Color: Upper side of the head, body and tail is brown, with smooth scales, and faint darker markings.

On the flanks, beneath the dark stripe, a mottled zone comprising yellowish and brown spots.

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China (S Yunnan, SE Xizang = Tibet), India (Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Darjeeling), Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Sunda region (Brunei, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste), Thailand (Northern) and Vietnam.

Terrestrial; nocturnal; inhabits the vicinity of streams and small rivers in lowland and hilly areas.

Death-feigning behavior has been observed in this species: In captivity all of these, when handled, dropped on their back and remained immobile for around 35–45 seconds.