False horned viper (Pseudocerastes persicus )

Another rare viper that lives in the mountains of the UAE is the false horned viper (Pseudocerastes persicus ). It does not occur at altitudes lower than 400 m above sea-level and it does not venture out into the open desert. With a typical bulky viper-like body, it has a very broad head with short horns above the eyes. It is hinge-fanged like the other vipers and lacks a very distinct colour pattern on its body, being rather uniform dark grey or brown, blending well with the rocky habitat it favours. At 90 cms total length it is the largest of the vipers occurring in the United Arab Emirates.