The specific name or epithet, ellioti, is in honor of Scottish naturalist Walter Elliot.

The preferred natural habitat of U. ellioti is forest, at altitudes of 100–1,400 m (330–4,590 ft).

[1] The dorsum of U. ellioti is dark brown, either uniform or with yellow dots.

Adults may attain a total length (including tail) of 24 cm (9+1⁄2 in).

The rostral is about ⅓ the length of the shielded part of the head, the portion visible from above longer than its distance from the frontal.