Is the hundred-pace snake venomous? Understanding its venom characteristics
The hundred-pace snake, scientific name Deinagkistrodon acutus (sharp-nosed pit viper), also known as the seven-pace snake, five-pace snake, etc., is a venomous monotypic snake under the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae in the suborder Serpentes; the only species under the genus Deinagkistrodon is Deinagkistrodon acutus, and its young are likewise only of this one species. It is a quite famous snake species in Asia, especially in Taiwan, China and southern China, where it has been a highly regarded snake since ancient times. Let us take a look below at whether the hundred-pace snake is venomous!
Is the hundred-pace snake venomous?
The hundred-pace snake is venomous. The venom of the hundred-pace snake is not strongly toxic per unit, but this does not prevent the species from in fact being quite dangerous; its toxicity is greater than that of the cobra. In the Shibi Township area of Chenxi, Hunan, those bitten by this snake basically all died, while those bitten by cobras could basically all be saved. According to survey data, dangerous incidents and even fatal incidents caused by hundred-pace snake bites are indeed relatively common, at least in mainland China.
Geographic distribution of the hundred-pace snake
The distribution range of the hundred-pace snake in China is roughly east of longitude 104°E, between latitudes 25°N and 31°N. It is fairly widely distributed in China, with the largest reserves in the Wuyi Mountain area and the mountainous area of southern Anhui. Known distribution areas include Anhui (southern), Chongqing, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian (northern), Hunan, Hubei, Guangxi (northern), Guizhou, Guangdong (northern) and Taiwan, China. Outside China it is found only in northern Vietnam.
Living habits of the hundred-pace snake
1. Environment: The hundred-pace snake mainly inhabits evergreen and deciduous mixed forests at an altitude of 400-700 m. In summer it likes to be active around ditches in mountain valleys. Its requirements for habitat conditions are coolness, ventilation, trees and water. It is also active in tea gardens, farmland and woodpiles, can climb trees, and can also enter human dwellings. In winter it mostly overwinters in natural holes formed by tree roots or old rat holes.
2. Activity: The annual activity cycle of the hundred-pace snake is about 9 months, from Awakening of Insects to Major Snow. The main factors affecting activity are temperature, humidity and food. When the air temperature is 20-30℃, it is most active; when the air temperature reaches as high as 35-38℃, it mostly gathers toward the water's edge. At night it is relatively sensitive to illumination by pine torches and has an attacking response to torches, while when illuminated by a flashlight it shows almost no obvious tendency toward warmth.
3. Food: Stomach dissection of the hundred-pace snake revealed Chinese white-bellied rats, dog-toothed rats, yellow weasels and spiny-breasted frogs. Its distribution in mountain valleys is related to the distribution and number of spiny-breasted frogs. Stomach dissection also revealed yellow-bellied rats, indicating that the sharp-nosed pit viper enters human dwellings. Bird feathers discharged after swallowing were also seen, identified as those of the green woodpecker. Frogs and white mice were fed in snake pits, and young snakes were once seen catching orthopteran insects, cave crickets, as food.
4. Reproduction: The scent gland secretions at the base of the tail of the female hundred-pace snake have a special odor and can attract males. Before mating there is a mate-chasing phenomenon, and during mating they entwine each other. Eggs are mostly laid in natural caves, with shallow, short and dry tunnels. At one terrace, the cave opening seen was 10 cm, and the tunnel was only 25 cm. The number of eggs laid varies; young female snakes lay eggs early but in small numbers, while old female snakes lay eggs late but in large numbers, generally 12-18 eggs. The eggs are white, oblong, with soft shells that feel like paper, weighing 16-18 g, with a size of 42-45×25-30 mm. When laid, the eggs are mostly arranged upright in a circle, sticking together. Usually laying is completed in 1-3 days, and the young snakes hatch in about 24 days. At hatching the body length is 19 cm; after 10 days the first molting begins, and after 49 days the second molting occurs.
5. Hibernation: The hibernation period is about 3 months, from Major Snow to the next year's Awakening of Insects. The overwintering caves are relatively deep; when there are many snakes, large and small snakes are together, and sometimes they also cohabit in the same cave with pit vipers. When the air temperature is 8℃, it equals the snake's body surface temperature; when the air temperature is higher than 8℃, the snake's body surface temperature is always slightly lower than the air temperature by 1℃; when the air temperature is lower than 8℃, the snake's body surface temperature is slightly higher than the air temperature by 1℃. When the snake's body surface temperature is above 11℃, it can bite. For artificially raised young snakes, when the air temperature is below 17℃, they coil up and do not move; at 12℃, when touched with tweezers, they display a mouth-opening, biting state.