Attains an average total length of 76 cm (30 in), with females being slightly longer than males. Occasionally, they may grow as long as 91 cm (36 in).[5]
A specimen with a total length of 81 cm (32 in) has a tail 9 cm (3.5 in) long.
Dorsally it is reddish, grayish, or pale brown, with two series of large, dark brown, black-edged triangular blotches, which are alternating or opposite. There is also a thin dark brown vertebral stripe, which may be interrupted or indistinct in some specimens. The upper labials are pink or yellowish, and powdered with brown. There is a broad, dark brown, black-edged diagonal stripe from the eye to the corner of the mouth, with a narrower light-colored stripe above it. Ventrally it is yellowish, uniform or powdered or spotted with grayish brown.
The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 21 rows at midbody. Ventrals 138-157; anal plate entire; subcaudals 34-54 pairs.
Snout pointed and upturned. Rostral as deep as broad. Two internasals and two prefrontals. Frontal as long as or slightly longer than its distance from tip of snout, as long as or slightly shorter than the parietals. 7-9 upper labials. Loreal pit not in contact with the upper labials.[6]
This is the only Asian pit viper with large crown scales and smoothdorsal scales.[7]
Prefers coastal forests,bamboo thickets, unused and overgrownfarmland, orchards, plantations as well asforests around plantations,[5] where it searches for rats and mice.
This species has a reputation for being bad-tempered and quick to strike. In northernMalaysia it is responsible for some 700 incidents ofsnakebite annually with a mortality rate of about 2 percent. Remarkably sedentary, it has often been found in the same spot several hours after an incident involving humans.[7] Its venom causes severe pain and local swelling and sometimes tissue necrosis, but deaths are not common. Many victims are left with dysfunctional or amputated limbs due to the lack of antivenom and early treatment. In a 2005 study of 225 Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma) bites in Thailand, most victims had mild to moderate symptoms, but 27 of 145 patients (18.6%) developed permanently swollen limbs.[8] There were only two deaths (related to intracerebral hemorrhage) and no amputations. The antivenin manufactured in Thailand seemed effective in reversing the blood clotting caused by the venom. Most patients remained stable and did not require antivenin. The authors suggested that victims not use traditional healers and avoid overuse of tourniquets. In a prospective phase of the study,o bites occurred throughout the year but mostly early in the monsoon season (May and June).
The venom acts, at least in part, by binding to and activating theC-type lectin domain family 1 member B protein (also termed the CLEC1B or CLEC2 protein) on platelets. PDPN is a protein in humans that also binds to CLEC18 and like Calloselasma venom causes extensive thromboses reactions.[9][10][11][12]
The venom of this species is used to isolate a thrombin-like enzyme called ancrod.[13] This enzyme is used clinically to break down and dissolvethrombi (blood clots) in patients and lowerblood viscosity to help preventheart attack andstroke.[13][14][10]
^abcdMcDiarmid RW,Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999.Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp.ISBN1-893777-00-6 (series).ISBN1-893777-01-4 (volume).
^abMehrtens JM. 1987.Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp.ISBN0-8069-6460-X.
^Boulenger, G.A. 1896.Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the...Viperidæ... Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London. xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I.-XXV. (Ancistrodon rhodostoma, pp. 527-528.)
^abcU.S. Navy. 1991.Poisonous Snakes of the World. US Govt. New York: Dover Publications Inc. 203 pp.ISBN0-486-26629-X.
^abSuzuki-Inoue K, Osada M, Ozaki Y (February 2017). "Physiologic and pathophysiologic roles of interaction between C-type lectin-like receptor 2 and podoplanin: partners from in utero to adulthood".Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis : JTH.15 (2):219–229.doi:10.1111/jth.13590.PMID27960039.
^Suzuki-Inoue K, Tsukiji N (May 2024). "A role of platelet C-type lectin-like receptor-2 and its ligand podoplanin in vascular biology".Current Opinion in Hematology.31 (3):130–139.doi:10.1097/MOH.0000000000000805.PMID38359177.
^abChen JH, Liang XX, Qiu PX, Yan GM (May 2001). "Thrombolysis effect with FIIa from Agkistrodon acutus venom in different thrombosis model".Acta Pharmacologica Sinica.22 (5):420–2.PMID11743889.
^Guangmei Yan, Jiashu Chen, Pengxin Qiu, Hong Shan. "Fibrinolysin ofAgkistrodon acutus Venom and its Usage."
Ponnudurai, G.; Chung, M.C.M.; Tan, N.H. (1994). "Purification and Properties of the L-Amino Acid Oxidase from Malayan Pit Viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma) Venom".Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics.313 (2):373–378.doi:10.1006/abbi.1994.1401.ISSN0003-9861.PMID8080286.
Yingprasertchai, Senee; Bunyasrisawat, Srisurat; Ratanabanangkoon, Kavi (2003). "Hyaluronidase inhibitors (sodium cromoglycate and sodium auro-thiomalate) reduce the local tissue damage and prolong the survival time of mice injected with Naja kaouthia and Calloselasma rhodostoma venoms".Toxicon.42 (6):635–646.Bibcode:2003Txcn...42..635Y.doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2003.09.001.ISSN0041-0101.PMID14602119.
Daltry, Jennifer C.; Ross, Toby; Thorpe, Roger S.; Wuster, Wolfgang (1998). "Evidence that humidity influences snake activity patterns: a field study of the Malayan pit viper Calloselasma rhodostoma".Ecography.21 (1):25–34.Bibcode:1998Ecogr..21...25D.doi:10.1111/j.1600-0587.1998.tb00391.x.ISSN0906-7590.
