Deinagkistrodon

Deinagkistrodon
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Reptilia
Order:Squamata
Suborder:Serpentes
Family:Viperidae
Genus:Deinagkistrodon
Gloyd, 1979
Species: D. acutus
Binomial name
Deinagkistrodon acutus
(Günther, 1888)
Synonyms
  • Halys acutus
    Günther, 1888
  • Ancistrodon acutus
    — Boulenger, 1896
  • Agkistrodon acutus
    — Namiye, 1908[1]
  • Calloselasma acutus
    — Burger, 1971
  • Deinagkistrodon acutus
    — Gloyd, 1979[2]

Deinagkistrodon is a monotypic genus[3] created for the venomous pit viper species, D. acutus, which is endemic to Southeast Asia.[1] There are no subspecies which are recognized as being valid.[4]

Description

Deinagkistrodon acutus is light brown or greyish brown dorsally, with a series of dark brown lateral triangles on each side. The two pointed tops of the two opposite triangles meet each other at the mid-line, forming a series of about 20 light brown, squarish blotches on the back. A row of large black spots extends along each side near the belly. The top and upper sides of the head are uniformly black, with a black streak from the eye to the angle of the mouth. D. acutus is yellowish ventrally, spotted with dark brown. The young are much lighter than the adults with essentially the same pattern. The head is large, triangular, with an upturned snout. The body is very stout. The tail is short, ending in a compressed, pointed slightly curved cornified scale. The top of the head is covered with nine large shields. The dorsal scales are strongly and tubercularly keeled. The subcaudals are mostly in pairs, some of the anterior ones are single. This stout snake, usually between 0.8 and 1.0 metre (2.6 and 3.3 ft) in total length (including tail), reaches a maximum total length of 1.57 metres (5.2 ft) in males and 1.41 metres (4.6 ft) in females.[5] The largest specimen on record measured approximately 1.549 metres (5.08 ft).[6]

Common names

Common names for D. acutus include sharp-nosed viper, snorkel viper, hundred pacer,[7] Chinese moccasin,[8] Chinese copperhead,[9] five-pacer, hundred-pace snake, long-nosed pit viper, sharp-nosed pit viper,[10] hundred-pace pit viper.[11] The snake has been an object of veneration by indigenous Taiwanese peoples.

Geographic range

D. acutus is found in southern China (Zhejiang, Fujian, Hunan, Hubei, Guangdong), Taiwan, northern Vietnam, and possibly Laos. The type locality was not included in the original description. It was later given as "Wusueh [Wu-hsueh], Hupeh Province, China" by Pratt (1892) and Pope (1935). Listed as "Mountains N. of Kiu Kiang" in the catalogue of the British Museum of Natural History.[1]

Habitat

The species D. acutus inhabits high, forested mountains up to 1,350 metres (4,430 ft), but has also been found in low coastal regions (100 metres (330 ft)). It prefers lower mountain slopes or rocky hills with small valleys.[5]

Behavior

D. acutus is a nocturnal species. It is generally discovered by day on rocks or among vegetation along banks of streams, or in firewood near houses, or even in houses.[5] When encountered it may appear sluggish at first, but it is capable of striking vigorously when threatened.[8]

Diet

The diet of D. acutus consists of small mammals such as rats and mice, birds, toads, frogs and lizards. Chinese herpetologist Er-mi Zhao reported a specimen of a total length of 1.04 metres (3.4 ft) and weighing 600 grams (1.3 lb) having eaten a specimen of Rattus rattus of a total length of 51.5 centimetres (20.3 in) and a weight of 530 grams (1.17 lb).[5]

Reproduction

As one of the few oviparous pit vipers, D. acutus can lay up to 24 eggs, which may be retained during initial incubation, an adaptation that shortens post-deposition incubation time. However, it generally only deposits 11 or 12 eggs from June to August. Egg size is 40-56 x 20–31 mm (about 2 x 1 in). Hatchlings are lighter and more vividly patterned than the adults, but this darkens considerably with age.[7][5]

Venom

Dangerous animals often have exaggerated reputations and the species D. acutus is no exception. The popular name "hundred pacer" refers to a local belief that, after being bitten, the victim will only be able to walk 100 steps before dying. In some areas, it has even been called the "fifty pacer." Nevertheless, this species is considered dangerous, and fatalities are not unusual. An antivenom is produced in Taiwan.[7]

Brown (1973) mentions a venom yield of up to 214 mg (dried) and LD50 (toxicity) values of 0.04 mg/kg IV, 4.0 mg/kg IP and 9.2-10.0 mg/kg SC.[12]

According to the US Armed Forces Pest Management Board, the venom is a potent hemotoxin that is strongly hemorrhagic. Bite symptoms include severe local pain and bleeding that may begin almost immediately. This is followed by considerable swelling, blistering, necrosis, and ulceration. Systemic symptoms, which often include heart palpitations, may occur suddenly and relatively soon after the bite.[8] Because of its body size and large hinged fangs which permit effective delivery of large quantities of venom, victims bitten by this snake should be treated accordingly.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  2. ↑ "Deinagkistrodon acutus ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  3. ↑ "Deinagkistrodon ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 3 November 2006.
  4. ↑ "Deinagkistrodon acutus ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 3 November 2006.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Gopalakrishnakone P, Chou LM (1990). Snakes of Medical Importance (Asia-Pacific Region). Singapore: Venom and Toxin Research Group National University of Singapore and International Society on Toxicology (Asia-Pacific section). p. 259. ISBN 9971-62-217-3.
  6. ↑ Gloyd HK, Conant R (1990). Snakes of the Agkistrodon Complex: A Monographic Review. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. 614 pp., 52 plates. LCCN 89-50342. ISBN 0-916984-20-6.
  7. 1 2 3 Mehrtens JM (1987). Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
  8. 1 2 3 Deinagkistrodon acutus at Armed Forces Pest Management Board. Accessed 30 May 2007.
  9. ↑ Gotch AF (1986). Reptiles – Their Latin Names Explained. Poole, UK: Blandford Press. 176 pp. ISBN 0-7137-1704-1.
  10. ↑ United States Navy (1991). Poisonous Snakes of the World. New York: US Government New / Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp. ISBN 0-486-26629-X.
  11. ↑ Gumprecht A, Tillack F, Orlov NL, Captain A, Ryabov S (2004). Asian Pitvipers. Berlin: GeitjeBooks. First Edition. 368 pp. ISBN 3-937975-00-4.
  12. ↑ Brown JH (1973). Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas. 184 pp. LCCCN 73-229. ISBN 0-398-02808-7.

Further reading

  • Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the ... Viperidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. (Ancistrodon acutus, new combination, p. 534).
  • Gloyd HK (1979). "A new generic name for the hundred-pace viper". Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 91: 963-964. (Deinagkistrodon, new genus).
  • Günther A (1888). "On a Collection of Reptiles from China". Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Sixth Series 1: 165–172 + Plate XII. (Halys acutus, new species, pp. 171–172 + Plate XII).
  • Pope CH (1935). The Reptiles of China: Turtles, Crocodilians, Snakes, Lizards. (Volume X of the Natural History of Central Asia series, edited by Chester A. Reeds). New York: American Museum of Natural History. lii + 604 pp + Plates I-XXVII. (Agkistrodon acutus, pp. 387-390 + Plate XXIII, figures D-G).
  • Deinagkistrodon acutus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 6 August 2007.
  • Video of Deinagkistrodon acutus on YouTube. Accessed 6 August 2007.
  • "Deinagkistrodon acutus". Snakes of Taiwan. External link in |work= (help)
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