Robust with a long body and tail, smooth body scales which are long and enlarged on the head. Colour can be highly variable, with shades of brown through to grey with bands between the neck and hips and on the tail. The head is robust and generally triangular in shape. Four short legs each with five toes. When harassed inflates its body and gapes its mouth to protrude its blue tongue sometimes with a hissing sound as it expels air.
