West African Carpet Viper

West african carpet viper echis ocellatus syn.

West african carpet viper.

The name echis is the latin transliteration of the greek word for viper ἔχις. The west african carpet viper s venom is potently cytotoxic causing severe pain swelling blistering and in many cases severe tissue damage. Saw scaled vipers carpet vipers is a genus of venomous vipers found in the dry regions of africa the middle east india sri lanka and pakistan. West african carpet viper echis ocellatus syn.

West african carpet viper primarily nocturnal the west african carpet viper echis ocellatus is 1 to 2 feet long with speckled light to dark brown dorsal scales and a light colored belly. These spots are designed to confuse potential predators. The ocellated carpet viper or echis ocellatus inhabits the countries of senegal gambia and gulf of guinea in the african continent. They have a characteristic threat display rubbing sections of their body together to produce a sizzling warning sound.

Carinatus stemmler papenfuß westafrikanische augenfleck sandrasselotter f. The west african carpet viper also known as the ocellated carpet viper echis ocellatus is a venomous serpent endemic to the countries of west africa is responsible highest number of snakebite related fatalities in africa. It is responsible for more human fatalities due to snakebite than all other african species combined. Although not a large snake 300 500mm its venom is extremely toxic and it is.

Like the boomslang their venom is haemotoxic causing. Burton s carpet viper is the name given to echis coloratus or painted saw scaled viper of eastern egypt palestine syria and israel. The west african carpet viper is the most dangerous snake in africa responsible for more serious snakebites and deaths than any other species and it is a strong candidate for the title of most dangerous snake in the world. This is typically a desert species.

An antivenom called echitab plus icp is manufactured by the costa rican instituto clodomiro. West african carpet viper echis ocellatus. Africa middle east and south asia the saw scaled or carpet vipers of the genus echis pictured is echis ocellatus a west african carpet viper from nigeria are a major cause of snakebite envenoming in the savannas of sub saharan africa north of the equatorial rainforest belt in the arabian peninsula and extending through iran to pakistan india and sri lanka. This snake accounts for 69 of snake bite related death in nigeria causing over 1 450 deaths nationwide.

Monovalent antivenom is effective and should be administered. The west african carpet viper is a small snake with an average total length of approximately 20 inches 1 5 feet. A sidewinder it lifts its upper body braces its head and pulls the remaining coils along without touching the ground at an angle. They are typically yellowish brown in color with distinctive eye like spots along the length of their bodies.

This carpet viper stands as the most dangerous snake in nigeria.