Hundred-Pace Viper
Deinagkistrodon acutus
A distinctively patterned pit viper of southern China and Taiwan, popularly named for folklore about a hundred paces.
- Adult length
- 1-1.5 m (3.3-5 ft)
- Range
- Southern China, Taiwan, and northern Vietnam
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Overview
The Hundred-Pace Viper is a heavy-bodied pit viper found across southern China, Taiwan, and northern Vietnam, notable for its unusual triangular head shape and distinctive zigzag pattern. Its common name derives from folklore about a hundred paces.
It is a species of significant medical importance within its range and holds cultural significance in traditional East Asian folklore.
How to identify it
- Distinctive triangular-shaped diamond or arrowhead pattern along the back, alternating brown and cream
- Sharply upturned snout tip, giving the head a pointed profile
- Broad, triangular head clearly distinct from the neck
- Vertical pupils and heat-sensing pits
- Heavy, stout body compared to many other pit vipers
- Unique zigzag/triangle dorsal pattern separates it from co-occurring pit vipers
Habitat & range
Found in hilly and mountainous forests, bamboo groves, and rocky terrain across southern China, Taiwan, and northern Vietnam, typically at low to moderate elevations.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Primarily nocturnal and terrestrial, ambushing rodents and other small mammals. Reproduction is oviparous, with females laying and often guarding eggs.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called the Hundred-Pace Viper?
The name comes from old folklore about a hundred paces, which is an exaggeration.
Where is the Hundred-Pace Viper found?
In southern China, Taiwan, and northern Vietnam.
What does the Hundred-Pace Viper look like?
It has a stout body with a triangular diamond pattern and an upturned snout.
Hundred-Pace Viper guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Hundred-Pace Viper.
