Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) is a venomous snake species from the Family Viperidae, found in parts of the Middle East and Central Asia, and especially the Indian subcontinent,Saw-scaled viper is the smallest snake of the Big Four dangerous snakes of India.
This species is mostly crepuscular and nocturnal, although there have been reports of activity during daylight hours. During the daytime they hide in all kinds of places, such as deep mammal burrows, rock fissures and fallen rotted logs. In sandy environments, they may bury themselves leaving only the head exposed. Often, they are most active after rains or on humid nights. This species is often found climbing in bushes and shrubs, sometimes as much as 2 m above the ground.
Echis carinatus produces on the average of about 18 mg of dry venom by weight, with a recorded maximum of 72 mg. It may inject as much as 12 mg, whereas the lethal dose for an adult is estimated to be only 5 mg. Envenomation results in local symptoms as well as severe systemic symptoms that may prove fatal. Local symptoms include swelling and pain, which appear within minutes of a bite. In very bad cases the swelling may extend up the entire affected limb within 12-24 hours and blisters form on the skin. The venom yield from individual specimens varies considerably, as does the quantity injected per bite. About 20% of all bites are fatal.
