Echis ocellatus

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Echis ocellatus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Echis
Species:
E. ocellatus
Binomial name
Echis ocellatus
Stemmler, 1970
Synonyms
  • Echis carinatus ocellatusStemmler, 1970
  • Echis ocellatus
    — Hughes, 1976
  • Echis [(Toxicoa)] ocellatus
    — Cherlin, 1990 [1]

Echis ocellatus, known by the common names West African carpet viper [2] [3] and ocellated carpet viper, [4] is a highly venomous species of viper endemic to West Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized. [5]

Contents

It is responsible for more human fatalities due to snakebite than all other African species combined. [6] An antivenom called Echitab-plus-ICP [7] is manufactured by the Costa Rican Instituto Clodomiro Picado and another called EchiTabG [8] is manufactured by MicroPharm Ltd in the UK.

Taxonomy

Othmar Stemmler described the species in 1970. It was considered a subspecies of the E. carinatus.

Recent revisions split the species into three, with the recognition of Echis jogeri from Senegal, Guinea and Mali, and Echis romani from eastern Nigeria, southeastern Niger, Cameroon and Chad. [9] [10]

The specific name, ocellatus, is a reference to the distinctive series of "eye-spots" (ocelli) which runs the length of the body. [3]

Common names include African saw-tailed viper, ocellated carpet viper and West African carpet viper.

Description and behavior

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] They are characterized by their bulging eyes and short snout, typical of species of the genus Echis. E. ocellatus is terrestrial, nocturnal and crespuscular, it usually goes out to hunt its prey at the first hours of the night, prey like small vertebrates, like mammals, birds, lizards and amphibians, it has already been reported to hunt small invertebrates like centipedes and scorpions. It's a very aggressive viper; it forms its body like a ''S'' and rubs itself making an alert sound with its scales. [11]

Range and habitat

It is found in West Africa in Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, southern Niger, and Nigeria. Older records from Senegal, Guinea Bissau and Guinea refer to Echis jogeri , and those from eastern Nigeria, Cameroon and southern Chad to Echis romani .

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. They are mainly found in savanna and occasionally in wooded areas. [3] [12]

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.

Venom

It's responsible for more fatalities than all other African snakes combined, its venom is a compound of Procoagulants, anticoagulants, hemorraghins, nephrotoxins and necrotoxins, symptoms of their bites include local pain, swelling, bleeding necrosis and disfigurement which may result in amputation. Systemic symptoms include coagulopathy, hemorraghes, shock, renal failure and blindness. The envenoming rate is 80% and the lethality rate is 10-20%. [11] [13]

Related Research Articles

<i>Echis carinatus</i> Species of snake

Echis carinatus, known as the saw-scaled viper, Indian saw-scaled viper, little Indian viper, and by other common names, is a viper species found in parts of the Middle East and Central Asia, and especially the Indian subcontinent. It is the smallest member of the "big four" Indian snakes that are responsible for causing the most snakebite cases and deaths, due to various factors including their frequent occurrence in highly populated regions, and their inconspicuous nature. Like all vipers, the species is venomous. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

<i>Echis coloratus</i> Species of reptile

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

<i>Bitis</i> Genus of snakes

Bitis is a genus of venomous vipers found in Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula. It includes the largest and the smallest vipers in the world. Members are known for their characteristic threat displays that involve inflating and deflating their bodies while hissing and puffing loudly. The type species for this genus is B. arietans, which is also the most widely distributed viper in Africa. Currently, 18 species are recognized.

<i>Echis megalocephalus</i> Species of snake

Echis megalocephalus, also known commonly as the big-headed carpet viper and Cherlin's saw-scaled viper, is a species of venomous snake in the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to one island in the Red Sea off the coast of Eritrea. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

<i>Atheris</i> Genus of venomous vipers of tropical Africa

Atheris is a genus of vipers known as bush vipers. They are found only in tropical subsaharan Africa and many species have isolated and fragmented distributions due to their confinement to rain forests. Like all other vipers, they are venomous. In an example of convergent evolution, they show many similarities to the arboreal pit vipers of Asia and South America. Seventeen species are currently recognized.

