West African Carpet Viper

The west african carpet viper is a small snake with an average total length of approximately 20 inches 1 5 feet.

West african carpet viper.

The name echis is the latin transliteration of the greek word for viper ἔχις. 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. The ocellated carpet viper or echis ocellatus inhabits the countries of senegal gambia and gulf of guinea in the african continent. This is typically a desert species.

Click here to view download in pdf format. An antivenom called echitab plus icp is manufactured by the costa rican instituto clodomiro picado and. Carinatus westafrikanische sandrasselotter f zool. West african carpet viper echis ocellatus syn.

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. Monovalent antivenom is effective and should be administered. 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. A sidewinder it lifts its upper body braces its head and pulls the remaining coils along without touching the ground at an angle.

This carpet viper stands as the most dangerous snake in nigeria. Burton s carpet viper is the name given to echis coloratus or painted saw scaled viper of eastern egypt palestine syria and israel. West african carpet viper echis ocellatus. This snake accounts for 69 of snake bite related death in nigeria causing over 1 450 deaths nationwide.

It is responsible for more human fatalities due to snakebite than all other african species combined. West african carpet viper echis ocellatus syn. Although not a large snake 300 500mm its venom is extremely toxic and it is. These spots are designed to confuse potential predators.

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. They are typically yellowish brown in color with distinctive eye like spots along the length of their bodies. The west african carpet viper s venom is potently cytotoxic causing severe pain swelling blistering and in many cases severe tissue damage. Like the boomslang their venom is haemotoxic causing.

Carinatus stemmler papenfuß westafrikanische augenfleck sandrasselotter f.