Azemiopinae

Azemiopinae, commonly known as the "Fea's vipers", is a monotypic subfamily made for a monotypic genus, Azemiops, which contains the venomous viper, Azemiops Feae.[2] It is found on the mountains of Southeast Asia.

Azemiopinae
Azemiops feae.jpg
Conservation status
Scientific classification e
Unrecognized taxon (fix): Azemiopinae
Genus: Azemiops
Boulenger, 1888
Species

Description

The Feas's vipers can grow up to the length of 77 cm. They are blueish-gray or black in color with orange crossbands, the head is orange while the chin and throat is yellow, it also has yellow eyes.

Where they live

The Fea's viper is found in northern Vietnam, southern China, south-east Myanmar, and south-east Tibet. In China the Fea's viper is found in Fujien, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Kweichow, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang.

Habitat

The Fea's viper is found on mountains which have an altitude of 1000 meters. It prefers to live in cool climates which have an average temperature of 18-25 °C. In Vietnam it is found in bamboo forests.

Behavior

The Fea's viper is said to be nocturnal, but some people say that it crepuscular, and it hibernates in the winter. When disturbed, the Fea's viper flattens its body to make it look wider, and opens its mouth widely to show its fangs, giving its head a triangular shape. It sometimes also vibrates it tail. Fea's vipers are said to eat small mammals.

References

  1. Lau M, Rao D-q (2012). "Azemiops feae ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2012: e.T190641A1955758. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T190641A1955758.en.
  2. Azemiops feae (TSN 634834). Integrated Taxonomic Information System.