horned viper

noun

1. a highly venomous viper, Cerastes cerastes, of northern Africa and extreme southwestern Asia, having a process resembling a horn just above each eye.

horned viper

noun

1. Also called: sand viper. a venomous snake, Cerastes cornutus, that occurs in desert regions of N Africa and SW Asia and has a small horny spine above each eye: family Viperidae (vipers)

Word History and Origins

Origin of horned viper¹

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

The zoo is home to species including an African grey parrot, a vervet monkey, giant lizards known as Nile monitors, a desert tortoise, a horned viper snake and a Nubian spitting cobra.

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The Saharan horned viper and the sidewinding adder of the Namib desert — which are closely related — have belly scales with uniform pits and no spikes.

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Indeed, the best footage here is captured at night, from the slinkings of the bizarre horned viper to the evasive tactics of the lesser jerboa, a tiny rodent with kangaroo-like hind legs.

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Matilda’s horned viper was discovered in the African nation of Tanzania about two years ago and was introduced last month as the world’s newest known snake species.

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The Wildlife Conservation Society reports the discovery of a striking snake, the Matilda’s horned viper, in eastern Tanzania.

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