Echis carinatus astolae

Echis carinatus astolae, known as the Astola saw-scaled viper,[2] is a viper subspecies[3] endemic to Astola Island off the coast of Pakistan.[1] Like all other vipers, it is venomous.

Echis carinatus astolae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Echis
Species:
E. carinatus
Subspecies:
E. c. astolae
Trinomial name
Echis carinatus astolae
Mertens, 1970
Synonyms[1]
  • Echis carinatus astolae Mertens, 1970
  • Echis sochureki astolae
    — Cherlin, 1983
  • Echis [(Turanechis)] sochureki astolae
    — Cherlin, 1990
  • Echis carinata astolae
    — Das, 1996

Description

The color pattern consists of a series of dark brown dorsal blotches on a whitish background. Laterally, there are 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 the frontal region, with a branch to the snout.[2]

Geographic range

Echis carinatus astolae is found only on Astola Island, off the coast of Makran, Pakistan.

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

References
  1. McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  2. Saw-scaled Viper, ... at Wildlife of Pakistan, Accessed 3 August 2006.
  3. "Echis carinatus astolae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 3 August 2006.

Further reading
  • Mertens R. 1970. Die Amphibien und Reptilien West-Pakistans. 1. Nachtrag. Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde aus dem Staatlichen Museum für Naturkunde in Stuttgart (216): 1-5. ("Echis carinatus astolae n. subsp.", pp. 3–4).
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