West Africa Carpet Viper

The west african carpet viper s venom is potently cytotoxic causing severe pain swelling blistering and in many cases severe tissue damage.

West africa carpet viper.

The ocellated carpet viper or echis ocellatus inhabits the countries of senegal gambia and gulf of guinea in the african continent. 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. Puff adder bitis arietans. 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.

Carinatus westafrikanische sandrasselotter f zool. Monovalent antivenom is effective and should be administered. West african carpet viper echis ocellatus syn. This is typically a desert species.

It is responsible for more human fatalities due to snakebite than all other african species combined. Black mamba dendroaspis polylepis. Echis ocellatus known by the common names west african carpet viper and ocellated carpet viper is a highly venomous species of viper endemic to west africa no subspecies are currently recognized. West african carpet viper echis ocellatus.

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 snake accounts for 69 of snake bite related death in nigeria causing over 1 450 deaths nationwide. Although not a large snake 300 500mm. The cape cobra naja nivea is found across southern africa favoring dry areas including desert and arid savannah regions.

The name echis is the latin transliteration of the greek word for viper ἔχις. Mozambique spitting cobra naja mossambica. Ariadne van zandbergen getty images. West african carpet viper echis ocellatus syn.

White bellied carpet viper echis leucogaster. This carpet viper stands as the most dangerous snake in nigeria. An antivenom called echitab plus icp is manufactured by the costa rican instituto clodomiro. The west african carpet viper has a distinctive threat display which involves rubbing its coils together to create a loud sizzling sound.

Carinatus stemmler papenfuß westafrikanische augenfleck sandrasselotter f. They have a characteristic threat display rubbing sections of their body together to produce a sizzling warning sound. A sidewinder it lifts its upper body braces its head and pulls the remaining coils along without touching the ground at an angle. 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 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.