Desert Horned Viper
Cerastes cerastes (Linnaeus, 1758)
Basic info
| Common names |
|
|---|---|
| Species name | Cerastes cerastes |
| Scientific name | Cerastes cerastes Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Taxonomy | Animalia Chordata Squamata Viperidae Cerastes cerastes |
Temperatures & Season
Day time temperatures
| Background | 25 - 30 °F |
|---|---|
| Basking spot | 30 - 35 °F |
Night time temperatures
| Background summer | 24 - 26 °F |
|---|---|
| Background winter | 20 - 22 °F |
Season
| Winter treatment | cooling |
|---|---|
| Photoperiod summer | 13 hours |
| Photoperiod winter | 11 hours |
Microhabitats
Microhabitats are specific small habitats that an organism inhabits within its broader environment. These can vary greatly depending on the species and can give us insights into the preferred living conditions of each reptile. Understanding these microhabitats can be key to providing the correct care for these animals in captivity.
- Rocks, crevices or burrows
- Grassland or savanna
Ferguson Zones
Ferguson Zones are a way to classify the amount of UV light that reptiles are exposed to in their natural habitats. These zones help us understand and replicate their natural light conditions in captivity, promoting the health and wellbeing of the reptiles. Below, we detail the specific Ferguson Zones of the Chinese Water Dragon, along with recommendations for replicating these conditions
The Ferguson Zone in which the Desert Horned Viper has been placed has been chosen based upon an assessment of its typical basking behaviour and likely microhabitat in the wild.
Recommended lighting methods in captivity
Shade method
This method provides low-level 'background' UV at levels matching the Ferguson Zone Range, over a large portion of the enclosure. The highlighted area in the table below represents this range for the Desert Horned Viper.
Sunbeam method (only for large enclosures)
This method uses the 'Max UVI Recorded' value as a guide for the upper limit of the UVB gradient in captivity. This maximum should be the highest level which a Desert Horned Viper can obtain at its closest approach to its UVB lamp. The highlighted area in the table below represents this range for the Desert Horned Viper.
More in-depth information about Ferguson zones can be found here: https://jzar.org/jzar/article/view/150
Community collected distribution (831 occurrences)
Biomes
These are the biomes the Desert Horned Viper was found in. Click here to learn more about terrestrial ecoregions and biomes.
- Deserts and Xeric Shrublands
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References
- Baines, F.M., Chattell, J., Dale, J., Garrick, D., Gill, I., Goetz, M., Skelton, T. and Swatman, M. 2016. How much UVB does my reptile need? The UV-Tool, a guide to the selection of UV lighting for reptiles and amphibians in captivity. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research. 4, 1 (Jan. 2016), 42–63. DOI:https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v4i1.150.
- Cerastes cerastes Linnaeus, 1758 in GBIF Secretariat (2021). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org
- Linnaeus, C. Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata.
- iNaturalist. Available from https://www.inaturalist.org