Echis carinatus (Schneider, 1801) Saw-scaled viper	Diagnostic characters:
	Snout short rounded; tail short and pointed, scales on the tpo of the head small, elongate, imbricate and strongly keeled; body scales strongly keeled; the two outermost rows of dorsal scales largest. Body colour pale brown, greyish brown or yellowish-brown with vertebral series of dark edged spots; a light inverted V or U shaped mark on the body; head with a cruciform whitish mark on the top; head whitish below; uniform or spotted with brown. SVL: 700mm.
	Habit and Habitat:
	Usually nocturnal; found in semi desert area, scrub jungle with sparse vegetation, rocky hillocks, forest edges hillocks.
	Diet:
	Feeds on mice, lizards, frogs, scorpion and insects
	Legal Protection:
	WL (P) A, 1972-Schedule IV.
	Conservation status and Threats:
	Not accessed. Uncommon.  No serious threat observed.
	Distribution: Madhya Pradesh: Nimach (GWS), Dewas (KWS),  Mandla (KTR), Seoni (PTR), Chhattarpur, Dhar, Jabalpur, Jhabua, Shajapur and Agar. Elsewhere in India: Throughout except West Bengal and Northeast