Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Vertebrata Suborder Serpentes Scientific name Echis jogeri Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Squamata Family Viperidae Higher classification Echis | |
Similar Echis hughesi, Echis leucogaster, Echis, Vipers, Snake | ||
Echis jogeri is a venomous viper species endemic to Mali. No subspecies are currently recognized.
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Etymology
The specific name, jogeri, is in honor of German herpetologist Ulrich Joger.
Description
This species is relatively small, averaging only about 30 cm (12 in) in total length (body + tail). Its build, however, is relatively stout, the cross-section of which is circular or subtriangular. The scalation of the head is similar to that of E. leucogaster. Midbody, the dorsal scale rows number 27. The ventral scales number 123-136.
Coloration and pattern are both variable. Its color ranges from brown to gray to reddish, and everything in between. Its pattern generally consists of a series of light, oblique, dorsal crossbars or saddles set against a darker ground color. The flanks are lighter in color, normally with a series of triangular, subtriangular, or circular, dark markings with light or white edges. The belly is an unbroken pale cream, white, or ivory.
Geographic range
It is found only in western and central Mali.
The type locality is listed in Russian as "[Mali, 3 km of Tombuktu]" (Mali, 3 km from Timbuktu).