Azemiopinae is a monogeneric subfamily created for the genus Azemiops that contains the viper species A. feae and A.

[4] The first specimen was collected by Italian explorer Leonardo Fea, and was described as a new genus and new species by Boulenger in 1888.

It has a reasonably sturdy body and a short tail, but the dorsal scales are smooth rather than keeled like those of most vipers.

The head, which is slightly flattened and more elliptical in shape than triangular, is not covered with numerous small scales like most other vipers, but with large shields like the colubrids and the elapids.

The fangs have a ridge at the tip lateral to the discharge orifice, as well as a blade-like structure on the ventral surface otherwise seen only in some opistoglyphous and atractaspid snakes.

Found in mountainous regions at altitudes up to 1000 m, they prefer cooler climates, with a typical temperature of 20-25 °C.

When disturbed, it flattens its body to make itself look wider, and its jaws flare outwards posteriorly, giving the normally ovoid head a triangular shape.

As opposed to Orlov (1997), who stated this species is nocturnal, Zhao et al. (1981) reported it to be crepuscular, active from early March into late November.

A captured, immature specimen was found to have eaten a common gray shrew (Crocidura attenuata).

In captivity, these snakes are reported to be reluctant feeders, but when they did feed, they took newborn mice, and then only at night.

[12] One toxin found in their venom, azemiopsin, is known to block nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in muscles.