[6] The type locality given is "Cap de Bonne-espérance" (Cape of Good Hope, South Africa).

[2] Small and stout, it grows to a typical total length (body and tail) of 30–50 cm (about 12–20 inches).

[7] Dorsally, it has a grey to reddish-brown ground colour, overlaid with four longitudinal series of large, dark-brown blotches, which are squarish or parallelogram-like in shape, and edged with white.

This species prefers rocky desert areas in dwarf succulent veld and mountain slopes in heathland vegetation.

[4] With a nervous disposition, when disturbed, it will hiss loudly and strike so energetically that most of its body is lifted off the ground in the process.