Carpet Viper Snake Facts

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Carpet viper snake facts. Snakes are the evolution of the lizards only about 150 million years ago during the prehistoric period during the age of dinosaurs. Map indicating the distribution of the west african carpet viper echis ocellatus in africa. Also known as the carpet viper these snakes are slow in their movements but very alert in behavior. Actually its venom reacts slowly but it causes big damages.
We can find this 2 feet snake in western africa. They can tell the snake exactly where and how far away the animal is even at night. A carpet viper may eat frogs. Saw scaled viper genus echis any of eight species of small venomous snakes family viperidae that inhabit arid regions and dry savannas north of the equator across africa arabia and southwestern asia to india and sri lanka they are characterized by a stout body with a pear shaped head that is distinct from the neck vertically elliptical pupils rough and strongly keeled scales and a.
The head of a carpet viper is somewhat wider than the rest of its body. Incredibly for a snake with a relatively small range it is along with the puff adder often cited as being responsible for the highest number of snakebite related fatalities in africa. Scales cover the head and belly of the animal. This is a savanna species.
With such a unique name saw scaled vipers are considered to be one of the most dangerous venomous snakes on earth. They have a characteristic threat display rubbing sections of their body together to produce a sizzling warning sound. A pit viper has two pitlike holes beside its mouth close to its eyes that contain special heat sensitive sensors. Morelia spilota commonly referred to as the carpet python or diamond python is a large snake of the family pythonidae found in australia new guinea indonesia and papua new guinea bismarck archipelago and the northern solomon islands.
At this time the birds are evolved from the small dinosaurs. These sensors help the pit viper detect warm blooded animal prey nearby. Snakes began to take over when all dinosaurs are almost gone about 95 million years ago. Facts about the carpet viper saw scaled viper scientific classification kingdom.
This snake is usually anywhere from 14 96 to 23 62 inches 38 to 60 cm in length but can occasionally be as long as 31 5 inches 80 cm long. The west african carpet viper is a small snake with an average total length of approximately 20 inches 1 5 feet. Ocellated carpet viper echis ocellatus is the deadliest snake in the savannah. Some other types of snakes also have these heat pits fast facts class.
The name echis is the latin transliteration of the greek word for viper ἔχις. This is the time when dinosaurs rule the planet earth. It is also flat on top with a slightly rounded snout. Snake awareness and handling gauteng 26 september 2020.
Itis lists six the reptile database seven and the iucn eight. It is very common in its range and accounts for many snakebites and fatalities a year.