a small, rare, poisonous snake, Azemiops feae, of the viper family, Viperidae. The fea viper lives in the humid forests of the Himalayan foothills in southern China, Tibet, and Myanmar (Burma). The adult fea is less than 32 inches (82 centimeters) long, with a somewhat flattened, slightly triangular head, a moderately sturdy body, and a short tail. The coloration is striking: the head is orange, and the body has widely spaced orange rings on a background of deep blue-gray to black. The fangs are short and the venom sacs comparatively small. The fea feeds on small mammals and lizards, and it hibernates in winter.
Unlike those of other vipers, the scales of the fea are smooth and shiny, and its head is covered with large plates rather than small, numerous scales. Its skull architecture also separates the fea from other vipers. For these reasons, this single species is placed in a subfamily of its own, Azemiophinae. It is one of the few egg-laying species in the viper family.
This article was critically reviewed by David Cundall
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