Echis ocellatus


Echis ocellatus, known by the common names West African carpet viper and ocellated carpet viper, is a venomous species of viper endemic to West Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized.
It is responsible for more human fatalities due to snakebite than all other African species combined. An antivenom called Echitab-plus-ICP is manufactured by the Costa Rican Instituto Clodomiro Picado and another called EchiTabG is manufactured by MicroPharm Ltd in the UK.

Taxonomy

described the species in 1970. It was considered a subspecies of the E. carinatus.
The specific name, ocellatus, is a reference to the distinctive series of "eye-spots" which runs the length of the body.
Common names include African saw-tailed viper, ocellated carpet viper and West African carpet viper.

Description

The maximum total length is, possibly more, while the average total length is.

Geographic range

It is found in West Africa from Mauritania, Senegal and Guinea, through, Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, southern Niger, and Nigeria. It is also found in northern Cameroon and southwestern Chad.
The type locality is described as "Haute Volta, Garango, 048 N, 033 W".
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.

Reproduction

Sexually mature females lay between 6 and 20 eggs, usually at the end of the dry season in February to March. Hatchlings are in total length.