Echis pyramidum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Echis pyramidum
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Echis
Species:	pyramidum
Synonyms
Scythale pyramidum Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire in Savigny, 1827 [Echis] arenicola F. Boie, 1827 Echis pavo Reuss, 1834 Echis varia Reuss, 1834 Vipera echis Schlegel, 1837 Vipera pyramidarum Schlegel, 1837 Echis [(Toxicoa)] arenicola — Gray, 1849 Toxicoa arenicola — Günther, 1858 Echis carinatus — Boulenger, 1896 (part) Echis carinatus pyramidum — Constable, 1949 Echis p[yramidum]. pyramidum — Cherlin, 1983 Echis pyramidum — Joger, 1984 Echis [(Toxicoa)] pyramidum pyramidum — Cherlin, 1990 Echis [(Toxicoa)] pyramidum lucidus Cherlin, 1990 Echis [(Toxicoa)] varia varia — Cherlin, 1990 Echis [(Toxicoa)] varia borkini Cherlin, 1990 Echis [(Toxicoa)] varia darevskii Cherlin, 1990 Echis pyramidum pyramidum — Golay et al., 1993

The Northeast African carpet viper, also known as Echis pyramidum, is a type of viper snake. It is also called the Egyptian saw-scaled viper. This snake lives in Northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Like all vipers, it is venomous, meaning it can inject poison.

This snake, along with a close relative called Echis ocellatus, causes many snakebite deaths around the world. Luckily, there are special medicines called antivenoms that can help people who are bitten. Two of these antivenoms are available to treat bites from this snake.

What's in a Name?

The scientific name for this snake is pyramidum. This name comes from the famous Egyptian pyramids.

How Big Are They?

The Northeast African carpet viper is usually about 30–60 cm (12–24 in) long, including its tail. The longest ones ever found were about 85 cm (33 in) long, or maybe a little more.

Other Names for This Snake

People call this snake by a few different names:

• Northeast African carpet viper
• Egyptian saw-scaled viper
• Egyptian carpet viper
• Geoffroy's carpet viper

Where Do They Live?

This snake is found in many parts of northeastern Africa. You can find it in northern Egypt, central Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, and northern Kenya.

It also lives in some areas of the Arabian Peninsula. This includes western Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Oman. Sometimes, you might find them in Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya too.

Different Kinds of This Snake

Just like there are different breeds of dogs, there are different types of this snake called subspecies. Here are the three main subspecies of the Northeast African carpet viper: