Sahara Desert Viper (Cerastes vipera) The Sahara Desert Viper, also known as the Avicenna Viper, is one of the smallest and most specialized snakes of the desert world. Found across the harsh dunes of North Africa, this venomous snake is perfectly adapted to extreme heat and shifting sands. It grows up to 50 cm long and is famous for its horn-like scales above the eyes, giving it a fearsome appearance. Its unique sidewinding movement allows it to glide quickly over hot sand while conserving ener