[1] It is also known commonly as Jan's snake in honor of Italian herpetologist Giorgio Jan.[2] There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

[3] Maxillary very short, with five teeth gradually increasing in size and followed, after an interspace, by a large grooved fang situated below the eye.

Mandibular teeth decreasing in size posteriorly.

Seven upper labials, third in contact with the prefrontal, third and fourth entering the eye.

Four lower labials in contact with the anterior chin shield.

[4] The specific name or epithet, picteti, is in honor of François Jules Pictet de la Rive, a Swiss zoologist and palaeontologist.