Horned Viper, snake of the Sahara Desert

The desert horned viper can be found in the SAHARA desert.  It is the most commonly found snake in North Africa. This species dwells in sandy habitats, and prefer temperatures that range around 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

The sandy terrain of the desert provides camouflage while hunting prey.  This snake hunts rodents, birds, and small reptiles.  The horned viper can even sink into the sand to disguise itself.

Another hunting advantage can be found in the vipers most distinguishable feature, the set of horns located above its eyes. These horns offer  eyes protection from blowing sand.  The horns disguise the shape of the snake’s head, so they cannot be easily recognized when stalking prey.

The horned viper is able to acquire a sufficient amount of freshwater in the desert, where water is not easily accessible. They can trap morning dew in their scales, which is crucial to their survival. These snakes have venomous bites, but pose little threat to humans due to their non-aggressive nature.

The Snake who inspired the Ancients!

The horned viper was even present in Egyptian hieroglyphics– both in written and carved forms!

THE VAST SAHARA

SAHARA is an Arabic word meaning Great Desert. The Sahara is the largest hot desert on Earth, located in northern AFRICA. It covers a vast area in the north African continent, and is larger than the continental United States. The Sahara is a very hot and arid landscape of mainly sand and rock, with very little vegetation. Yet there are many species of animals who have adapted to the harsh terrain and high temperatures. In addition to the horned viper, there are 70 kinds of mammals, 90 kinds of birds and about 100 kinds of reptiles. Some nomadic people live in the desert, but mostly on the edges of the desert where they can obtain water and grow food.

Let your students more about the SAHARA with our FREE ACCESS file in our CartoCraze! Expanded Map Workshops. 

See this digital file FREE, on our site —  EASY TO USE with your smartboard or projector!

Here is what it includes:

Why the northern part of AFRICA is so dry and filled with this vast desert….

What AFRICA looks like from the sky

How do nomads live in the harsh terrain

Color a map and the Horned Viper!

What is an OASIS?

What kinds of foods can grow in the desert

What is a SIMOOM?

What did old mapmakers think AFRICA looked like!

Vocabulary and spelling!

And MUCH MORE!  See it HERE— FREE to use with your smartboard or projector!