Echis
Sign in to saveEchis (common names: saw-scaled vipers, carpet vipers) is a genus of vipers found in the dry regions of Africa, the Middle East, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. They have a characteristic threat display, rubbing sections of their body together to produce a "sizzling" warning sound. The name Echis is the Latin transliteration of the Greek word for "viper" (ἔχις). Like all vipers, they are venomous. Their common name is "saw-scaled vipers" and they include some of the species responsible for causing the most snakebite cases and deaths in the world. Twelve species are currently recognized.
Article
11 sectionsContents
- Description
- Geographic range
- Behaviour
- Diet
- Reproduction
- Venom
- Species
- Taxonomy
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Echis (common names: saw-scaled vipers, carpet vipers) is a genus of vipers found in the dry regions of Africa, the Middle East, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. They have a characteristic threat display, rubbing sections of their body together to produce a "sizzling" warning sound. The name Echis is the Latin transliteration of the Greek word for "viper" (ἔχις). Like all vipers, they are venomous. Their common name is "saw-scaled vipers" and they include some of the species responsible for causing the most snakebite cases and deaths in the world. Twelve species are currently recognized.
==Description== px|thumb|left|Closeup: scales with serrated keels Saw-scaled vipers are relatively small snakes, the largest species (E. leucogaster, E. pyramidum) usually below long, and the smallest (E. hughesi, E. jogeri) being around .