Saw scaled Viper (Echis carinatus) | Snake | Wildeeda

Saw scaled Viper (Echis carinatus) | Snake | Wildeeda

Saw-scaled Viper

Echis carinatus

  VENOMOUS

At birth 80mm (3in)

Adults 300-500mm (12-20in, larger in northern part of range) Maximum 800mm (32 in)

Description

Body short, stout. Scales strongly keeled, rough in appearance. Head distinctly broader than neck; scales on upper surface of head small, strongly keeled. Large eye has vertical pupil. Tail very short, thin. Light, dark brown, brick-red, gray or sand colored with zigzag patterns on back. Top of head has usually distinct, arrow-head mark. Underside white speckled with brown. Several different color forms exist. (Sochurek's Saw-scaled Viper Echis carinatus sochureki/ E. sochureki either merits subspecies status, or may be a separate species).

Scalation

Scales in 25 to 29 : 27 to 37:21 to 27 rows, strongly keeled. 4-7 lowest body scale rows (adjacent to ventrals) oblique, with serrated keels. Ventrals 132-185: entire; anal entire or divided; subcaudals 23-39, entire. Supralabials 10-12.

Natural History/ Behavior

Mainly nocturnal, will bask in the morning sun. Mostly found in open dry, sandy or rocky terrain in the plains and hills, and also in open, rocky regions of heavy rainfall. Rests under rocks, behind bark, at the base of thorny plants during the day. Climbs well. Frequents warm roads or paths at night. Moves fast by sidewinding. Feeds on mice, lizards, frogs, scorpions, and insects. Male combat observed. Bears 4-8 live young between April-August. Females may produce two clutches a year. In Maharashtra (Ratnagiri district) over 2000 Saw-scaled Vipers were recorded in one week (July). The same area was visited in December and not a single snake could be found. Hibernation or aestivation in laterite crevices may account for this dramatic disappearance. When alarmed, inflates lung and rubs saw-edged scales together to make a rasping sound. Quick to strike when provoked. Venom very toxic, one of India's Big Four: bites should be treated with antivenom serum.

Distribution

Saw-scaled Viper: throughout mainland India (very common in some places) except West Bengal and the Northeast. Also Pakistan, Sri Lanka. Reported up to 1500m (49201). (Sochurek's Saw-scaled Viper: Rajasthan and possibly Gujarat. Also Pakistan)

Look-alikes

Common Cat Snake. Russell's Kukri Snake. Sind Awl-headed Snake.