The fastest snake in the Middle East

The Arabian Horned Viper has eluded me again. My desert night treks have all been primarily about locating and photographing this lovely but deadly creature. Although all my desert night treks have not been successful with this regard, I have been blessed with encounters with other species which are more or less as interesting and beautiful as the elusive “Cerastes Gasperetti.”

Last saturday’s desert night trek was blessed with an encounter with a Schokari Sand Racer which is one of the fastest snakes in the Middle East. Being an active day time predator which is mildly venomous and not dangerous to humans, it was relatively easy to approach with caution and photograph and thus I got me some close up photos as well.