This is a savanna species. It is very common in its range and accounts for many snakebites and fatalities a year. They are nocturnal and many people stand on them at night. It is an ambush hunter that will coil up into a striking position and await its prey. They have adapted to semi-urban areas and often hunt near human dwellings.
Full Name: West African Carpet Viper (Echis ocellatus)
Classification: HIGHLY VENOMOUS
This is a savanna species. It is very common in its range and accounts for many snakebites and fatalities a year. They are nocturnal and many people stand on them at night. It is an ambush hunter that will coil up into a striking position and await its prey. They have adapted to semi-urban areas and often hunt near human dwellings.
The West African Carpet viper’s venom is potently cytotoxic, causing severe pain, swelling, blistering and in many cases severe tissue damage. Monovalent antivenom is effective and should be administered.
