Saw-scaled Viper / Echis carinatus **
Highly Venomous
The Saw-scaled Viper (Echis carinatus) is one of the most widespread venomous snakes in arid regions, including parts of the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula. Small in size but perfectly adapted to desert life, it uses its keeled scales to blend into sandy and rocky terrain. Its name comes from the rasping sound it produces by rubbing its scales together when threatened — a warning that has made it one of the most recognizable snakes of the desert. Nocturnal and elusive, it spends the day hidden and becomes active at night to hunt lizards, small mammals, and insects.
Despite its modest size, the Saw-scaled Viper is regarded as one of the most medically significant snakes in its range. Its venom is highly potent, containing a mix of hemotoxins that disrupt blood clotting and can cause severe tissue damage. While fatalities are uncommon with access to modern medical care, bites require immediate attention and administration of the appropriate antivenom. This snake’s dangerous reputation is well earned, but with respect and caution it can be observed safely as part of the desert’s remarkable biodiversity.
| NOT EVALUATED | DATA DEFICIENT | LEAST CONCERN** | NEAR THREATENED | VULNERABLE | ENDANGERED | CRITICALLY ENDANGERED | EXTINCT IN THE WILD | EXTINCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NE | DD | LC | NT | VU | EN | CR | EW | EX |