Echis coloratus

Echis coloratus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Genus:	Echis
Species:	E. coloratus
Binomial name
Echis coloratus Günther, 1878
Synonyms [2]
Echis froenata A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854 E[chis]. carinata var. frenata— Jan, 1863 Echis colorataGünther, 1878 Echis frenata— Pfeffer, 1893 Echis coloratus — Boulenger, 1896 Echis coloratus coloratus — Cherlin, 1983 Echis [(Turanechis)] froenatus— Cherlin, 1990

Echis coloratus, known as the painted saw-scaled viper, ^[3] painted carpet viper, Burton's carpet viper, ^[4] and by other common names, is a highly venomous viper species endemic to the Middle East and Egypt. ^[2] No subspecies are currently recognized. ^[5]

Description

It grows to a maximum total length (body + tail) of 75 cm (30 in). ^[3]

Common names

Echis coloratus from Saudi Arabia

Painted saw-scaled viper, ^[3] painted carpet viper, Burton's carpet viper, ^[4] Palestine saw-scaled viper, ^[6] Arabian saw-scaled viper, ^[7] Mid-East saw-scaled viper. ^[7]

Geographic range

It is found in the Middle East and North Africa. It occurs in Egypt east of the Nile from near the southern border to the Sinai Peninsula, and its range extends eastwards into the Negev in Israel, Palestine's West Bank region, and Jordan. On the adjoining Arabian Peninsula it has been recorded in Western Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Southern Oman. ^[1]

The type locality given is "on Jebel Shárr, at an altitude of 4500 feet ... Midian" (Saudi Arabia, 1371 m altitude). ^[2]

Closeup of a painted saw-scaled viper at Phoenix Zoo.

Habitat

It occurs in rocky deserts, from sea level to altitudes as high as 2,500 m (8,200 ft). It is not found in sandy deserts. ^[4]

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. ^[2]

References

1. Eid, E.K.A.; Al Johany, A.M.H.; Amr, Z.S.S.; Baha El Din, S.; Werner, Y.L.; Disi, A.M. (2021). "Echis coloratus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T197482A2488698. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T197482A2488698.en . Retrieved 21 February 2022.
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).
3. 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.
4. Spawls S, Branch B. 1995. The Dangerous Snakes of Africa. Dubai: Ralph Curtis Books. Oriental Press. 192 pp. ISBN   0-88359-029-8.
5. "Echis coloratus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 1 August 2006.
6. Echis coloratus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 2 August 2007.
7. Echis coloratus at Munich AntiVenom INdex. Accessed 2 August 2007.

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. London1878: 977–978. (Echis colorata, p. 978).

External links

• Echis coloratus at CalPhotos. Accessed 2 August 2007.
• Echis coloratus coloratus Günther, 1878 at Tomáš Mazuch . Accessed 24 November 2007.
• Echis coloratus terraesanctae Babocsay, 2003 at Tomáš Mazuch . Accessed 24 November 2007.
• Echis omanensis Babocsay, 2004 at Tomáš Mazuch . Accessed 24 November 2007.
• Echis khosatzkii Cherlin, 1990 at Tomáš Mazuch . Accessed 24 November 2007.
• "What Fiery Flying Serpent Symbolized Christ?" at Meridian Magazine. Accessed 16 December 2008.