Suborder Serpentes Subfamily Viperinae Higher classification Echis Order Scaled reptiles | Subphylum Vertebrata Genus Echis Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
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Lower classifications Echis pyramidum leakeyi, Echis pyramidum aliaborri | ||
Saw scaled viper echis pyramidum leakeyi
Echis pyramidum is a species of venomous viper endemic to Northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.
Contents
- Saw scaled viper echis pyramidum leakeyi
- Echis pyramidum leakeyi lake baringo
- Etymology
- Description
- Common names
- Geographic range
- References
Echis pyramidum leakeyi lake baringo
Etymology
The specific name, pyramidum, refers to the Egyptian pyramids.
Description
The average total length (body + tail) is 30–60 cm (12–24 in) with a maximum total length of 85 cm (33 in) (possibly slightly more).
Common names
Northeast African carpet viper, Egyptian saw-scaled viper, Egyptian carpet viper, Geoffroy's carpet viper.
Geographic range
In northeastern Africa it occurs in northern Egypt, central Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, and northern Kenya. There are also scattered populations in the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula in western Saudi Arabia (south of the 18th parallel), Yemen, South Yemen (in Hadhramaut), and in Oman.
The type locality given is "Egypte" (Egypt).
Disjunct populations reportedly occur in Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and northern Egypt. It is absent in southern Egypt.
