[2] Razi's viper has been named in honour of the tenth century polymath, physician, alchemist and philosopher Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakariyya al-Razi.

It can be distinguished from M. lebetina (which it split from as a species 10.5 million years ago[3]) in general by its longer anterior chin-shields and lower number of canthal and intersupraocular scales.

[3] Razi's viper is carnivorous, with its diet generally consisting of birds such as the See-see partridge (Ammoperdix grisegularis).

[1] Razi's viper's habitat tends to be relatively dense with vegetation such as Orchis, Zygophyllum and Astragalus spp., as well as stones at the base of nearby hills.

However, it has been found in a warmer and dryer habitat near Lake Bakhtegan – closer to the climate of a desert.