Artificial propagation of the five-paced pit viper (Deinagkistrodon acutus)

摘要

In this article, we report our first experience of successful artificial propagation of the five-paced pit viper (Deinagkistrodon acutus ) and breeding to its second filial generation. In May, 1994, 18 adult snakes (8 males, 10 females) were captured in the field, and were reared in a man-made environment. In July and August of the same year, 5 females laid 134 eggs (26.8±5.26), which were artificially incubated to produce 123 hatchlings. 100 hatchlings (average body weight 12.13±1.50 g) were selected for feeding. Three years later, 58 snakes were alive (livability 58%). In September of 1997, April and May of 1998, some of the 58 snakes copulated. From July to August of 1998, 6 females laid 64 eggs in total, 58 of which were fertilized, and 54 were incubated into hatchlings in September of 1998. Therefore, we had successfully bred the second filial generation of the five-paced pit viper in an artificial environment[