[1][2] The specific name, rubens, which means "tinged with red" in Latin, is not in honor of any person named Ruben,[4] but rather refers to the brick red color of the tail.

[2] P. rubens is found atop the northern portion of the Waterberg Plateau in Namibia.

[3] The natural habitat of P. rubens is mopane savanna with red sandstone.

[3] P. rubens may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 5 cm (2.0 in).

Dorsally, the head and body are brown, and the tail is bright brick red.