![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SSBUDIQB5YVOID6CBOPO7OABYY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8bb4beb6b26ade9ce06cd8d3ac1ab1d68f095641c9478dfc811c9c4fe30f5988&width=400&height=225)
Sind saw-scaled viper (echis carinatus), a small and beautiful but deadly venomous little snake, sits patiently on the desert sands, waiting for an unsuspecting prey item to cross its path. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IGAZAJ2EASTDHONV2BRHO3EZNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=274be122c98c87f9cba7143e8acff1bd4a3c595c13f856b327437230bc4c2d8f&width=400&height=225)
A wild saw-scaled viper from the rocky, mountainous regions of the UAE. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G5PZATXOE76FF3V4BOC7MHUHUY.jpg?smart=true&auth=7ba3191d15878da5ccf230f1e11acba786c26b1d48bfbec28077521d17a1a2a1&width=400&height=225)
Named after the frightening saw-like sound it makes by rubbing its scales over one another, it is responsible for a sizeable proportion of the tens of thousands of snakebite deaths in India each year. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6OKUNXP43763UXH2SE7UHGJDS4.jpg?smart=true&auth=410e2af13a58a063ae3066006f5e8bf37ec11a720bf57b0aff57a3ac6ee94caf&width=400&height=225)
The Echis ocellatus - African saw-scaled viper. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I2ZGWYPQ2YQFPKMIFKTRKPMOW4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e7fb8810fe42d2acf73012769bcdf412bb77f99163509584e0038d0c8683ce60&width=400&height=225)
Saw-scaled vipers, like this one spotted in Sharjah, reach a maximum length of around 70 cm, but are more commonly around 35-45 cm in total length. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G6VLNOZIMMBA7GCESUHPC3IILM.jpg?smart=true&auth=dce59200c2c0f336fba5a725d9135967a37ae521bf0c6751e8de90a470db75fd&width=400&height=225)
The Echis leucogaster or Roman's saw-scaled viper. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SSBUDIQB5YVOID6CBOPO7OABYY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8bb4beb6b26ade9ce06cd8d3ac1ab1d68f095641c9478dfc811c9c4fe30f5988&width=400&height=225)
Sind saw-scaled viper (echis carinatus), a small and beautiful but deadly venomous little snake, sits patiently on the desert sands, waiting for an unsuspecting prey item to cross its path. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IGAZAJ2EASTDHONV2BRHO3EZNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=274be122c98c87f9cba7143e8acff1bd4a3c595c13f856b327437230bc4c2d8f&width=400&height=225)
A wild saw-scaled viper from the rocky, mountainous regions of the UAE. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G5PZATXOE76FF3V4BOC7MHUHUY.jpg?smart=true&auth=7ba3191d15878da5ccf230f1e11acba786c26b1d48bfbec28077521d17a1a2a1&width=400&height=225)
Named after the frightening saw-like sound it makes by rubbing its scales over one another, it is responsible for a sizeable proportion of the tens of thousands of snakebite deaths in India each year. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6OKUNXP43763UXH2SE7UHGJDS4.jpg?smart=true&auth=410e2af13a58a063ae3066006f5e8bf37ec11a720bf57b0aff57a3ac6ee94caf&width=400&height=225)
The Echis ocellatus - African saw-scaled viper. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I2ZGWYPQ2YQFPKMIFKTRKPMOW4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e7fb8810fe42d2acf73012769bcdf412bb77f99163509584e0038d0c8683ce60&width=400&height=225)
Saw-scaled vipers, like this one spotted in Sharjah, reach a maximum length of around 70 cm, but are more commonly around 35-45 cm in total length. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G6VLNOZIMMBA7GCESUHPC3IILM.jpg?smart=true&auth=dce59200c2c0f336fba5a725d9135967a37ae521bf0c6751e8de90a470db75fd&width=400&height=225)
The Echis leucogaster or Roman's saw-scaled viper. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SSBUDIQB5YVOID6CBOPO7OABYY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8bb4beb6b26ade9ce06cd8d3ac1ab1d68f095641c9478dfc811c9c4fe30f5988&width=400&height=225)
Sind saw-scaled viper (echis carinatus), a small and beautiful but deadly venomous little snake, sits patiently on the desert sands, waiting for an unsuspecting prey item to cross its path. Getty Images
New parasite species found in UAE's poisonous viper population
Saw-scaled viper is one of the world's deadliest snakes because of its aggressiveness
![Daniel Bardsley](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F4dcffed7-67d1-4c6f-b468-84a82d1ddd22.png?smart=true&auth=e4d7a6e3c76d7ec922e25339bc18538c62bc925936c2316006dc89b8a7becdc6&width=70&height=70)
Daniel Bardsley
26 March, 2021
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