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    Echis – Carpet vipers

    Small venomous snakes found in Asia, Africa and Arabia; also named saw-scaled vipers

    They have a sturdy body and a head formed like a pear separate from the neck. They have darker dorsal patches, lateral markings on their body, and varied brown, grey, or orange colors. They are nocturnal and emerge at dusk to search for prey, including insects, birds, snakes, lizards, amphibians, and mammals.

    This particular group of snakes is thought to be responsible for the majority of snakebite incidents worldwide and the majority of deaths in Africa. All saw-scaled vipers are members of the same genus, Echis; however, different species of the genus give birth to live offspring while others lay eggs.