The dorsal surface on males is reddish or gray-tan, with black speckling and lighter marbling; or it is dull green with slight markings and a dark blue head.

The male's ventral surface is dull gray, and it has blue-gray spots on its upper thighs and sides of its tail.

[5] The Redonda ground lizard is sometimes considered a subspecies of the Montserrat ameiva, though it is currently accepted as a separate species, Pholidoscelis atratus, in The Reptile Database.

Although it was formerly widespread across Montserrat, its populations, as with other wildlife on the island, have declined significantly since the Soufrière Hills volcano became active in 1995, with at least a third of its habitat destroyed.

[1] The lizard is also threatened by development, including forest habitat destruction, and invasive species.