The lizard has a concave forehead, swollen cheeks and smooth, unequal upper head-scales.

A row of 8 or 9 compressed spines, divided into two groups, is above the tympanum, the diameter of these is less than half that of the orbit.

These scales point backwards and upwards and are as large as or a slightly smaller than the ventrals, which are strongly keeled and mucronate.

The nuchal and dorsal crests are continuous, composed of closely set lanceolate spines with smaller ones at the base.

In adult males the height of the crest on the neck equals or exceeds the diameter of the orbit, on the back it gradually diminishes in size.