Carpet Viper Range

Map indicating the distribution of the west african carpet viper echis ocellatus in africa this is a savanna species.

Carpet viper range.

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. On the arabian peninsula it has been recorded from saudi arabia yemen and oman. Incredibly for a snake with a relatively small range it is along with the puff adder often cited as being responsible for the highest number of snakebite related fatalities in africa. The saw scaled or carpet viper echis carinatus whose range extends from senegal to bengal probably bites and kills more people than any other species of snake.

Painted saw scaled viper painted carpet viper burton s carpet viper palestine saw scaled viper arabian saw scaled viper mid east saw scaled viper. The west african carpet viper is a small snake with an average total length of approximately 20 inches 1 5 feet. The ocellated carpet viper or echis ocellatus inhabits the countries of senegal gambia and gulf of guinea in the african continent. One hundred and fifteen patients with poisoning caused by its bite were studied in the savanna region of nigeria where victims of this snake may occupy 10 per cent of hospital beds.

It is found in the middle east in sinai israel and jordan. It is very common in its range and accounts for many snakebites and fatalities a year. They have a characteristic threat display rubbing sections of their body together to produce a sizzling warning sound.