: Ralph Curtis Books. Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
  4. ^ "Cerastes". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 30 July 2006.
  5. ^ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  6. ^ Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
  7. ^ Parker HW, Grandison AGC. 1977. Snakes – a natural history. Second Edition. London and Ithaca: British Museum (Natural History) and Cornell University Press. 108 pp. + 16 plates. LCCCN 76-54625. ISBN 0-8014-1095-9 (cloth), ISBN 0-8014-9164-9 (paper).