- Echis megalocephalus
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Echis megalocephalus Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Viperidae Subfamily: Viperinae Genus: Echis Species: E. megalocephalus Binomial name Echis megalocephalus
Cherlin, 1990Synonyms - Echis [(Toxicoa)] megalocephalus - Cherlin, 1990
- Echis megalocephalus - Golay et al., 1993[1]
Echis megalocephalus is a venomous viper species found only on one island in the Red Sea off the coast of Eritrea.[1] No subspecies are currently recognized.[4]
Contents
Description
Grows to a maximum of 54-62 cm in length. The head scalation is similar to that of E. pyramidum, although it is relatively large overall in comparison to other Echis species. Midbody, there are 31 dorsal scales. The ventrals number 186-202 and the subcaudals 33-37. The color pattern varies, but generally consists of a series of pale, oblique, dorsal blotches set against a darker ground color.[2]
Geographic range
Known only from the type locality: Nokra (Nocra) Island, which is part of the Dahlak Archipelago, off the coast of Eritrea in the Red Sea.[1]
See also
- List of viperine species and subspecies
- Viperinae by common name
- Viperinae by taxonomic synonyms
- Snakebite
References
- ^ a b c McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
- ^ a b Mallow D, Ludwig D, Nilson G. 2003. True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 359 pp. ISBN 0-89464-877-2.
- ^ Echis megalocephalus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 3 August 2007.
- ^ "Echis megalocephalus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=634972. Retrieved 1 August 2006.
Further reading
- Cherlin, V.A. 1990 Taxonomic revision of the snake genus Echis (Viperidae). II. An analysis of taxonomy and description of new forms [in Russian]. Proc. Zool. Institute Leningrad 207: 193-223
External links
- Echis megalocephalus Cherlin, 1990 at Tomáš Mazuch. Accessed 24 November 2007.
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