Africa Carpet Viper

A bite by the ocellated carpet viper of the african savannahs is very dangerous and can even cause hemorrhaging.

Africa carpet viper.

This snake accounts for 69 of snake bite related death in nigeria causing over 1 450 deaths nationwide. 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. The west african carpet viper has a distinctive threat display which involves rubbing its coils together to create a loud sizzling sound. Map indicating the distribution of the egyptian carpet viper echis pyramidum in africa.

African vipers are known to lay around 8 to 10 eggs at once. 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. 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. This carpet viper stands as the most dangerous snake in nigeria.

Found in semi desert and dry savanna. In africa these snakes are found in a wide variety of habitats across the continent. It is very common in its range and accounts for many snakebites and fatalities a year. They are nocturnal and many people stand on them at night.

Ariadne van zandbergen getty images. Monovalent antivenom is effective and should be administered. The west african carpet viper s venom is potently cytotoxic causing severe pain swelling blistering and in many cases severe tissue damage. An antivenom called echitab plus icp is manufactured by the costa rican instituto clodomiro.

They have a characteristic threat display rubbing sections of their body together to produce a sizzling warning sound. Saw scaled viper bites snakebites are very frequent in sub saharan africa many villagers and farmers being at maximum risk. It is responsible for more human fatalities due to snakebite than all other african species combined. The carpet vipers or echis are a genus of vipers of highly poisonous nature widely distributed across africa middle east and south asia.

The snakes produce an extremely potent hemotoxin that is lethal in very low doses. West african carpet viper echis ocellatus. 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.