Palestine Saw-scaled Viper (Phoenix Zoo - Arizona Trail)

Palestine Saw-scaled Viper

Echis coloratus

Summary ⁴

Echis coloratus is a venomous viper species endemic to the Middle East and Egypt. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Description ⁵

A medium-sized snake, with a short, stocky body. Largest Egyptian specimen has a total length of 530 mm, up to 750 mm elsewhere. Tail short, tail / total length = 0.09-0.12. It has 12-15 supralabials; eye moderate, separated from supralabials by 3-4 scales, pupil vertical; scales on dorsal side of head moderate, 13-15 interorbitals; dorsals strongly keeled, 31-35 scale rows around mid-body; 174-205 ventrals, 42-52 single subcaudals; anal entire. Dorsum buffish gray, with a mid-dorsalseries of dark-edged pale-gray saddles, interspersed with large rufous-brown blotches; a lateral series of smaller dark spots; dorsal side of head plain brownish; a diagnostic broad, dark-gray band, from the eye to corner of mouth. Venter white.

Distribution in egypt ⁶

The Eastern Desert and Sinai. Widespread, but uncommon, in the Eastern Desert; the southernmost record known from Egypt is from Bir Abraq (UMMZ 181529). However, Joger (1987) reports the species further south from northeast Sudan. In Sinai it is fairly common, but is lacking from the dune fields of the north. Venomous to humans.