Colors are usually a silver-bronze dorsal (back) side and a yellow underside, separated by black side-stripes or markings extending from the lizard's head down the length of its body.

Black (melanistic) and darker brown forms, which were thought to be a separate subspecies at one point,[2] have been observed in Monterey County, California.

[7] These lizards can be found in diverse vegetation zones, ranging from seaside dunes to inland open pine woodlands.

Using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences from museum-volunteered samples, their research identified five major genetic lineages of the Anniella pulchra.

Notably, unlike many other Californian reptiles, Anniella pulchra has genetic lineages endemic to Central California, with two being exclusive to the San Joaquin Valley and Carrizo Plain.

Their research has also revealed that due to urban development, only one of the three localities of the Anniella pulchra located in the Bakersfield region remains alive today.

According to a paper from Margaret Fusari, these lizards can increase their mass by absorbing water, only when their mouth is in direct contact with moist sand.