Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Plate 4.68 Merrem's hump-nosed viper or pit viper; Polonthelissa, Kunakatuwa
( Hypnale hypnale ). This medically important crotaline viperid is found in southwestern India
and Sri Lanka. Envenomations from this species may cause consumptive coagulopathy and
acute kidney injury similar to that caused by hazard level 1 colubrids.
Photo copyright to David A. Warrell.
(B)
(A)
Plate 4.69 (A and B) Saw-scaled vipers ( Echis spp .). There are approximately 12 species of
Echis that range from Western Asia through the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and Africa.
Their name is based on their making tight, figure-eight or C-shaped coils, with the loops producing
friction from the contact between scales that are rubbed together, and thereby yield a loud, rasping-
steam sound. Saw-scaled vipers are among the world's most important venomous snakes, and are
responsible for a large proportion of the snakebite-related morbidity as well as mortality throughout
their range. In particular, there are a large number of cases involving agricultural workers in rural
communities in Africa and the Indian subcontinent where these snakes constitute a serious public
health risk. Serious envenomation by Echis spp. includes consumptive coagulopathy similar to that
caused by hazard level 1 colubrids. In some rural communities, several non-front-fanged colubroid
species may be misidentified as viperine viperids such as Echis (see text).
(A) Sochurek's saw-scaled viper; Eastern saw-scaled or carpet viper; phoorsa ( Echis
carinatus sochureki ). Echis c. sochureki are native to Bangladesh and Pakistan.
(B) West African saw-scaled viper or carpet viper; ocellated carpet viper ( Echis ocellatus ),
Nigeria . This species is native to the savannahs of West Africa and similar in behavior to other
Echis spp.
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