Added 29 May 2017.
The genus Azemiops contains two species, the long-established A. feae, and the fairly recently described A. kharini. The genus is placed within its own subfamily, the Azemiopinae.
Boulenger gives the following characteristics for the genus; head distinct from neck, covered in symmetrical shields; nostril in single nasal; loreal present; eye moderate, with vertical pupil; body cylindrical; scales smooth, in 17 rows; ventrals rounded; tail short; 2 rows of subcaudals.
O'Shea notes that A. feae is a difficult species to maintain in captivity. Its natural history is still not well known or documented. Mild human bites have been recorded: O'Shea records that the venom is believed to be neurotoxic and anticoagulant.
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Species |
Common Name |
Origin |
Adult size |
Notes |
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Azemiops |
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A. feae |
Fea's Viper |
N Myanmar, N Vietnam, S/C China, SE Tibet |
SVL 52cm; TL 61cm |
Found in montane regions, at altitudes of 800-2000m, in karst, cloud forest and mixed bamboo and fern forest. Prey is small mammals, especially grey shrews [O'Shea]. Scalation details: rostral moderate, broader than deep; internasals and prefrontals subequal in length; frontal slightly broader than long, nearly three times as broad as supraocular; parietals as long as their distance from end of snout; loreal small, pentagonal, as deep as long; 2-3 preoculars; 2 postoculars; 2 large superposed anterior temporals, of which only the upper contacts the postoculars; 6 supralabials, of which 3rd enters orbit, 1st and 2nd smallest, 4th and 5th largest; 7 sublabials, of which 1st is large and forms long suture with its neighbour; 2nd small; pair of short mentals. Dorsal scalation: 17 rows across midbody. Ventral scales: 180. Subcaudal scales: 42; anal entire. Other: head elliptical, snout short and broad; body cylindrical and stocky, tapering at each end; head flat, triangular; short snout; nostrils large and open; pupil vertical; tail short Coloration: overall blackish above, scales being centrally dark grey and black-bordered; 15 transverse white bands, 1 scale wide, some of which are disconnected in the middle and alternate with those on the other side; upper surface of head from prefrontals black, with yellow media line, which is anteriorly very narrow and widens posteriorly, ending on neck on 11th transverse row of scales; end of snout and sides of head yellow; black streak from below eye to lower border of 4th supralabial; another from the postoculars to the upper border of 6th supralabial; ventral surfaces olive-grey, with some smaller lighter spots; chin and throat variegated with yellow. Reproduction: probably oviparous [O'Shea]. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
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A. kharini |
White-Headed Fea's Viper, White-Headed Burmese Viper |
Vietnam, E China |
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See Reptile Database entry. The specific status of this snake seems as yet uncertain. Visually the main difference between this and feae appears to be the coloration of the head. |
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