Hundred-Pace Viper
Deinagkistrodon acutus
A distinctively patterned, medically important pit viper of southern China and Taiwan, popularly named for the exaggerated belief a bite causes death within a hundred paces.
- Venomous?
- Venomous
- 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 exaggerating the speed of its venom's effects.
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. Known for a somewhat irritable temperament when disturbed. Reproduction is oviparous, with females laying and often guarding eggs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Hundred-Pace Viper venomous?
Yes, it is a venomous pit viper of considerable medical significance.
Why is it called the Hundred-Pace Viper?
Folklore held that a bitten person would only manage a hundred paces before succumbing, though this 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.
