Distributed range & status
These snakes are found from north, east, southeast & northwest coastal areas of Sri Lanka, semi arid zones or sand hills such as Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kumana, Mannar, Puttlum& Yala. Also spread in south Asian subcontinent such as Indian Peninsula.

Scales

The nostril between three shields and head covered with small keeled scales, among which an enlarged supraocular is sometimes present. There are 9-14 interocular scales across the top of the head and 14-21 circumorbital, keeled & small scales. 1-3 rows of scales separate the eye and the supralabials. There are 10-13sublabials. There are 24-31 mid body scales.

Mid body contains 25-39 rows of dorsal scales that are keeled scales with apical pits; on the flanks, these have serrated keels.

Characteristics
The body is stout, the cross-section of which is rounded to cylindrical. The head is sub ovate and distinct from the neck. The snout is short, blunt & rounded. The nostrils are small. The eyes are large & consist of an eclipsed pupil. Short tail is present.

Colour
The color-pattern consists of a pale buff, grayish, reddish, olive or pale brown ground color, overlaid mid dorsally with a series of variably colored, but mostly whitish spots, edged with dark brown, and separated by lighter inter blotch patches. A series of white bows run dorso-laterally. The top of the head has a whitish cruciform or trident pattern and there is a faint stripe running from the eye to the angle of the jaw. The belly is whitish to pinkish, uniform in color or with brown dots that are either faint or distinct.

Venom
These snakes are highly venomous. But no deaths are recorded by bites of Echis carinatus sinhaleyus of Sri Lanka, unlike the Indian subspecies. This venom is haemotoxic. Local symptoms include swelling and burning pain, which appear within minutes of a bite & followed by numbness. In very bad cases the swelling may extend up the entire affected limb within 12-24 hours and blisters form on the skin. If not treated, bites may become gangrenous leading to severe pains in kidneys, vomiting & bleeding of gums.

Dentition
Data not found.

Behavior
These snakes are found on a range of different substrates, including sand, rock, and soft soil and in scrublands. Often found hiding under loose rocks, litter, deep mammal burrows, and rock fissures and fallen rotted logs. & dry leaves in day time. This species is mostly crepuscular and nocturnal, although there have been reports of activity during daylight hours. They come towards the tar roads to obtain heat. This cause road kills. 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 especially when it rains.

Its inconspicuousness nature, the speed of its strike, and its readiness to bite at the smallest provocation make this one of the most dangerous snake. Its characteristic pose, a double coil with a figure of eight, with the head poised in the center, permits it to lash out like a released spring. When threatened they rub their scales, producing a rasping sound.

They move about mainly by side winding on arid coastal regions with loose substrate & low vegetation. It may also keep them from overheating too quickly, as there are only two points of contact with the hot surface in this form of locomotion. They are also capable of other forms of locomotion.

Breeding
These snakes are ovoviviparous. The off spring are produced April through August. Occasionally, births have also been recorded in other months.

Growth
The young measure 115-152 mm in length Size ranges of adults between 380 and 800 mm in length.

Food
It feeds on rodents, lizards, frogs & a variety of arthropods, such as scorpions, centipedes and large insects. Diet may be varied according to availability of prey. High populations in some areas may be due to this generalist diet.