Echis

The saw-scaled or carpet viper, a genus of small (under 1 m), irritable, and alert snakes with a highly toxic venom; they are responsible for numerous snakebite cases with many fatalities. [G. e., a viper]

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Echis 'ek-əs, 'ēk- n a genus of vipers found in India, Arabia, and No. Africa

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(eґkis) a genus of snakes of the family Viperidae, small venomous vipers found from India to northern Africa as far south as Ghana and Nigeria; E. carinaґtus and E. coloraґtus are both called carpet viper or saw-scaled viper and their bites are often deadly.