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Figure (7) Pseudocerastes fieldi K. P. Schmidt, 1930        

Common name: False Horn Viper, Field’s Horned Viper.

Diagnosis. Head triangular, wide, very distinct from neck, covered with small, imbricate, keeled scales. Snout short and broadly rounded. One series of scales between the nasal and the nostril; nostrils are dorsolaterally positioned and valves present. Supranasal one or two. 14-18 (most common 15-17) scales in ocular ring. On both sides above the eye there are erect horn-like projections formed of several small imbricate scales, its tip ending in two tiny scales. Three series of scales between the eye and labials. Upper labials 12-14. Lower labials 14-16, four of which are in contact with the chin shields. 21-22 strongly keeled scale rows at midbody; ventrals 127-142 (most common 131-135); subcaudals 34-46 (most common 33-38). Anal undivided. Tip of the tail black. Side-winding movements like Echis and Cerastes, but no differentiated noise-making lateral scales. Maximum length may reach up to 90 cm. Colouration: Pale yellowish-grey or brown, with two rows of about thirty darker blotches on the back. In the eastern basalt desert, however, the ground colour is dark grey. Opposite blotches sometimes fuse to form transverse crossbars. An additional row of smaller blotches laterally. Ends of ventrals and subcaudals, as well as many dorsal scales, with little black spots. Sides of head with light brown band from the eye backwards and downwards. Maximum length 79 cm (females larger than males).

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