Echis pyramidum

Echis pyramidum

Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Subfamily:	Viperinae
Genus:	Echis
Species:	E. pyramidum
Binomial name
*Echis pyramidum* (I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1827)
Synonyms
Scythale pyramidum Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire In Savigny, 1827 [Echis] arenicola F. Boie, 1827 Echis pavo , 1834 Echis varia Reuss, 1834 Vipera echis Schlegel, 1837 Vipera pyramidarum Schlegel, 1837 Echis [(Toxicoa)] arenicola — Gray, 1849 Toxicoa arenicola — Günther, 1858 Echis carinatus — Boulenger, 1896 (part) Echis carinatus pyramidum — Constable, 1949 Echis p[yramidum]. pyramidum — Cherlin, 1983 Echis pyramidum — , 1984 Echis [(Toxicoa)] pyramidum pyramidum — Cherlin, 1990 Echis [(Toxicoa)] pyramidum lucidus Cherlin, 1990 Echis [(Toxicoa)] varia varia — Cherlin, 1990 Echis [(Toxicoa)] varia borkini Cherlin, 1990 Echis [(Toxicoa)] varia darevskii Cherlin, 1990 Echis pyramidum pyramidum — Golay et al., 1993

Echis pyramidum is a species of venomous viper endemic to Northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

The specific name, pyramidum, refers to the Egyptian pyramids.

The average total length (body + tail) is 30–60 cm (12–24 in) with a maximum total length of 85 cm (33 in) (possibly slightly more).

Northeast African carpet viper, Egyptian saw-scaled viper, Egyptian carpet viper, Geoffroy's carpet viper.

In northeastern Africa it occurs in northern Egypt, central Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, and northern Kenya. There are also scattered populations in the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula in western Saudi Arabia (south of the 18^th parallel), Yemen, South Yemen (in Hadhramaut), and in Oman.

The type locality given is "Egypte" (Egypt).

Disjunct populations reportedly occur in Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and northern Egypt. It is absent in southern Egypt.