The beautiful one hundred pace snake

Known as the one hundred pacer to some, a graphic reference to the supposed efficacy of the venom (one bite and you're dead in 100 paces or less!) and the snorkel-nosed viper to others, Deinagkistrodon acutus is one of the most recognizable and photogenic of the Asian snakes.

Having a light ground color, the dark triangular pattern is boldly evident--unless the snake is lying quietly coiled on a substrate of variably colored leaves. Then the camouflaging benefits of the pattern will be truly appreciated.

Adults of this oviparous crotaline may near a heavy bodied 5 feet in length. Hatchlings are a relatively slender 8 inches. A clutch typically numbers between 10 and 25 eggs, but up to 35 have been documented.

Prey items of this crepuscular and nocturnal snake include amphibians, small ground nesting or ground active birds and rodents.

Ranging over much of southern China and northern Vietnam, this taxon is of cultural significance in many areas, among which Taiwan is prominent.

From any vantage point the snorkel-nose of this pit viper is easily seen. Although it blends well with many backgrounds, the 100-pacer is easily recognizable.

Author, photographer, and columnist Richard Bartlett is one of the most prolific writers on herpetological subjects in the 20th century. With hundreds of books and articles to their credit, Richard and his wife Pat have spent over four decades documenting reptiles both in the field and in captivity. For a list of their current titles, please visit their page in our bookstore.