Common name: Sindh Saw-scaled Viper
Scientific name: Echis carinatus
Family: Viperidae

Size:
Total length: 30–60 cm

Identification:
A small but heavily built viper with strongly keeled scales giving the body a rough texture. The coloration is highly variable but usually consists of sandy, grey, or brown tones with pale zigzag or blotched patterns that provide excellent camouflage in arid landscapes. The head is broad and triangular with relatively large eyes and vertical pupils. When threatened, it rubs its scales together, producing a distinctive rasping “sizzling” sound.

Habitat:
Deserts, gravel plains, rocky slopes, wadis, and dry semi-arid habitats.

Status in the UAE:
Native and locally distributed in arid regions across the country.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds mainly on lizards, small rodents, and other small vertebrates.

Behavior:
Primarily nocturnal and highly defensive when disturbed. Relies heavily on camouflage but may adopt a coiled striking posture if threatened. Moves with characteristic sidewinding or looping motion on loose substrates. Important predator within desert ecosystems.

Venom:
Venomous and medically significant. Bites require immediate professional medical treatment.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)