The specific name, mairii, is in honor of "Dr. Mair", an army surgeon with the 39th Regiment of Foot, who collected the holotype.

The dorsal scales are strongly keeled, and arranged in 15 rows at midbody.

[citation needed] T. mairii rarely grows over 1 m (39 in) in total length (including tail).

[citation needed] Mair's keelback feeds mainly on amphibians and small lizards.

[citation needed] It is one of the few snakes that can eat cane toads (Rhinella marina), up to a certain size, without being harmed.