Subphylum Vertebrata Suborder Serpentes Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Family Viperidae Higher classification Echis | |
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Similar Echis megalocephalus, Echis, Vipers, Snake, Echis leucogaster | ||
Echis hughesi is a venomous viper species endemic to Somalia. No subspecies are currently recognized.
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Etymology
The specific name, hughesi, is in honor of British herpetologist Barry Hughes.
Description
E. hughesi grows to a total length (body + tail) of about 21–32 cm (8.3–12.6 in). The head scalation is similar to that of E. pyramidum. Midbody, there are 24-25 dorsal scales. The ventrals number 144-149 and the subcaudals 28-30. The color pattern varies, but generally consists of a series of pale, oblique, dorsal blotches set against a darker ground color.
Geographic range
E. hughesi is found only in northern Somalia, in northern Migiurtinia, near Meledin.
The type locality is listed as "Somalia, 10°02' [N lat.], 49° [E long.]".
Migiurtinia was the name of a region, or gobolka, in Somalia that is currently known as Bari and occupies about 70,000 km2 (27,000 sq mi) of the tip of the Horn of Africa.