尖吻蝮的人工繁育

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

In this article, we report our first experience of successful artificial propagation about 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 field, and were reared in man made environment. In July and August of the same year, 5 females laid 134 eggs in total (26 8±5 26), which were artificially incubated into 123 hatchlings. 100 hatchlings (average body weight 12 13±1 50 g)were selected to feed. 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 complete artificial environment.