Description

A medium-sized snake, with a short, stocky body. Largest Egyptian specimen has a total length of 649 mm. Tail short, tail / total length = 0.09-0.11. It has 10-13 supralabials; eye moderate, separated from supralabials by 2-3 scales, pupil vertical; scales on dorsal side of head rather large, 9-12 interorbitals; dorsals strongly keeled, 27-31 scale rows around mid-body; 167-186 ventrals, 31-38 single subcaudals; anal entire. Dorsum gray, with a mid-dorsal series of dark-edged, whitish, narrow saddles, interspersed with large dark brown-gray blotches; a lateral series of smaller dark spots; dorsal side of head with a dark arrow-like mark (often broken); indistinct dark, diagonal band below the eye. Venter white.