Echis carinatus astolae

Echis carinatus astolae

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Subfamily:	Viperinae
Genus:	Echis
Species:	E. carinatus
Subspecies:	E. c. astolae

Trinomial name

Echis carinatus astolae
Mertens, 1970

Synonyms

Echis carinatus astolae - Mertens, 1970
Echis sochureki astolae - Cherlin, 1983
Echis [(Turanechis)] sochureki astolae - Cherlin, 1990
Echis carinata astolae - Das, 1996^[1]

Common names: Astola saw-scaled viper.^[2]

Echis carinatus astolae is a venomous viper subspecies^[3] endemic to Astola Island off the coast of Pakistan.^[1]

Additional recommended knowledge

What is the Correct Way to Check Repeatability in Balances?

Daily Visual Balance Check

Description

The color pattern consists of a series of dark brown dorsal blotches on a whitish background, laterally 1-3 rows of dark brown spots with no light arcs. On the head, there is a three-pronged, light mark directed towards the snout. From the temporals, a light lateral line meets at frontal region, giving a branch to the snout.^[2]

Geographic range

Found only on Astola Island, off the coast of Makran, Pakistan. The type locality is therefore the same: "Insel Astola, Makrankuste, West-Pakistan" [Astola Island (25^o 07'N; 63^o 51'E) off the Makran coast, Pakistan].^[1]

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 Saw-scaled Viper, ... at Wildlife of Pakistan, Accessed 3 August 2006.
^ Echis carinatus astolae (TSN 635288). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 3 August 2006.