Special anatomical, physiological or behavioral
The "horns" on this viper may help to protect its eyes from injury or may simply contribute to the snake's camouflage.
The horned desert viper can burrow quickly into the sand by rapid
sideways movements of its body, leaving only the head and eyes visible.
However, in its natural environment, loose sand may not be available,
and the snake will then hide under a rock or in the burrow of another
The color of the snake helps to camouflage it against sand or rocky
ground, especially when it is partially buried. Cerastes cerastes
is an ambush hunter, lurking quietly in a half-buried position until
an unwary lizard or rodent comes within reach, and then lunging quickly
to capture its prey.
Although this is not a rattlesnake, it can make a sound by scraping
its scales against one another. The venom is hemotoxic.