The sharp-nosed viper is a beautiful venomous snake from Southeast Asia.
Sharp-nosed viper (Deinagkistrodon acutus), exhibited at the 2015 Canadian Pet Expo.
The sharp-nosed viper produces a rather potent venom which, according to Chinese beliefs, can kill a person as soon as he takes a hundred steps, hence one of its common names ‘hundred pacer’.
The venom is now being investigated as a potential anticoagulant drug as well as a potential cancer treatment. Just a reminder that even poisonous snakes can have their uses and indiscriminately killing them is never a good thing.
Some people do keep sharp-nosed vipers as pets in spite of their highly dangerous venom. This is not really recommended. There are just so many snake species that make perfectly safe pets, that for most people keeping one that can easily kill you is just not a good idea no matter how beautiful the snake is.
Further Readings:
Deinagkistrodon acutus – Hundred Pacer.
Deinagkistrodon acutus on Animal Diversity Web.
Sharp-nosed Viper.
WCH Clinical Toxinology Resources: Deinagkistrodon acutus.
Venom from ‘hundred pacer’ viper may stop clots that cause heart attack, strokes CTV News.
Venomous Snake Contributes to Cancer Treatment on Steve Dale’s Pet World.