Echis ocellatus

Common names: West African carpet viper,^[2][3] ocellated carpet viper.^[4]

Echis ocellatus is a venomous viper species found mainly in West Africa. Named after the distinctive series of "eye-spots" that run the length of its body.^[3] No subspecies are currently recognized.^[5]

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Description

The maximum length is 65 cm, possibly more, while the average length is 30-50 cm.^[3]

Geographic range

Found in West Africa from Mauritania, Senegal and Guinea, through, Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, southern Niger and Nigeria. Also found in northern Cameroon and southwestern Chad. the type locality is described as "Haute Volta, Garango, 048 N, 033 W" (Burkina Faso).^[1]

There are also reports of single specimens found in the Bangui in the Central African Republic, and in central Sudan. Rarely found north of the 15^th parallel, after which E. leucogaster becomes more common. Its range extends to the coast via the Dahomey Gap.^[3]

Reproduction

Lays between 6 and 20 eggs, usually at the end of the dry season in February to March. Hatchlings are 10-12 cm in length.

See also

• List of viperine species and subspecies
• Viperinae by common name
• Viperinae by taxonomic synonyms
• Snakebite

References