SAW-SCALED VIPER

(Echis carinatus), venomous snake of the family Viperidae, found in deserts and other arid regions from northern Africa to Ceylon. Though probably the most venomous of vipers, with a bite that is often fatal, it is rarely more than 60 cm (2 feet) long. The saw-scaled viper is irritable and aggressive and commonly hides under stones and in rodent runs. It is sand-coloured or gray, with a row of white spots on the back and a pale zigzag line on each side. The scales are rough and are rubbed together to make a characteristic hissing sound when the snake is disturbed.