The Oriental Carpet Viper is a venomous snake found in arid regions of Africa, the Middle East, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. It is a small and deadly snake.
Most people are surprised that these small reptiles are responsible for more deaths than any other type of snake.
The Oriental Carpet Viper is not sexy, it is not agile Or large in size and does not contain attractive colors, but it is aggressive and is considered one of
the most dangerous poisonous snakes in the world, and now we will review some facts about the oriental carpet snake, the most dangerous poisonous snake in the world.
Habitat of the eastern carpet viper
There are species of Oriental Carpet Viper in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and the habitat depends greatly on the species, for example, Burton’s Carpet Viper which is also called Painted Carpet Viper is found in the Middle East and
lives in rocky deserts, and the Oriental White Carpet Viper is found in the West and Northwest Africa In habitats on the edge of the desert, such as dry savannas and valleys, the eastern carpet viper is occasionally found in the forests of West Africa.
These snakes resemble each other and identification can be difficult unless one knows the snake's native habitat, which are small snakes with a pattern of
spots in earthy colors over a lighter or darker earth-coloured ground as well, although the Oriental Painted Carpet Viper and Mali Carpet Viper are more pronounced.
Evolution and origin of the oriental carpet viper
Eastern carpet vipers, also known as saw-scaled vipers, consist of a group of snakes that live in arid regions in Africa, the Middle East, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
The oldest fossil records of snakes date to the Lower Miocene.
However, based on the lineages of the molecular lineage, it is believed that the eastern carpet viper originated even earlier, and its roots go back to the early Eocene epoch. Northern, Central and Southern.
Is the oriental carpet viper endangered
Although scientists don't know exactly how many eastern carpet vipers exist, they are abundant in places
where they are found, and their conservation status is of most concern, although data is lacking for snakes such as the Mali carpet viper.
Description of the Oriental Carpet Viper
Characteristics to look for in identifying these snakes are a small, pear-shaped head on a slender neck, a short, round snout, large, round eyes, a short tail, and earth-coloured coloration.
Its length is more than 3 feet, and the identification process also helps by examining the scales of
the snake, and the scales on the side of the snake are inclined at an angle of 45 degrees and serrated, and this gives the snake its other name, the serrated-toothed snake.
How dangerous is the oriental carpet viper
Despite their small size and unflashy appearance, members of the genus Carpet Viper not only cause
the most snakebites, but also the most deaths on earth, and they do so because they are aggressive and easily overlooked due to their small size, and they live in the same locations In which people also live and work, prompt treatment is a must.
Oriental carpet vipers often live in places where access to modern medical care is difficult, and the venom is particularly dangerous because it consists of four main types of snake venom, one part that attacks the nervous system, another
that attacks the cardiovascular system, another that attacks the blood, and the last one that attacks the cells of the body. in general.
Oriental carpet viper behavior
The eastern carpet viper is solitary except for the breeding season.
It is usually active at dusk or at night, especially if the weather is rainy or humid, and during the day it hides in burrows, holes, tree trunks, or under rocks.
The eastern carpet viper may live in the desert, and it may dig In the sand with its head, and on rainy days, the snake climbs into trees or bushes and can often be found in large numbers.
The way the snake positions its body is another aid in its identification.
It often rolls its body into a figure-8 and puts its head in the middle, which puts it in a good position when ready to strike.
Since these snakes are very temperamental, they aim to bite and poison when they strike. When about to strike, they hiss and rub the serrated scales together, making a sizzling sound.
And since there are so many in the deserts, many oriental carpet vipers move by way of deviation, which they perform at an astonishing speed.
Oriental carpet viper reproduction and its relationship to humans
Oriental carpet vipers mate in winter and babies are born from spring until late summer.
Female oriental carpet vipers give birth to their young, while other snakes lay between 3 and 23 eggs.
In the other, the viper helps humans with a diet of pests such as rodents, the medicine is made from viper venom which is anticoagulant, and the eastern carpet viper is so aggressive and venomous that it requires caution.