Echis coloratus explained

Echis coloratus, known as the painted saw-scaled viper,^[1] painted carpet viper, Burton's carpet viper,^[2] and by other common names, is a highly venomous viper species endemic to the Middle East and Egypt. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Description

It grows to a maximum total length (body + tail) of 75cm (30inches).^[1]

Common names

Painted saw-scaled viper,^[1] painted carpet viper, Burton's carpet viper,^[2] Palestine saw-scaled viper, Arabian saw-scaled viper,^[3] Mid-East saw-scaled viper.^[3]

Geographic range

It is found in the Middle East in Sinai, Israel, and Jordan. On the Arabian Peninsula it has been recorded from Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Oman. In Africa it occurs in eastern Egypt east of the Nile and as far south as the 24

^th parallel.

The type locality given is "on Jebel Shárr, at an altitude of 4500 feet ... Midian" (Saudi Arabia, 1371 m altitude).

Habitat

It occurs in rocky deserts, from sea level to altitudes as high as 2500m (8,200feet). It is not found in sandy deserts.^[2]

Taxonomy

In order to maintain nomenclatural stability, Stimson (1974) proposed that E. coloratus be validated over E. froenata. The ICZN subsequently gave coloratus precedence over froenata by use of its plenary powers.

Further reading

• Boulenger, G.A. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the ... Viperidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I.- XXV. (Echis coloratus, p. 507 + Plate XXV, Figure 1).
• Duméril, A.-M.-C., G. Bibron, and A.[-H.-A.] Duméril. 1854. Erpétologie générale ou histoire naturelle complète des reptiles. Tome septième. Deuxième partie. Comprenant l'histoire des serpents venimeux. Paris: Roret. xii + pp. 781–1536. ("Echis frœnata", pp. 1449–1450).
• Gunther, A. 1878. On Reptiles from Midian collected by Major Burton. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1878: 977–978. (Echis colorata, p. 978).

External links

• Echis coloratus at CalPhotos. Accessed 2 August 2007.
  • • • • "What Fiery Flying Serpent Symbolized Christ?" at Meridian Magazine. Accessed 16 December 2008.

Notes and References

1. Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. .
2. Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Dubai: Ralph Curtis Books. Oriental Press. 192 pp. .
3. http://www.toxinfo.org/antivenoms/indication/ECHIS_COLORATUS.html Echis coloratus