The arrival of summer in the province of Alicante has repercussions in the animal kingdom. One of the species which the high temperature has a greater incidence are the reptiles, more specifically the cerastes, known as the horned viper of the desert, a type of snake that lives in Terra Natura Benidorm and that has activated its reproductive instinct with the arrival of heat.

The two males of vipers of this species have started a series of battles to achieve mating with the female. In these fights the winner is determined by surrender, they don´t use the fangs, instead they manage to exhaust the opponent to be victorious. The strongest specimen will achieve mating, which in this species can last up to four days.
According to the zookeepers, reptiles are cold-blooded animals that are stimulated by the arrival of seasonal change. After a long winter in which they practically do not move so they don´t burn fat or energy, these specimens begin to wake up with the arrival of spring, taking advantage of the sun’s rays to warm themselves, then they look for food and the next step is to look for a female to mate, a fact that usually occurs with the arrival of heat. In the case of females, pheromones are released to try to attract males.
Another change in behaviour produced in reptiles by the arrival of high temperatures is the increase of their appetite. The vipers need to feed abundantly during the summer season with the aim of spending the winter without practically moving. In the case of females this pattern is even clearer, as they need to feed more to face maternity.
After mating, oviparous vipers usually put between 8 and 20 eggs that hatch after 60 days. If the temperatures are very high, the birth of the offspring can even go ahead between 45 and 50 days. The desert viper babies are born about 10 centimetres long and with a small horn on each eye, it´s exact function is unknown.
Among the peculiarities of this species, it stands out that they have the capacity to bury themselves completely in the sand of the desert dunes. Precisely, this technique is performed with the aim of thermoregulating in the event that the temperatures are too high; to camouflage, that is, to become invisible to any predator; and hunting, staying motionless at some strategic point and shooting out to catch their prey by surprise.