Echis ocellatus
| Echis ocellatus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Subfamily: | Viperinae |
| Genus: | Echis |
| Species: | E. ocellatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Echis ocellatus Stemmler, 1970 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Echis ocellatus is a venomous viper species endemic to West Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized.[5]
It is responsible for more human fatalities due to snakebite than all other African species combined.[6] An antivenom called Echitab-plus-ICP is manufactured by the Costa Rican Instituto Clodomiro Picado.[7]
Etymology
The specific name, ocellatus, is a reference to the distinctive series of "eye-spots" (ocelli) which runs the length of the body.[3]
Description
The maximum total length (body + tail) is 65 cm (26 in), possibly more, while the average total length is 30–50 cm (12–20 in).[3]
Geographic range
It is found in West Africa from Mauritania, Senegal and Guinea, through, Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, southern Niger, and Nigeria. It is also found in northern Cameroon and southwestern Chad.
The type locality is described as "Haute Volta, Garango, 048 N, 033 W" (Burkina Faso).[1]
There are also reports of single specimens found in the Bangui in the Central African Republic, and in central Sudan. It is rarely found north of the 15th parallel, after which E. leucogaster becomes more common. The geographic range of E. ocellatus extends to the coast via the Dahomey Gap.[3]
Reproduction
Sexually mature females lay between 6 and 20 eggs, usually at the end of the dry season in February to March. Hatchlings are 10–12 cm (3.9–4.7 in) in total length.
See also
- List of viperine species and subspecies
- Viperinae by common name
- Viperinae by taxonomic synonyms
- Snakebite
References
- 1 2 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- ↑ Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
- 1 2 3 4 Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Dubai: Ralph Curtis Books. Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN 0-88359-029-8.
- ↑ Echis ocellatus at Munich AntiVenom INdex (MAVIN). Accessed 3 August 2007.
- ↑ "Echis ocellatus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2 August 2006.
- ↑ JERRY G. WALLS, The World's Deadliest Snakes, Reptiles (magazine)
- ↑ http://www.echitabplusicp.org/product/description
Further reading
- Cherlin VA. 1990. [A taxonomic revision of the snake genus Echis (Viperidae). II. An analysis of taxonomy and description of new forms]. [Proc. Zool. Inst. Leningrad] 207: 193-223. (in Russian).
- Hughes B. 1976. Notes on African Carpet Vipers, Echis carinatus, E. leucogaster and E. ocellatus (Viperidae, Serpentes). Revue Suisse de Zoologie 83 (2): 359-371.
- Stemmler O. 1970. Die Sandrasselotter aus Westafrika: Echis carinatus ocellatus subsp. nov. (Serpentes, Viperidae). Revue Suisse de Zoologie 77 (2): 273-282.
External links
- Echis ocellatus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 3 August 2007.
- Echis ocellatus Stemmler, 1970 at Tomáš Mazuch. Accessed 24 November 2007.