<i>Causus</i> Genus of snakes

Causus is a genus of vipers found only in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a group considered to be among the most primitive members of the family Viperidae based on head scalation, oviparity, venom apparatus, and because they have round pupils. However, this is contradicted by recent molecular studies. Seven species are currently recognized. They are commonly known as night adders. Like all other vipers, they are venomous.

<i>Echis</i> Genus of snakes

Echis 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.

<i>Atheris chlorechis</i> Species of snake

Atheris chlorechis is a viper species found only in the forests of West Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized. It is the type species of its genus. It is venomous. Atheris chlorechis venom can lead to major systemic envenoming, shock, blood loss due to coagulopathy, and renal failure. There is no antivenom.

<i>Bitis parviocula</i> Species of snake

Bitis parviocula is a venomous viper species found only in Ethiopia. It is large with a broad head and spectacular geometric markings. In 1995, the species was known from only three specimens, but additional information has surfaced since then. Little is known about its natural history or its venom. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Echis hughesi</i> Species of snake

Echis hughesi, also known commonly as Hughes' carpet viper, the Somali carpet viper, and Hughes' saw-scaled viper, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Somalia. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

Echis jogeri, known as the Joger's carpet viper, Mali carpet viper, Joger's saw-scaled viper, is a species of venomous snake in the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Mali. There are no subspecies which are recognized as being valid.

Echis leucogaster, also known as the white-bellied carpet viper or the Roman's saw-scaled viper, is a viper species endemic to West and Northwest Africa. Its scientific name derives from its white (leuco-), unmarked belly (gaster). like all other vipers, it is venomous. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Echis pyramidum</i> Venomous snake, a carpet viper

Echis pyramidum, known as the Northeast African carpet viper, Egyptian saw-scaled viper, and by other common names, is a species of viper endemic to Northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

<i>Echis carinatus multisquamatus</i> Subspecies of snake

Echis carinatus multisquamatus, known as the multiscale saw-scaled viper and transcaspian saw-scaled viper, is a viper subspecies found in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

Echis carinatus sinhaleyus is a venomous viper subspecies endemic to Sri Lanka.

<i>Echis carinatus sochureki</i> Subspecies of snake

Echis carinatus sochureki is a venomous viper subspecies found in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and parts of the Arabian Peninsula.

Echis pyramidum aliaborri is a venomous viper subspecies endemic to northern Kenya.

Echis pyramidum leakeyi is a venomous viper subspecies endemic to northern East Africa.

References

  1. 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).
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. 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.
  4. ↑ Echis ocellatus at Munich AntiVenom INdex (MAVIN). Accessed 3 August 2007.
  5. ↑ "Echis ocellatus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 2 August 2006.
  6. ↑ JERRY G. WALLS, The World's Deadliest Snakes, Reptiles (magazine)
  7. ↑ "EchiTAb-Plus-ICP Description and Instructions". Archived from the original on 2019-12-14. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  8. ↑ Snake Antivenom for Sub – Sharan Africa EchiTAbG (PDF), World Health Organization, 20 June 2019, retrieved 14 December 2019
  9. ↑ Pook, C.E.; Joger, U.; Stümpel, N.; Wüster, W. (2009). "When continents collide: Phylogeny, historical biogeography and systematics of the medically important viper genus Echis (Squamata: Serpentes: Viperidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 53 (3): 792–807. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.08.002. ISSN   1055-7903. PMID   19666129.
  10. ↑ Trape, Jean-François (2018). "Partition d'Echis ocellatus Stemmler, 1970 (Squamata, Viperidae), avec la description d'une espèce nouvelle". Bulletin de la Société Herpétologique de France. 167: 13–34.
  11. 1 2 "WCH Clinical Toxinology Resources". www.toxinology.com. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  12. ↑ "WCH Clinical Toxinology Resources". www.toxinology.com. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
  13. ↑ Habib, A. G.; Abubakar, S. B.; Abubakar, I. S.; Larnyang, S.; Durfa, N.; Nasidi, A.; Yusuf, P. O.; Garnvwa, J.; Theakston, R. D. G.; Salako, L.; Warrell, D. A. (September 2008). "Envenoming after carpet viper (Echis ocellatus) bite during pregnancy: timely use of effective antivenom improves maternal and foetal outcomes". Tropical Medicine & International Health. 13 (9): 1172–1175. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3156.2008.02122.x. ISSN   1360-2276. PMC   2857546 . PMID   18631310.

Further reading

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