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Project Noah Nature School
Echis c. coloratus
So excited to spot a viper for the first time! :-) And more excited to get a decent video (which PN/YouTube is not saving the link for, for some reason: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFiVTIui...) "Like other vipers, Echis coloratus is a venomous snake with a relatively short, stocky body, a wide head, vertical pupils and heavily keeled scales. It receives its common name (Saw-Scaled) from its defensive display, in which the scales are rubbed together by drawing opposing coils of the body against each other, producing a loud rasping or sawing sound. This viper is usually grey, brown or brownish-red, with a lighter underside and with a pattern of large, light pinkish or greyish blotches or cross-bands along the back. The blotches may have a darker outline, and may contain shades of light grey or blue. The upper side of the viper’s head is usually brown, with a lighter ‘X’ shaped marking and a darker grey streak that runs from the corner of the mouth to the eye." ~ ARKive.org
spotted in a rocky desert wadi
aka Painted Saw-Scaled Viper, Painted Carpet Viper, Arabian Saw-Scaled Viper, Palestine Saw-Scaled Viper
Spotted on Oct 14, 2017
Submitted on Oct 15, 2017
7 Comments
Fabulous patterns.
Thanks, AshleyT! Such an honor to be nominated. :-)
Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated!
I thought so, @SukanyaDatta! My family and friends thought I was crazy for thinking that though. :-)
Wow! How lucky!
Thanks, @Felix Fleck! He was beautiful!
Beautiful snake and picture!