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 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Viperidae |
| Genus: | Echis |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | E. c. astolae
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Echis carinatus astolae Mertens, 1970
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Description
editThe 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
editEchis 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
edit- ^ a b c 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).
- ^ a b Saw-scaled Viper, ... at Wildlife of Pakistan, Accessed 3 August 2006.
- ^ "Echis carinatus astolae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 3 August 2006.
Further reading
edit- 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).
External links
edit- Echis carinatus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2 August 2007.
- Echis sochureki astolae Mertens, 1969 at Tomáš Mazuch. Accessed 24 November 2007.